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Bipolar Disorder
Hey there,
Well this may seem a bit silly, but I was wondering if I could perhaps be bipolar? My friends and family have "jokingly" mentioned that I might be.... Here are some of my "symptoms". I get really happy and excited for no reason and then other times I get into this mood, when I dont want to talk to anyone; I get so irratable and mean to everyone for no reason. I also get depresed randomly for a whole day. Then the next day Im REALLY REALLY happy and excited. This cycle constantly repeats itself. Sometimes I get so excited that I cant even sleep. I just lie awake daydreaming. My friends also pointed out to me that I dont have "controll" over my emotions. I get excited when I should be sad and vice versa.
What do you think?
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Want to answer more questions in the Health & Fitness category?
Maybe give some free advice about: Mental health?
Coming from a professional... you most likely do not. Bipolar disorder is a commonly miss diagnosed mental illness. Many people lack control over their emotions this is something very common. Plus there are many dependent factors.
Factor one: How long has this been occuring?
Factor two: How old are you?
Factor three: What is your gender?
Factor four: What are the situations in which these mood swings have been occuring?
The comment about getting excited when others feel sad and vice versa is an interesting one, but not all that uncommon.
Every person reacts to stimuli in different ways. There is not a rule on what emotion is right or wrong. In addition to that many times people will hide one emotion with another. For example, a woman may become angry at her partner for leaving her alone at their home for the weekend when in realty the way she really feels is sadness and lonliness.
Bipolar Disorder is not just about moodswings. Individuals who truly have this mental illness have marked and noticeable EXTREME mood swings. For example one can be so elated that they do something reckless because they feel immortal (what could possibly happen when I feel this good) to suicide attempts.
Dr. B
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Trying to self-diagnose or even to have those that are not professionals diagnose a disorder like Bi-Polar disorder is not good. Since you are asking my reaction to what you have written is that you could be a typical teenager struggling with the hormonal changes of puberty.
Be it struggling with the hormonal changes or be it something else it is best to see your family doctor first. There are screening questions that can be asked along with blood work that the doctor can use to make a determination as to what you are experiencing. In either case there is medication that can help. If you are experiencing symptoms of Bi-Polar Disorder or depression you will be or should be referred to another doctor for further testing and treatment.
Your family doctor is the doctor that knows you the best so that is the place to start. Ask you mother to make an appointment with the family doctor and when you are there tell the doctor exactly what is going on and how you feel.
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ADDITIONAL: You Never mentioned this was CONSTANT before now. In that case have your parents keep an eye on you and if concerned take you to see an ER doctor who will put you on to a psychiatrist. But... It looks as though this is all normal to me having been through it.
ORIGINAL:
I'm no doctor but I would say you are a normal teenager. I can say that as I regrettably have the disease you've written in about.
Bipolar disorder is when you have grandiose ideas, visions and delusions colliding with your normal life turning it upside down and inside out. It's pure hell to be brutally honest. That's called mania.
And you don't come back down from that easily as it requires MONTHS of hospitalization and medication and then you get your life back gradually.
During this you'll have rapid cycles of absolute euphoria to deep depression where not only do you feel useless, depressed etc. but could pose harm to yourself if not hospitalized temporarily.
If you just feel down now and again or in a funk that's normal unless it seems to always occur. Getting happy and excited is okay unless you're off the charts like I stated before with euphoria or feeling omnipotent. What you describe is normal teenage stuff.
As far as daydreaming goes it hasn't anything to do with bipolar either. Self-control and emotions is a concern as with bipolar or pre-bipolar comes total inability to control them and decision making over anything is out the window.
That's hypomania. By itself it's not dangerous. It just means you're very hyper and decisions aren't sound but when bipolar it's dangerous.
Basically, unless you think you are GOD or someone of that status that controls everyone in the universe you're fine. If you aren't having grandiose ideas or visions of things nobody else can see or understand you're fine.
If your moods normally change like you stated that's fine too. It's only if it's a constant thing that cycles back and forth. If you are thinking you can communicate through TV, telepathically, in secret code with world leaders you're in crisis or headed. That's what most bipolar people think they experience until medication corrects it.
Also rapid speaking and thoughts going through your head non-stop like a freight-train and inability to sleep or have a sense of time and date or even where you are is another part of it.
I'm willing to bet you're fine because if you weren't a lot of people would be starting to question your health by now. It's something that can and does catch you by surprise but in some rare cases it's blatantly obvious.
As far as you're concerned you're a normal kid who daydreams and gets emotional sometimes. That's not a disease.
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Probably not. Maybe, but probably not.
Generally, bipolar disorder involves periods of mania (extreme happiness, obsession and ) or depression (extreme sadness and lethargy) that lasts for weeks or months at a time, NOT one that changes in a day, certainly not hours.
Bipolar disorder is not the same as being random, or moody, or over sensitive. The same way that being shy doesn't automatically mean you have an anxiety disorder or being loud doesn't automatically make you ADHD.
There are two things you should do: The first is talk to a doctor if you are truly concerned. The second is watch your diet. The food you eat has a HUGE affect on your mood. Too much junk will send you skyrocketing and than crashing. Too much sugar or caffeine can do the same, and disturb your sleep cycle drastically.
The teen years are when many really grasp that what they put into their body, affects what comes out in their moods. Take a look at what you eat, and how it affects you.
Bipolar disorder is possible, but unlikely. Making poor diet choices is a faaaar more likely culprit if you are feeling unleveled.
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It's possible to have cyclical emotions without being bipolar. You don't mention how old you are -- if you're under 21, you may simply be still developing your psychological and emotional responses and personality.
However, if you are concerned, you should consult a psychologist for an evaluation. You may also find it helpful to track what's going on in your life in a journal, to assess whether your feelings of happiness or sadness really are random and without reason. You may be having delayed reactions to events, or you may have things going on that you haven't dealt with or processed, which may cause you to have moods that seem random, but really aren't.
If you are female, you may also have mood cycles related to your menstrual cycle, and that might be useful to track. If you do decide to see a mental health professional, the more information you can provide, the better you'll be able to collaborate in assessing your situation and finding a good management solution.
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