I think i'm bi-polar...?!
Question: i have issues keeping a steady emotion, and go from happy to suicidal in the blink of an eye. How can i find out if i am without going to a doctor for it?
Answers: i have issues keeping a steady emotion, and go from happy to suicidal in the blink of an eye. How can i find out if i am without going to a doctor for it?
havent i been telling you this a long time...youre just like ami.and michelle! j/k
yeah,you should go to doctor .g
You can't
While some websites offer online screening they do not replace the diagnosis of a health professional.
If you need help at any time call 1-800-Suicide and there is someone who can speak to you.
Even if you go to a doctor it's a crap shoot. You could go to five different docs and get five different opinions. It's very subjective unless the mood swings and behavior are classically extreme.
A competent doctor will rule out any other obvious causes (physical, other mental issues) and if bipolar is still suspected, will try a mood stabilizer (such as Depakote or Lithium) in low doses and then monitor how it affects you, among other things.
If your mood is moving from suicidal to happy "in the blink of an eye" you are probably are a rapid -cycling manic depressive. See DSM-IV for full descriptors of this disorder. Standard regimen these days is Depakote and Buprorprion. If you can't afford to see a private psychiatrist, contact your county health department.
There are many web sites on the topic of manic-depression; do a google search. You may learn what you are without seeing a doctor, but treating it is impossible with out a doctor.
Cindy H
Suicidal thoughts are addressed in section 5, at ezy build, below: contact them when needed. My standard post follows: See bipolar disorder, at ezy-build (below) in section 10, and take the quiz, if unsure, and if the results are positive, ensure you get an expert diagnosis from a mental health professional, not doctors, who are much better dealing with physical ailments, and don't diagnose complex disorders like bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and borderline personality disorder often enough to develop any real expertise. Bipolar disorder usually involves major mood swings, which occur without apparent cause, and often over many months, or a matter of years, rather than days, as with most people (unless rapid cycling). I'd take 4 Omega 3 fish oil supplements daily, replacing 2 of them with cod liver oil supplements in the winter months. If you decide to use allopathic (modern Western) medicine, I recommend trying Lithium Carbonate, or Lithium Citrate (regular tests are necessary, for these), before trying the other mood stabilisers, but if you aren't good at taking medications regularly, drinking adequate water, and keeping up your salt intake, something else may suit you better. Always check out anything first at http://www.drugs.com/, so you will be aware of the risks, and on the lookout for side effects. (Personally, if I wasn't bipolar type 1, and didn't experience hallucinations, or serious delusional states, I know I'd first try the orthomolecular and Omega 3 fish oil supplements, vitamins, minerals, and mostly raw food diet, for several months. I'd aso eat in accordance with my "nutritional type". Enter that term in the searchbar at http://www.mercola.com/ ). If not considerably improved, after several months, consult your primary mental health care provider: you may well be one of those who need medications to prevent this progressive illness from getting even worse. If bipolar type 1, an antipsychotic medication may also be needed. Everyone should take the Omega 3 supplements, or preferably "krill oil" for its other health benefits: use the searchbar at http://www.mercola.com/ . Some people refuse medication, using supplements, and a selective, mostly raw food diet (I do not recommended trying this, if bipolar 1, unless you aren't troubled by hallucinations, or delusional states). Maintain the treatments for the depressive phase, in section 2, at http://www.ezy-build.net.nz/~shaneris Some topics in section 10: BIPOLAR DISORDER TREATMENT: SUPPLEMENTS &:
HERBS FOR BIPOLAR: TREATING BIPOLAR DISORDER WITH HERBS &:
VITAMINS FOR BIPOLAR: TREATING BIPOLAR DISORDER WITH VITAMINS &:
MINERALS FOR BIPOLAR: TREATING BIPOLAR DISORDER WITH MINERALS. As with all medications, there are risks, and the possibility of side effects, which is why I inform people of the alternatives, to see if they can cope sufficiently well , without resorting to medications: don't use medications and supplements together without medical advice, except for Omega 3, which is safe.
Take it from someone who is bi-polar. You do need to go to a doctor. There is no shame in that. You need to think of what is best for yourself. I am on meds and take them everyday and no one knows my disorder unless I tell them. I know what it is like to go from happy to suicidal. Take it from me. Just go and talk to someone. No harm in that. If you are you can be helped. If your not then take it from there.