do i have a mental illness?

Question

Sometimes i cant get out of bed in the morning and have no motivation for anything like eating or showering, i get all angry and depressed then other days i get all motivated, speak really fast and talk heaps and have heaps of engery and just want to do everything like wash all my clothes iron them even through there already clean and ironed, sometimes it feels like my head is going a 100miles a hour, i used to cut myself when i got down, when im down or stressed i seem to punish myself like not eating, smoking heaps, drinking too much coffee etc. ive been put on antidpressants before but had really bad side effects im thinking about trying st johns wort, i dont want to talk to a counsellor or doctor just incase i am crazy

if anyone could email me to talk it would be really helpful

thanks for everone who answered i researched biploar all the symptoms sound like me, dont know what to do, feel down now, will the doctor put me in hosiptal or give me needles? i have a phobia of needles

Answer 1

First of all your not crazy.
How long has this been going on. It could be that you suffer from bi polar or manic depression as it was originally known.


It is characterized by periods of excitability (mania) alternating with periods of depression. The "mood swings" between mania and depression can be very abrupt.
Bipolar disorder affects men and women equally and usually appears between the ages of 15 and 25. The exact cause is unknown, but it occurs more often in relatives of people with bipolar disorder.

Bipolar disorder results from disturbances in the areas of the brain that regulate mood. During manic periods, a person with bipolar disorder may be overly impulsive and energetic, with an exaggerated sense of self. The depressed phase brings overwhelming feelings of anxiety, low self-worth, and suicidal thoughts.

There are two primary types of bipolar disorder.
People with bipolar disorder have had at least one fully manic episode with periods of major depression.

Where as People with bipolar disorder II rarely experience full-fledged mania. Instead they experience periods of elevated levels of energy and impulsiveness that are not as extreme as the symptoms of mania. These hypomanic periods alternate with episodes of major depression.

A mild form of bipolar disorder called cyclothymia involves periods of hypomania and mild depression, with less-severe mood swings. People with bipolar disorder II or cyclothymia may be misdiagnosed as having depression alone.

i think that you do need to see your local GP, to rule out any other problems as what you have explained sounds like the above info I have given you.
Your doctors wont think you are crazy, they would want to help you get better. And if this is bipolar, then it is treatable with medication.
Good luck and please go and see your doctor, they can help you more then what we can on Yahoo!

Answer 2

I have been through all that and in hospitals. I am drug free for years now and doing fine.

On the surface, sure it sounds like Bipolar or a lesser form like hypomania.
An anti-depressant or St. John's Wort can help the depression side but can sometimes make the mania side worse. Usually they'll add a mood stabilizer into the mix.
But some of these can have side effects like weight gain, etc.

You know drinking coffee and all that caffeine can make even a normal person feel a bit manic, so try to avoid caffeine in coffee, soda, chocolate (except in moderation).

Also maybe you are one of those sensitive to the chemicals in a lot of today's processed foods? Some people with wheat allergies have similar symptoms.Try omitting them and see how you feel. Stick to lots of water, fruits, veggies, and vegetarian protein sources like legumes, etc.

Meditation and exercise, like yoga can do wonders on a regular basis. Getting on a good sleep pattern (e.g early to bed and early to rise).

Good company is very important, especially people in group meditation, etc. Also careful of types of movies you watch, news on TV you watch, etc.

Don't worry, you're not "crazy" most crazy people are oblivious that they're crazy. You just might have an imbalance.

Check into getting a good multi-vitamin (especially liquid, but pill willbe fine) and look into fish oil supplementation. Google "Bipolar and fish oil" A good B complex is great for the nerves too.

Don't fear talking to a counselor or shrink. They won't hospitalize you unless you are suicidal or homicidal. I was a cutter but stopped. B/f threatened to dump me if I did again and he meant it.

Answer 3

It does sound exactly like depression or Bi-polar.

We will get one thing straight though YOU ARE NOT CRAZY.

There are many different antidepressants and one may work better for you, there is also therapy of course. Depression is often an overreaction to simple things but caused by deeper problems (in my case loss of my mother at the age of 14) and if you can talk to a professional and come to terms with it then you may never need meds again.

St Johns wort sort of worked for me but its really still just a med, in this case an unregulated one.

The only person that can really help you is the Doctor, when you harm yourself you affect everyone around you need help if only for that reason.

The pivotal word is ILLNESS and not MENTAL, if you were crazy you would not even realise it. If you had a problem with your skin, heart, lungs you would visit the doctor. What makes the brain so different?

Good luck, i hope it all works out for you.

Answer 4

We all have mental illnesses. Really. The secret is to function with them. Work them out. You sound like a classic bi-polar. A lot of artists are.

In our society we are too quick to label and too judgemental. Is it any wonder we question our own behavior when we hear so much about others from people who are no more together than those they judge? Keep keeping on. Make things. Creating things often helps. And if you can't create, study.

Answer 5

You may have.
I would suggest another visit to your doctor. Coming from a family where mum is sczophrenic and dad bipolar (and mother in law depressed) sometimes it takes trying a few different medications until you can get one that agrees with your body.
Being depressed does not mean you are crazy.

Check out beyondblue.org.au

Answer 6

It really sounds to me like you could possibly have bi-polar disorder and maybe a touch of ADHD!! Of course there is no way to tell unless you talk to a qualified doctor to diagnose this, but my sister has this, and it sounds like her symptoms! Good Luck to you, I hope you get the correct diagnosis soon and the correct medication, I know my sister says she would not go back for nothing!!!

Answer 7

your mood swings may be depression, or bipolar disease, which they used to call manic depression...bouts of ups and downs,...and it might just be something as simple as a chemical imbalance, not necessarily a mental illness...many times, they diagnose chemical imbalances as mentally ill, but it really isn't the case....you can go on line and research this or you can ask your doctor for a small dose of lithium, which might help you in the long run..you might just be a normal person with different moods, also...you are not crazy though, believe me...God Bless

Answer 8

Maybe you're Bipolar, could also be schizo or depression. Either way, you should see a doctor so if you are any of these you can get treatment before you do something else to hurt yourself again. Good luck

Answer 9

you have to let the logical part of you take over, especial when your depressed and want to cut yourself, just think your body works really hard to keep you alive and you shouldnt cut yourself thats like attacking your best friend.
I dont know what you do for fun or if u have any hobbys but to me it sounds like the emotional part is taking over the logical part of your brain, so you should go to a doctor and your not crazy enough for them to lock you up somwhere and if you are, i guess it makes sense.

Answer 10

No its just a bit of stress. Try to find the cause of it like people shouting etc. Try to find a fun hobby
Try to get a stress squeezer like a cushion.
If you want to cut something stab a knife in a tree. Dont cut yourself its not good.