depression or bi-polar? i just need help?

Question

I cant go to a counselor, or to any one for that matter… just my boyfriend… and he helps me out of these moods that I get into that are only sorrow and pessimistic thoughts of hopelessness. I looked up bi polar disorder on wickapedia and I found this “Cyclothymia is a chronic, but less extreme, form of bipolar disorder that consists of short periods of mild depression alternating with short periods of hypomania. The onset of each phase is separated by short periods of normal mood.” I also found out that hypomania is pretty much being high on your self and being highly creative… I seem to be both one week then so sad its not funny the next. And I get depressed when I don’t get my way and things even small things make me cry. I have always been emotional and stuff but nothing like this. It gets so bad I don’t even know who I am. It makes me hate my self and thinks the one person I love hates me. I know there is something wrong but I don’t know what. Are these just natural teen feelings or do I have a problem. Some one please enlighten me. I need your help!!

my boy friend is more of a phyciatrist than you think. he has been through depression. and even my parents hate me. not my dad. but i dont live with him or know him that well. and i cant seek professional help... nor my school conclor

oh, and who ever said "they hurt every one around them" i do my boy friend is just usually around me... and i hurt my self 24-7 with thoughts that wont end.

Answer 1

I'm pretty sure you don't have bipolar disorder. My dad has it and the symptoms are much more severe, especially the manic side. Also, just the fact that you think you have it tells me that you don't. People with bipolar don't know they have it or are in denial of having it for a very long time. It's not that common for someone to acknowledge they have the disease and seek the appropriate treatment-from my experience and from what I've read. Also, someone with bipolar is very abusive verbally, sometimes physically, and they are controlling and manipulitive. They hurt everyone around them-friends and family. They have a jekyll and hyde type personalities and often abuse alcohol or drugs, more often prescription drugs. You don't sound like that to me. You say that you can't go to a counselor or any one else, but you need to see somebody for your depression. It sounds pretty bad to me and your boyfriend cannot be everything and everyone for you and he's not a psychiatrist. It's very possible that you need medication and you won't know if you do for sure or what kind until you see someone. Please get help. If you are against psychiatry or can't afford it, please at least talk to me or find a support group. This is not PMS. I don't want to see you spiral out of control and end up wanting to take your own life. I hope you find the help you need. Good luck and God bless.

Answer 2

Being emotional is only one symptom of a mood disorder - there is a whole checklist you need to go through.

It could be PMS. Some ladies get that really bad, kinda runs in families. So you should keep track, and if you are all sad and crying only during the week before your period, and maybe the first couple days of your period, that is what it is. Maybe birth control pills can help, or just even knowing that is the problem is a big help. You can just mentally roll your eyes at yourself and kind of laugh it off even while you feel hopeless (and the suffering is real - but at least you know it will end in a few days).

Also, it could be seasonal affective disorder, if you live north. 10% of Americans have it, but nobody in Florida or California or Texas would, it's all the people up north, so I bet 30% of people in the northern states have it. You just might not be getting enough sunlight. So if it seems like you are way moody in the winter, that could be the culprit.

And you could be bipolar or depressed, and these things I mention above are happening too, or making it worse.

I think it is a great idea to tell your mom or dad about this and see what they think. Hopefully they won't blow you off (I don't think many parents would, nowadays) You can;t really diagnose yourself, a doctor has to do that. If you are feeling bad like this, it is a medical condition, and your parents should know. You can talk quite a while with a parent (or school guidance counselor? or nice teacher/coach?) and they may help you understand whether this is teen angst or more. If you really think people hate you, then I would say that you have a problem that a parent should know about, and it is more than teen angst. I'm 42 and not a parent, but if I was, I sure would want to know my daughter was feeling this way so I could help her. good luck!!

Answer 3

Based on your description, it doesn't sound like you have bipolar disorder. Both bipolar disorder and cyclothymia have very specific criteria with respect to the moods, the duration of those episodes as well as the intervals involved.

Hypomania isn't quite this "being high on yourself and being highly creative" thing you describe. What defines this is more problematic - where it starts imparing your life.

It does seem like you are describing some symptoms of depression and have very little sense of self worth. Often people with depression will also have insomnia (trouble sleeping), anorexia (loss of appetitie) or increased appetite and anhedonia (lack of interest or lack of pleasure from things).

If you feel you have depression and are feeling hopeless, I highly recommend that you seek some help from a professional. Even though your boyfriend may be supportive, he may not necessarily be doing the right thing. If you can't go to a counselor at school (if you are in school), try asking at your local hospital about a behavioral health/mental health center or clinic which you can go do. If you start having thoughts of hurting yourself, please seek professional help right away or go to the closest ER or call 9-1-1.

Answer 4

Over the last five years I had begun to have increasingly withdraw into a downward spiral of depression..

But now with the method I can fully focus my energy and thoughts into a decisive line on how to make my life better constantly. And it works like magic! I'm beginning to attract people to me once again and things have just been looking up since then.

Helping you eliminate depression?

Answer 5

You very could be bipolar as it appears that you are showing some soft signs of it. Only a psychiatrist will be able to tell you for sure if you have it or not, so please do not rely on us telling you if you have it or not. Either way, there is help out there (professional I mean) that can help you get on with your life. Whether that involves seeing a therapist or starting a medication to help regulate your moods, you can get better. It sounds like this is impeding your life so you might want to see your doctor soon to get help.

Answer 6

Based on what you've told us, I do not think you are bi polar. There is a whole list of things you do and ways you act to be bi polar. What does your counselor say? Maybe you can get a prescription for your depression as it does sound severe. Again, ask your counselor.

Answer 7

Depression may or may not be linked to a physical problem. Start with your doctor. Level with him or her and they will at least begin with a blood test and move on from there. Do not wait. If you have a problem that can be diagnosed and treated, the sooner the better. Do not wait.