Could I be bipolar?

Question

I am a nice girl, very happy and everything. But sometimes I can get very "bitchy" for no reason, even though people around me are very nice. It ruined my last relationship and I am scared it will happen with my current one. Also, sometimes I am very confused in my thoughts, and things like that. I just cannot control my anger, and sometimes I am angry for stupid reasons. I remember i made a hole in the wall before just because I was too angry. I know this cannot be normal. Could I be bipolar, or something else?
Please only respond if you know what you're talking about.
Thanks in advance.

How do doctors find out your bipolar? What kind of tests do they do?

I'm not on drugs or anything like that.

Answer 1

I live with bipolar disorder. I'm currently being treated. You may be bipolar as well. All the things you described were a part of my daily life. I also had sever sleep loss, sleeping anywhere from 2 to 6 hours each night. Normally between 3 and 4 hours. I had racing thoughts very often. Like a runaway model train going round and round gaining speed the entire time. Thoughts included conversations I had that day, events and possible future events or conversations. Anxiety, over excitement, depression, fear and anger were always present.

While you may be bipolar there are other possibilities. Those include Major Depression, Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), Obsessive Compulsive Disorder OCD) and other anxiety disorders.

I suggest you talk with your family doctor and see what he/she recommends. Sometimes they can provide diagnosis and treatment or they may recommend a psychiatrist. I am being treated by a Nurse Practioner at my clinic. When you do talk to someone, write down all your symptoms and any questions you may have before you get there. That way you have them on paper and won't forget. You must be proactive in your mental health to get the best results possible. If you are given prescription antidepressants be patient. It often takes 4 to 6 weeks for them to take effect. Also you must not give up on help, if you start a medicine and it does not work for you, go back to your doctor. There are many drugs that he/she can use and it may take several attempts to find the right drug, combination of drugs and dosage for your individual needs. Everyone is different and responds differently to the medications.

While you wait to see you doctor, try the links below for bipolar information. I am linking to the bipolar pages but you can search the sites for other information.

I hope I have not confused you. I would like to think I have helped. I wish you good luck in your search for peace and a normal life.

Terry

Answer 2

Hi there, I've been suffering from bipolar for a long time, maybe years, but I only got a diagnosis about a week ago! Nobody else in my family has it, they all have recurrent depression instead. It's a relief to get the diagnosis in a way, because I know that it's the Bipolar causing my mood swings and not just ''me being crazy''. I've been started on a low dose of Zyprexa, I think my psychiatrist intends to add more medication in a couple of week's time. I think at the time he thought I was manic, because when he asked how I would rate my mood I said 'low side of normal' and then his eyebrows raised and he looked shocked and said 'you mean you get a lot higher than this?' and I went 'hell yeah!' and laughed, and that's when he put me on the Zyprexa. I'm a bit depressed at the minute though, and I can't manage to make myself leave the house, get dressed or get something to eat... Anyway, at the moment I'm not functioning well at all, but it's kind of a relief to know there are other bipolar people out there that are coping and living a normal life. I hope that will be me soon too. Maybe once I'm on the right medication. All the best. <3 x

Answer 3

That could be signs of bipolar. It is hard for me to really know though with just symptoms of extreme anger. I would need to know other things like if you ever have feelings of intense sadness that lasts for 2 weeks or more and if you've ever been so happy that you felt on top of the world or if you've ever had a period lasting at minimum 4 days where you felt much more energized, had less need for sleep, were irritable, had racing thoughts or flight of ideas. Those are common symptoms of bipolar disorder. What you described, if you just have symptoms of getting easily angry could be a sign of possible borderline personality disorder, but again, without any other symptoms to go along with this, it is hard for me to make a preliminary diagnosis. I would talk this over with a psychologist in your area. A personality test, like an MMPI would be better able to assist in a diagnosis.

Answer 4

Although you have a definite anger management problem doubt that you are bi-polar for bi-means two moods which are up and down depending which are of the brain is being affected and can easily be controlled with medication-no cure. The 2 moods are up to the extreme,happy and very overly confident which lasts for a period of time and varies from adult to adult but can change faster in children. The other mood is being terribly depressed and down on yourself and life and so on. If theres Psychosis along with the Bi-polar then also see and hear things not there. You need to pay very close attention to what exactly makes you angry.You could try keeping a journal for the very first step is knowing,identifying those things that set you off. How did your parents handle anger,did they or one of them yell a lot for usually this is a learned behavior. You can also call your County Community Service Board which you can find in the blue pages-Very caring people answer the phones,they listen and they can advise and how to get into low or no cost therapy which depends on your income. It would benefit you greatly to have therapy for there may also be a medication available to help you better control yourself. The fact that you are concerned is the first step you've taken to get help and I congratulate you in acknowledging that you have a problem and want help. I hope you get the help and have a happy life.God Bless You.

Answer 5

This is not bipolar disorder. It is more likely that you have a personality disorder - namely, borderline personality disorder. Your psychiatrist can treat you with medications that will help you. Also, counseling and methods to control your anger will help.

Your psychiatrist will also be able to tell you if your "mood swings" are hormonally related such as in premenstrual syndrome.

But you should not think that this is bipolar disorder. Bipolar requires a period of mania for diagnosis. Mania means depresed need for sleep, pressured speech, sexual promiscuity, shoping sprees, and exaggerated self-importance or delusions of grandeur. Thre is howoever another type of bipolar (bipolar II disorder) that is described as mania without psychosis and does not interfere with your life. Keep in mind that in bipolar, people usually also have periods of major depression, while it is not required for it's diagnosis. In addition, a diagnosis of bipolar disorder is made based on history and family history of bipolar. Very rarely does a patient not have a 1st degree relative with a history of bipolar or depression.

Answer 6

If you are bi-polar, perhaps you go through most of the month with an even disposition but as the full moon appears (I'm serious) you start getting disturbed, upset, verbal, frantic, angry, sure that people are planning terrible things for you. If you hear yourself make threats, you may be in danger. See a doctor. Are you lacking in B6 and Riboflavin, and B12? Are you on bad drugs? Don't be afraid of a psychiatrist; one may help a lot, and prevent you from hurting yourself. Bipolar illness is not something to tolerate or ignore; it can result in danger.

Answer 7

everyone answered the first pretty good, you shows clear signs of mania, but you need some depression too.

getting diagnossed with bipolar is a pain in the @ss. No one wants to be the first to finally say your bipolar. They ask your questions for hours, my parents had to come to help verrify my answers. No normal pschiatrist would slap the label of bipolar on my problems. I ended up first getting diagnossed from some crazy med student who wanted to do tests on me. But maybe that was just my experiance.

Answer 8

The only way a doctor can diagnose you as Bi-polar is by your testimony and the testimony of others. Its sounds more like a Personality Disorder than Bi-polar. This is better in some ways and not in others. Bi-polar is basically where your depressed and confused and have no real physical reason. You don't understand why. Your not necessarily angry or upset, you just don't get it. You have a wide range of emotions, ranging from sad to sad, lol, you are AFTER ALL DEPRESSED.

THEN, you hit THE OTHER SIDE or, "MANIA." And Mania is what gets you into "trouble." By that, I mean its when you do your compulsive spending and shopping, overeating, your happy, happy, happy until you want to crawl up the wall : )))))))) You go go go. Life is GRAND.

Now, a personality disorder, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mood_disorder

Answer 9

Take my answer as it is.I am listed as " A Bipolar Manic Depressive w/ Suicidal Tenderizes" I spent 2 1/2Yrs in a mental hospital. I had very bad nightmares. memory loses.They give you alot of written guestions. The answers you give them helps them tell if you are bipolar or something else.Do not waste time before getting help. The longer you wait the worse it gets.

Answer 10

Hmmm... Sounds like me! It drives me crazy when I ''*****'' at my family and friends for no particular reason. Most times I'd rather them be mean and harsh with me than kind and sweet. The more they're nice to me the more bitchy I am towards them. Talk about reverse psychology! I also have a hot temper and am easily upset by minor details. I do tend to react violently, more by ways of speech than of action but then it depends. I try to write down my thoughts because it helps me sort out my difficulties, to better understand them. I've been fortunate to attend a few Anger Mangement courses and that has helped me a wee bit. The only lesson I remember of is to come back to one's breathing. Taking deep inhales and exhales will help calm and soothe yourself and help you see and think clearly. The breath is portable and free, that's why the focus is on one's breathing. It sounds so easy and pathetic but it helps and is worth trying. I've also noticed that I take things very seriously and personally, which causes anger to rise in me very quickly and quite often, though not at all necessary in the least bit. I'm not sure if that's your case though. I've heard of the method on punching your pillow to vent your anger and how that's mentally unhealthy for you because you just re excercise your anger in the end. It leaves one feeling exhausted so that one temporarily forgets their anger, but the seed of anger is lying beneath your consciousness. So what does that have to do with your anger and the hole in your wall? Well, what if someone arouses strong anger in you in the middle of the city? There's no nearby walls for you to punch holes in and the nearest object you grab might be a fatal one and without thinking you can do harm to people or animals, things that later on you will deeply regret. That, versus taking care of your anger, :) treating it like your little baby sister or brother (in my Anger Management course, it was 'treating your anger like a mother would towards her child', I'm not sure of your age so I changed it a bit) instead of surpressing it and denying it. To embrace one's anger with calmness and patience, you can transform this so called negative emotion into a positive energy. (PersonalIy I'd just stick to being calm)
As soon as I notice irritation arise in me, I isolate myself for a bit and take the space I need, to take care of my emotions. To breath and calm myself, to recognize and accept my anger or other emotions, and let it go. Feelings come and go, it's alright. If you're a teen, it's a phase one needs to go through and experience to gain inner strength and knowledge. G' luck!