Bipolar symptoms?
Hi everyone! I'm new to 7Cups and I came on here because I'm looking to get some advice on whether I might be having bipolar symptoms. My family is really nagging me to see a psychiatrist as they think I might be depressed and that that is due to a disorder. I don't know much about bipolar but when I read symptoms online, although I do recognise myself in some of them, I don't know if they are severe enough to qualify. I've also taken a few tests online and always come out as at severe/high risk of being bipolar but again when I think about it I don't feel like any of these symptoms is severe enough to be classified as that? On the other hand I don't trust my judgement as I'm not familiar with the disorder and this causes me to be extremely confused and frustrated. Would anyone be willing to talk to me about this?
tysm in advance! <3
@main13 Unfortunately 7 Cups does not allow us to give advice here, especially medical advice.
Diagnosing any complex condition cannot be done reliably using online tests. You really do need to consult a psychiatrist in order to get a reliable diagnosis.
Also note that there are two different types of bipolar disorder, I and II, with different diagnostic criteria and treatments.
I agree with you that severity has to be taken into account. If your family are seeing what they think is depression, what is it that caused you to read about bipolar?
Charlie
@RarelyCharlie Hi tysm for replying! I agree with you, that's why I came on here because I was hoping to get some insights from people who have maybe had different experiences. My family mentioned bipolar, saying the depression might be consequent to a disorder like bipolar and that it's not my fault (I think they were trying to reassure me with little success). I've had periods that could be considered as mania/hypomania where I put myself at risk with my behaviour (sex, drinking, drugs etc) and I was feeling particularly elated and confident but more than that sometimes I experience periods where I feel like I have lots of ideas and things that I want to do all at once and start several "projects" or fixate over them. I get very irritated if I get interrupted and feel very angry and hostile towards other people to the point where I have to let my anger out by hurting them, lashing out and I feel more at ease once I start doing that. I know on paper these things might sound like hypomanic episodes but I just can not see the severity in them to be diagnosed as such and I'm very frustrated about it... Sorry that you have to read all of this, I really tried to keep it short but tysm!
@main13 Ah. Yes. Now that you've explained in more detail I can see how your experiences do kind of fit with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, except that the severity issue is unclear. I suppose that if you sometimes suffer from depression, sometimes put yourself at risk, sometimes start so many projects that you can't complete them, and sometimes lash out at other people, then it does seem possible that treatment could improve your quality of life overall.
Charlie
@RarelyCharlie maybe yes. I guess the only way to know is speak to a professional and see what they think. Thanks for your help and validating my concerns!
Hello. Thank you so much for sharing g and reaching out. Also, thank you for showing g me why I am here and how much I can learn bc I am going through and relate to everything you mentioned. I am bipolar with psychotic features and I have anxiety and..right now now, I am experiencing an episode. I'm not acting out with drugs, alcohol, smoking or sex because I don't anymore. But, the other symptoms, yes. Just not to the degree that led me into terrible situations but to the degree that I am on a mental health day today and have a non regular appointment with my psychiatric nurse practioner tomorrow. I don't know you enough to see what anyone else sees and I can ONLY speak for my own experience but if I could do anything over again, it would be to get treated sooner. Also, I wouldn't take the medicine the first visit with the first doctor either. I'd talk to a few and talk to a few or a therapist to get a history going so that you will have some hindsight to confidently see for your self.
It is best to take medical advice. Like hypoglycemia, high BP etc mental problem is also a disease.
