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Do I Really Have Bipolar Disorder?

03 June, 2018
Q Salam Aleykum.

A year ago, I had a bad relationship with my family because I used to preach them Islamic values. (We are Muslims, alhamdulillah, but not really practicing ones.) I've become introverted because of my somewhat extreme approach towards Islam. Then an event of National Youth Summit occurred in our city. After attending, my has life changed; I started enjoying life, taking pictures in nature, dancing, etc.

The problem is that I was considering myself as a “superhuman”. One day, while sleeping, something happened to me. I woke up and I thought Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was there. I made ablution and prayed for long minutes, but then I saw the time hasn’t passed. It was still dark outside. For some reasons, I started shouting.

After that my family took me to a psychiatrist who gave me medicines. It caused me weight gain and acnes on my faces. She diagnosed me with bipolar, but I think this isn’t the case with me. I am very unhappy. Please help!

Answer


In this counseling answer:

• Periods of extreme happiness followed by extreme sadness are characteristics of Bipolar Disorder.

• There are alternative means to manage psychiatric illness although it is certainly recommended to use medication.


Wa ‘Alaikum Salaam,

Being diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder or any serious physical illness can be very difficult to accept. Part of this process of acceptance is dealing with the changes and the denial of the diagnosis. This is especially true for psychiatric diagnoses due to the stigma that exists around having mental health problems. What makes it worse is that there is no clear way to diagnose the illness such as a blood test as in the case of diagnosing physical ailments.

Periods of extreme happiness followed by extreme sadness are characteristics of Bipolar Disorder. Although what you have written seems to be consistent with this, a more thorough assessment should be carried out by the psychiatrist. Get a second opinion from another psychiatrist if you really don’t feel like the diagnosis of Bipolar is correct.

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Psychiatric medication can, indeed, have some very severe side effects. There are alternative means to manage psychiatric illness. Although it is certainly recommended to use medication at least just to stabilize the condition before trying anything else out.

It might not feel like it, but there are also some positives in this situation. Try and see things from your family’s perspective. It must have been quite distressing for them to see you behaving in this unusual way, shouting in the middle of the night for no apparent reason. Wouldn’t you be concerned if you saw someone behaving that way? They obviously care about you very much to take you to get help from a psychiatrist rather than just abandoning you.

Due to the stigma around mental health, many families desert the one with a problem. But your family has stepped forward to help you, alhamdulillah. This means that they will probably be around to support you through any difficulties.

Whether you have Bipolar or not, you do say you are very unhappy. Good relationships with your family will see you through this period of unhappiness, in sha’ Allah.

May Allah (swt) bring you and your family comfort in each other and guide you to happiness once again.

Salam,

***

Disclaimer: The conceptualization and recommendations stated in this response are very general and purely based on the limited information provided in the question. In no event shall AboutIslam, its counselors or employees be held liable for any damages that may arise from your decision in the use of our services.

Read more:

I Can’t Pray Due to My Mental Illnesses

Ashamed of My Mental Disorders

Can Creativity Exist with Mental Disorders?

About Hannah Morris
Hannah Morris is a mum of 4 and she currently works as Counsellor and Instructor of BSc. Psychology at the Islamic Online University (IOU). She obtained her MA degree in Psychology and has over 10 years of experience working in health and social care settings in the UK, USA, and Ireland. Check out her personal Facebook page, ActiveMindCare, that promotes psychological well-being in the Ummah. (www.facebook.com/activemindcare)