Signs and symptoms of mania (or a manic episode) include:

*Increased energy, activity, and restlessness
*Excessively "high," overly good, euphoric mood
*Extreme irritability
*Racing thoughts and talking very fast, jumping from one *idea to another
*Distractibility, can't concentrate well
*Little sleep needed
*Unrealistic beliefs in one's abilities and powers
*Poor judgment
*Spending sprees
*A lasting period of behavior that is different from usual
*Increased sexual drive
*Abuse of drugs, particularly cocaine, alcohol, and sleeping medications
*Provocative, intrusive, or aggressive behavior
*Denial that anything is wrong

Signs and symptoms of depression (or a depressive episode) include:
*Lasting sad, anxious, or empty mood
*Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism
*Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness
*Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed, including sex
*Decreased energy, a feeling of fatigue or of being "slowed down"
*Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions
*Restlessness or irritability
*Sleeping too much, or can't sleep
*Change in appetite and/or unintended weight loss or gain
*Chronic pain or other persistent bodily symptoms that are not caused by physical illness or injury
*Thoughts of death or suicide, or suicide attempts



This thinking was sparked by her mania in the diary room the night she got her broomstick back, and her euphoric dancing in the garden afterwards. She seems to have 'crashed' again now, and is very depressive.

Whether she is or isnt, i think its not an unreasonable assumption that she is not mentally stable, and shouldnt be in the house in the first place, IMO.

Either she is, or she is faking it well.

Rudi ™

I think that the medical interviews the HM's have before BB and the many one to ones with psychologists might be better at working out Marys mental state, then what we , as (mostly) unprofessional commentators might see on our tv.

so NO. I dont think Mary has mental problems at all

It's not as though Endemol have ever concerned themselves with the emotional wellbeing of the housemates. Just look at last year. Emma, Shell, Michelle - all quite unstable at times.

Come off it, they'll do anything for good tv. Look at Emma last year, and then when she predictably exploded they put her back in the bedsit like a caged animal

she is a complete nutter

KEEP HER IN

Have you ever lived with someone who has Bipolar Disorder (Manic Depresion)? They is no way that Mary suffers from that.

c4 check out everyone before they are allowed in the house.

so no she isnt.

Naw she's ok.As sane as the next person.
Its all those cancerian energies within her competing with her gemini tiger ones.Not easy to cope with that little lot.
I reckon she does well considering.

If she were md/bp her manic episodes would last until her behaviour escalated out of control, followed by a complete crash were she couldn't get out of bed or dressed for days and days. Perhaps she has mild hypomania, as mood swings are evident I'm amazed she got past the psych people to be honest. Very unstable.

Her behaviour displays elements of schizophrenia, if anything, but it's difficult to tell how much she's putting on and how much is the real her.

She does not have bipolar affective disorder, not by any stretch of the imagination. In my career, I've met hundreds of people with BAD, so I know whereof I speak.

She's not got a mood disorder, she's just a moody cow.

Emma wasn't mental though, just retarded and like a small irritating 2 year old child.

Actually, could we rename this thread to 'Fancy posting an Amateur psychological remote assessment? - in here please'?

What of her (apparently genuine) belief that she has been, for example, abducted by aliens?

*Increased energy, activity, and restlessness
*Excessively "high," overly good, euphoric mood
*Extreme irritability
*Racing thoughts and talking very fast, jumping from one *idea to another
*Distractibility, can't concentrate well
*Little sleep needed
*Unrealistic beliefs in one's abilities and powers
*Poor judgment
*Spending sprees
*A lasting period of behavior that is different from usual
*Increased sexual drive
*Abuse of drugs, particularly cocaine, alcohol, and sleeping medications
*Provocative, intrusive, or aggressive behavior
*Denial that anything is wrong

that's all of them, minus the cocaine and the shopping spree

most people ain't been caught but once you are your behaviour can be read from a doctors perspective that you're ill and thats it. Mary just had a party. Not sleeping properly can bring on maiac behaviour as well.

Yes i have lived with someone that has had bipolar and it is sort of like hell on earth, which is far from how mary is behaving, yet i suppose there are different degree's of such a disorder.

All of us display elements of "magical" or irrational thinking. You could argue a belief in God or star signs is as irrational as Mary's belief, and I believe that if I light a cigarette at a bus stop it will somehow make the bus arrive quicker!
Mental illness is a continuum, it's not us and them. As a mental health professional and a sufferer of depression (ahem, that sounded pompous) I can assure you Mary has neither manic depression nor schizophrenia. She's an immature passive aggressive nightmare who's a bit inadequate in her coping skills, but there's a lot of them kicking around.

Hell on earth - yep thats quite a good way to put it.

Yes there are different levels and all would imply that either Lithyium and or Anti Depresants are a required treatment. There's no way BB would let someone on that sort of medication into the house.

Re: Mary being manic-depressive

It was reported in papers yesterday that her mum died only 6 months ago

Could be post-traumatic stress

Now - huge amateur guessing here....- only a guess!

http://forum.digitalspy.co.uk/board/...d.php?t=226227

We don't have to medicalise everything!!!!! If she's grieving, she's grieving, she doesn't have PTSD! People are odd, and strange, and bizarre, and annoying, full stop! All of us! Diagnosis or not!
(do the smilies mean I'm bipolar )

I agree if she is grieving I can understand her short fuse.
I have not long lost my dad, so I can empathise with her.
We are all unique, therefore we are all odd. mmWe of cvourse don't think we are