Could Trump have bi-polar disorder?

[CTyankee]

I had a boss that had it and we never knew which Diane would show up that day: the "best friend" boss who gushed over you or the negative, brooding, impossible to please Diane. And she wouldn't stay on her meds either.

I finally had to quit that job and find another...

[Maru Kitteh]

1. That is not what bi-polar is.

[CTyankee]

3. explain please. maybe I am confusing disorders here....

[Maru Kitteh]

10. BPD is a disorder characterized by periods of mania and periods of clinical depression

During periods of mania the person exhibits characteristic behaviors like pressured speech, poor sleep, euphoria and disorganized or even delusional thinking. Many times there are even measurable metabolic changes like elevated blood pressure, heart rate and temperature. I once had a patient who was found floating naked down a river in March because she was so overheated, she jumped in to cool off.

People who are in a manic episode usually feel AMAZING, like they are uniquely equipped with special insights or abilities - but they frequently engage in very self-destructive behaviors like gambling or compulsive buying. They are also prone to anger and aggression during periods of mania.

Periods of clinical depression are the other feature of BPD. Depression and mania to not swing from one day to the next and back again. This is a common, and very inaccurate misconception about BPD. Episodes of each behavior pattern last days, weeks and even months at a time.

BPD does not make a person like you one day and dislike you the next. Also, the medications for BPD suck - with a capital suck. The reason people go off of them is because they have terrible sexual side effects and weight gain, plus, people often just do not feel good on them. Sometimes they miss the euphoria, or they feel their life is too void of feelings altogether, so they go off the meds and boom, pretty soon they're right back in a crisis.


I think it's safe to say Trump has features of some personality disorders, but I do not see any evidence of BPD.

[CTyankee]

12. thanks. I have a family member who has BPD and she got thrown out of her prep scholl due to

not taking her Adderoll because (she said she "didn't feel like herself" when she took it). But she would scream at her sisters when she was depressed and she was delightful when she was in her "up" swing. The Adderoll helps keep her level...

[Maru Kitteh]

14. Adderall is not a BPD medication - it is amphetimine, stimulant medication for ADD/ADHD

Taking too much or abuse of amphetamines can result in panic attacks, paranoia, and rage along with numerous, potentially detrimental physical symptoms.

[CTyankee]

15. You have corrected me. My granddaughter has ADHD.

I am having memory losslately andd have been diagnosed with SAIDH so I make these mistakes. My doc reassured me that I am not having dementia. We are working on getting my low sodium numbers up by limiting my fluids to one quart in total a day. It is proving difficult to do...

[ProfessorGAC]

16. Or Both, Maru

It's called a hypomanic episode which is best described as a highly agitated state of anxiety and depression.

My wife gained quite a lot of weight on these meds, but she is a diligent med taker. Never misses a day, never abandons the meds.

But, you're description is very accurate. Thanks for that nice summation.

[Maru Kitteh]

17. You are correct. I thought bringing mixed episodes into the picture seemed

like a lot to try to explain.

Good for your wife for sticking with her meds. When your own organic chemistry is trying to sabotage you, having a great support system means everything - so good for you too, Professor! Well done.

[ProfessorGAC]

20. Well, At Least She Married An Organic Chemist!

Funny how those kinds of things happen, ain't it?

And, thanks.

[BSdetect]

2. More like quad-polar?

[DURHAM D]

4. Well...he is a Gemini. nt

[HipChick]

27. On behalf of Gemini's everywhere...

We are not claiming him....he's on his own....

[madaboutharry]

28. I'm with HipChick,

We Gemini people disown him.

[pnwmom]

5. His narcissistic personality disorder explains his ups and downs without any other side diagnosis.

Narcissists like him rage when their perfect opinion of themselves is threatened. As long as they think they're getting enough attention and approval, they're fine. Otherwise, watch out.

They have no inner core, so their emotions are at the mercy of whatever currently is happening to them. But this is not like bipolar disorder.

[KittyWampus]

6. Manic would explain not sleeping.

[pnwmom]

7. Many people his age have trouble with sleeping. n/t

[CTyankee]

8. I thought of that, too...

[Maru Kitteh]

13. Meh. We have no reports of him sleeping for days or weeks at a time.

I've worked with many people who claim to get only 3-4 hours of sleep each night. When you dig down into it, you usually find they are being a little loosey-goosey with the truth, and more than a little zealous with the use of caffeine.

I think Trump decided long ago that sleep was for weak people and a total waste of time. Plus, it's probably a little harder to get a good night's rest when you really, truly hate yourself.

I think his sleeping habits are, in part at least, a carefully crafted legend he has created.

[Hekate]

23. I think my husband (age 70) & I must be the only ones who think DT's prostate wakes him up at 3am

Callous of me, I know, but there you have it: an old man with a personality disorder shuffling off to the throne room with his cell phone in his hand.

That and, as you say, a carefully crafted legend.

[RobinA]

9. Right Off The Bat...

he doesn't appear to cycle

[LanternWaste]

11. My guess is Borderline Personality Disorder.

My guess is Borderline Personality Disorder. He acts uncommonly like a family member of mine who is diagnosed with it. Relevant symptoms Trump seems to share with the disorder include...

Having an unstable or dysfunctional self-image or a distorted sense of self
Feelings of isolation, boredom and emptiness
Difficulty feeling empathy for others
A history of unstable relationships that can change drastically from intense love and idealization to intense hate
Intense, highly changeable moods that can last for several days or for just a few hours
Impulsive, risky, self-destructive and dangerous behaviors
Hostility

But again, a simple guess on my part. Part of me hopes he does have a disorder to better explain his actions and words.

[Xipe Totec]

18. He's the center of his own universe, so he's a monopole at best. nt

[nikibatts]

19. Yes, Dumb and Evil

[Tom the Mechanic]

21. Narcissism

Textbook narcissism.
You don't usually see someone exhibit so blatantly, but this is a great opportunity to observe a textbook case.
The black and white thinking is triggered by criticism vs praise. (Highly sensitive to both)
Self image=external image, therefore much gold plating, women, and fake cuff links (ask Charlie Sheen).
His current upset is over all the protests (damaging his image), so his staff are trying to convince him that the protesters are paid and bused in (or something like that).
Something to watch while our nation crumbles.

[wishstar]

22. Malignant Narcissistic Sociopath

He has classic signs of Malignant narcissism as well as being a sociopath. His ability to function successfully most of time rules out the lengthier manic or depressive episodes seen in bi-polar disorder.


"Sociopath" because he disregards the feelings of others, lacks remorse or shame, behaves manipulatively with unchecked egocentricity, and blatantly lies to achieve his goals. He is a skillful con artist who shamelessly takes advantage of others in his pursuit of self-promotion, wealth and power. His lack of compassion, honesty, self-reflection or ethical standards is disturbing.


Textbook malignant narcissism with rage, projection and lashing out when setbacks and criticism deflate his self-image.

[Rhiannon12866]

24. That sure sounds like an accurate description to me

And yet he's currently leader of the free world...

[mnhtnbb]

32. Pretty well nails him, I think.

[Buns_of_Fire]

25. I'll stick with the more pedestrian diagnosis: Type 1 Asshole. nt

[jmowreader]

26. "Asshole, not otherwise specified" is just one of the things that are wrong with him

[Warren DeMontague]

29. Nah, he's just got one pole.

[C_U_L8R]

30. Seems pretty unipolar to me

Stuck on stupid and hateful.

[get the red out]

31. No

I have family members with bi-polar disorder and the are not without conscience. tRump is probably a narcissist, from what several Psychiatrists who have addressed the topic have said.