22-year-old international student, diagnosed with bipolar disorder, do I really have mental problems?

"I feel like I've always been a particularly well-behaved and sensible child. I used to rarely get angry and grumpy."

From my perspective, it seems that the child's positive behavior and understanding may be helping the parents cope with some of the emotions and pressure that should be borne by the parents. In terms of family structure, there may be some areas that could benefit from adjustment in the relationship between the questioner's parents. It's possible that these areas have also influenced your personal psychological growth.

"Since reaching adulthood at 18, I have noticed a gradual increase in my tendency to become irritated. I am aware that this may be perceived as impatience or oversensitivity by others, but I am learning to accept these feelings as part of my evolving personality."

At this stage, as the body and mind mature and the individual becomes more independent, some repressed emotions may emerge in this or a similar way.

The author's experience as an international student meant that many things, including life, needed to be taken care of by oneself. It is possible that insufficient emotional care and attention since childhood may also have contributed to the subsequent psychological condition.

To summarize, this is not a problem that developed overnight, nor is it the fault of the questioner alone. Rather, it is the result of a combination of multiple factors (bipolar disorder also has a certain degree of familial inheritance).

We understand that a sudden diagnosis and facing bipolar disorder can be a shock, and it takes time to come to terms with it. Please know that you have our support as you adjust to this new reality.

It seems that bipolar type II may be a state that falls between hypomanic episodes and major depressive episodes, which could align with the description provided by the questioner. It's possible that the mental health concerns they're facing may have some connection to bipolar affective disorder, though it's important to recognize the nuances between these concepts.

It may also be helpful for the questioner to learn about relevant information in a moderate way. Having a better understanding of the situation can be beneficial for recovery.

It would be beneficial to cooperate with the recommended treatment plan, which may include medication, psychological treatment (such as cognitive behavioral therapy or family therapy), and physical therapy, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation, as advised by the doctor.

A friend of mine also has bipolar disorder. I wonder if I might suggest that the questioner consider some self-management practices, such as keeping a mood journal, maintaining a regular routine, and staying away from alcohol and recreational drugs. These self-management practices could potentially contribute to recovery.

It would also be beneficial to have the long-term companionship and support of family and friends. Please believe in yourself!

Wishing you all the best, with love!

Hello,

First, let's clear up a few things. It seems like you might be using the term "mental problem" in a derogatory way, and that it's causing you a lot of stress.

We need to go over your understanding and perception of mental problems in more detail.

Your main issue is emotional instability. When you experience a real-life event, your emotional response is intense, prolonged, and accompanied by physical symptoms.

These emotional reactions are related to your current life situation. For example, after the age of 18, being more sensitive in interpersonal relationships can easily trigger emotional reactions.

It's important to note that stress and interpersonal conflicts that trigger these emotional reactions are beyond the typical person's ability to handle and still require attention.

Your emotions are tied to your thoughts and perceptions. Emotions don't just pop up out of nowhere.

Your emotional reactions are tied to your thoughts and perceptions. Emotions don't just pop up for no reason.

We all have different personalities, and even when we're faced with the same event, we all react emotionally in different ways.

Most of us are usually calm and don't have extreme emotional reactions to everyday events.

Our minds can handle these events, frustrations, and pressures, and we can usually adapt to changes in the external environment.

The way you're reacting emotionally right now is not typical. It suggests that the reasons behind your emotional response may be quite rigid and intense, such as an extreme emotional reaction to something that's not going as planned.

If you're having strong emotional reactions every day or often, it's probably more serious.

No matter what the diagnosis, I think ongoing counseling is the way to go. Counseling can help you analyze, understand, and clarify your thoughts and perceptions, and then make appropriate adjustments.

These emotional reactions involve trust and perceptions of others, perceptions of oneself, and so on. These are all very common life issues.

It's important to remember that psychological or mental problems are not a sign of weakness. We all face them at some point in our lives.

Dear Questioner, From your message, I can discern that you are experiencing a shift in your emotional state. Based on the symptoms you have outlined, it is evident that your current condition is not optimal. Additionally, you have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder by a qualified medical professional.

A diagnosis of this nature indicates that your current state is consistent with the illness, but it does not necessarily indicate that you have a mental problem. Rather, it suggests that you may be experiencing certain psychological obstacles that are affecting your current life and social interactions.

In light of the aforementioned, I would advise that you

1. It is recommended that you proceed to a professional institution for further psychological assessment and seek professional psychological counseling based on the assessment results.

From your description, it appears that your current state has been ongoing for some time, so it will require a gradual adjustment process. You would benefit from guidance from a professional teacher to help you improve your current state and identify the underlying cause.

It is therefore recommended that you seek the assistance of a professional teacher, which has been shown to be an effective course of action.

2. Bipolar disorder is the current state of affairs. When in a normal state, the mental state is also optimal. However, when there is a relapse, the individual will experience significant discomfort, emotional instability, heightened sensitivity, and anxiety. At this juncture, intervention is necessary.

In the event that a counselor is not available in the immediate vicinity and one is experiencing a negative emotional state, what is the recommended course of action?

As a first step, we can attempt to halt our emotional response and exert control over our feelings. We can then turn our attention to other activities, such as meditation, exercise, or listening to calming music, to help improve our mood.

Should these measures prove ineffective, we advise you to seek assistance from a teacher on the Yi Xinli platform. Alternatively, you may post a question seeking guidance. We are confident that you will experience some improvement.

3. You may wish to consider seeking the company and assistance of family members or friends.

In the event of feeling unwell, it is advisable to speak with family and friends or to seek assistance. Having the support of family and friends is also very beneficial.

It can provide a sense of companionship and facilitate the release of emotions, which is conducive to improving one's mood.

To conclude, I would like to thank you for your courage in expressing yourself. I can see your efforts and am committed to supporting you in improving your situation. Please do not worry. We have family members who will support us through this period, and I am confident that things will improve over time.

Hello, questioner!

If I could, I would absolutely love to give you a hug from afar to comfort you! Your emotions are quite volatile and even out of control, but I'm here to help!

And the heart that begins to doubt that it is mentally ill becomes even more painful and confused.

I'm thrilled to tell you that, based on the information you've shared, it's not necessary to prove that you have a mental illness!

The good news is that the most basic diagnostic criteria for mental illness are hallucinations, delusions, lack of self-awareness, and even logical confusion in the language system.

You have a very clear explanation of yourself, with good logic and a sense of hierarchy. And you have a good sense of awareness and introspection!

It's so interesting how it explains that I'm emotionally unstable, impatient, and oversensitive!

I'm excited to clarify further that bipolar disorder is just an abnormal evaluation of your emotional level given by the doctor. Even if

Bipolar disorder is also different from mental illness!

How can we make this work for you?

I would highly recommend that you consider seeking a psychiatric diagnosis and assessment to see if your current symptoms are amenable to medication.

Second, it would be really helpful for you to reflect and become aware of the process of how your emotions are aroused. Is there a characteristic to it?

For example, you may not have been a good boy for a long time, but you may have behaved in that way just to avoid being punished by your mother?

In addition, regardless of the pressure you face in a job interview, and when you want to see your mother's response first and cannot respond,

I think I've cracked it! They seem to be all related to problems in intimate relationships.

I'm going to throw out a wild guess:

I'm excited to hear your thoughts on this! Do you think these things might be activating your internal separation anxiety?

Also, I'm excited to hear if your anxiety is related to not being able to get immediate gratification!

If so, then it's time to start training the ability to delay gratification!

And once again, be aware of and adjust your own perceptions to see if they are characterized by black-and-white polarization. This is an exciting process!

He's eager to jump into a state of loss of control using a catastrophic understanding.

Finally, I would like to remind you that your emotions are currently quite volatile, and after all, you have already developed an adverse somatic reaction. But don't worry! I'm here to help.

which may have affected your life, studies, and sleep.

I highly recommend that you consider professional counseling to help you get through this low point in your life.

I am Counselor Yao, and I'm here to support and cheer you on!

You've got this! I'm rooting for you!

Perhaps it would be helpful to give the questioner a hug. I can sense that the questioner is experiencing some inner oppression, grievance, and discomfort. Since I was young, I have been a particularly well-behaved and sensible child, and this well-behaved and sensible nature has always been praised by my parents, relatives, and friends. This has led the questioner to feel accepted, recognized, and satisfied in this state of "well-behaved and sensible." He may instinctively feel that being "well-behaved and sensible" is good and beneficial. Over time, this may become an internalized cognitive thinking mode.

However, this way of thinking may have an impact on the normal life of the questioner as they grow older and become more aware of their independence. They may find themselves continually following the previous cognitive thinking mode, being obedient and sensible, and doing what their parents or authorities tell them to do. Their independent thoughts and actions may not be fully realised, and their needs may not be fully met. It could be likened to "marking the boat to find the sword". The sword was dropped here, and it may not walk by itself, but the boat has been moving all the time. How can you find the sword in a new position by marking it on the boat?

This concept can also be applied to individuals. During our formative years, we come to understand that our capacity to act is limited and that we cannot always think independently to complete a task. In such instances, it can be beneficial to seek guidance from our parents, who can provide valuable support in our self-growth journey. As we grow older, our bodies become stronger, our abilities expand, and we gradually gain the capacity to accomplish tasks that we could not do when we were younger.

On the other hand, if you are able to do it on your own, you may find that you no longer need to listen to what your parents say and do, and that you are no longer expected to be a well-behaved and sensible child like you were when you were little.

It is not uncommon for individuals to engage in heated discussions with their parents after reaching adulthood. This behavior can be seen as a form of asserting independence and self-reliance, as well as a means of expressing one's emotions. However, for the individual in question, they may find it challenging to fully comprehend and accept the underlying emotions and needs that are often suppressed. They may unintentionally perceive themselves as lacking patience or being overly sensitive.

However, it should be noted that this can lead to an intensification of the internal conflict. On the one hand, there is a tendency to suppress oneself, while on the other, one may become irritable. This can result in a state of being caught between two extremes. Over time, this can contribute to the development of bipolar affective disorder. Bipolar affective disorder is an early psychiatric diagnosis for this type of mental illness. The reason for this name is twofold: firstly, to reflect the unique manifestations of this disease, and secondly, to facilitate differentiation from other diseases.

The emotional instability of bipolar disorder can affect an individual's normal psychological and physiological state, as well as normal learning, work, and interpersonal interactions. It can even affect eating and sleeping. There will be abnormalities in mental state. Some people also classify this condition as a type of mental illness. This is also because it is difficult for domestic medical disciplines to give it an accurate and objective definition. The disease category belongs to psychological diseases, but generally many hospitals do not have a psychology department, and even the psychology department only does psychological testing and counseling. There is no way to make a reasonable and effective treatment plan for bipolar disorder, so it can only be pushed to the psychiatric department.

From a medical perspective, psychiatrists can perform physical tests and diagnoses and prescribe antidepressants or antimanic drugs to alleviate symptoms. Many people may initially perceive a mental illness as a personal failing when they first learn that they need to see a psychiatrist. This is often because they lack understanding of the actual situation and are making assumptions based on their limited knowledge and experience, without fully considering the impact on others.

It could be said that for people with bipolar disorder, depression serves as a form of defense against mania and a means of self-protection. This allows them to maintain a sense of control and avoid the intense emotions and challenges associated with mania, including the fear, pain, and suffering caused by the impact on relationships. Conversely, mania can be seen as a form of defense against depression and a way of safeguarding one's sense of self. This enables individuals to showcase their strengths and resilience while also providing a sense of protection and stability.

It could be said that whether it is depression or mania, it is all a form of emotional expression. It is just that because of the difference in form, the feelings it brings to oneself and others are different, and the degree of impact on things is also different.

In addressing a disease of this nature, it is often feasible to pursue a dual approach, integrating pharmacological and psychological interventions. However, it is important to recognise that this may necessitate a more extended timeframe, and that identifying a suitable psychological counsellor who can provide consistent and compassionate guidance is crucial.

Hello!

Feel your feelings.

Don't be afraid. Let's take our time. Feel your emotions.

1. Regarding the family's expectations of you.

You've always been obedient and sensible. Your family has shaped your personality over time.

"Filial and sensible" and "obedient" are the labels that family members give to women. They see these as the rules for women's survival.

They expect you to conform to their ideals.

Eighteen is the age of majority, but adulthood is a long journey.

"Emotionally unstable," "impatient," "sensitive." You are reflecting on yourself, perhaps because at 18 you discovered you don't agree with some family decisions, don't want to cooperate, and don't want to have your life planned. But you have to compromise because you are the sculpture of their ideal: sensible and obedient.

We haven't made our own choices yet because we respect our family.

They made the ultimate concession to love and responsibility by satisfying their ideals. However, you may seem pretentious to them during the process.

This cycle repeats endlessly, and the tension of life enters an emotional black hole under excessive external constraints.

Some psychologists say being "sensitive" is a gift. Used right, it can help you avoid risks.

2. Let's move on to bipolar disorder.

From ancient times to today, the sun has always risen and set. The moon has also been waxing and waning.

Bipolar disorder is a symptom. Churchill was diagnosed with it.

1. It's hard to understand the full picture when symptoms are involved. It's like having a fever, sometimes caused by an infection, sometimes by a cold.

Knowing why is better for taking care of yourself. Eating well and sleeping well is a kind of kindness to yourself.

2. Celebrities are always under the spotlight and are subject to criticism. He is trying to maintain his health, so it has not affected his achievements.

When you feel down, let it out, then try to think positively. That's how life works!

3. Your mother didn't respond when you were overseas.

I don't understand how you and your mother communicated before you left for abroad. Does it bother you?

You want to cling to someone, but you feel you can't. When you get close, you have to be obedient and understanding, and lose your opinions.

Attachment and avoidance, fear and anxiety arise.

Read and feel the warmth. Then untie the knot.

Ichiro Kasagi's "The Courage to Live in the Present Moment" is mentioned here as a wish.