Am I right to think I have bipolar?!


Question: I'm nearlly 16 and I've recently split up with my boyfriend of 3 years. He was my first love and of course it didn't go down to well. I recently found out we had concieved a child when we wasn't together and I was told to get an abortion much to my dismay. I blame myself for the death of my child and the relationship and I can't get over it. The reason I think I maybe bipolar is because for the past year I have had the weirdest mood swings. One minute I'll be acting like I've took a bunch of drugs, (laughing heavily over nothing, speaking too fast and no-one knows what I'm saying, A sudden interest in sex, Weird sleeping patterns, anger, Feeling really good all the time, etc). Then I have moments of severe depression where I feel like I don't belong anymore. (Attempting suicide, Crying all the time, Lack of food, Sleeping all the time, being unsociable, Etc). I really would appreciate someone helping me out and at least give me an inckling to what I've got, so i can get myself treated


Answers: I'm nearlly 16 and I've recently split up with my boyfriend of 3 years. He was my first love and of course it didn't go down to well. I recently found out we had concieved a child when we wasn't together and I was told to get an abortion much to my dismay. I blame myself for the death of my child and the relationship and I can't get over it. The reason I think I maybe bipolar is because for the past year I have had the weirdest mood swings. One minute I'll be acting like I've took a bunch of drugs, (laughing heavily over nothing, speaking too fast and no-one knows what I'm saying, A sudden interest in sex, Weird sleeping patterns, anger, Feeling really good all the time, etc). Then I have moments of severe depression where I feel like I don't belong anymore. (Attempting suicide, Crying all the time, Lack of food, Sleeping all the time, being unsociable, Etc). I really would appreciate someone helping me out and at least give me an inckling to what I've got, so i can get myself treated

Nobody knows what causes bipolar disorder other than the fact that we know it's hereditary. It's generally accepted that their have to be environmental factors involved to begin the onset of the disease. So basically it seems like you're born with the disorder, but something has to "activate" it before it starts, and this may never happen. Some do think that extreme stress is one of the factors that can contribute to you developing bipolar disorder.

http://bipolar.about.com/cs/bpbasics/a/w...
"For mental, emotional and environmental issues, stressful life events are thought to be the main element in the development of bipolar disorder. These can range from a death in the family to the loss of a job, from the birth of a child to a move."

This isn't proven, but I think it seems reasonable. So, yeah, maybe the stress of having an abortion triggered the onset of something that was dormant inside of you.

You're showing all of the symptoms of bipolar disorder, but you should also note that teenagers are naturally moody and you've been through a traumatic event. Only a mental health professional can diagnose you. You do, however, need to be diagnosed because it is very possible that you do have it. Good luck, and hopefully you don't have it. If you do have it, don't worry. I have it too and it's something you can learn to live with. The important thing is to recognize it and deal with it before it gets worse and you CAN'T deal with it. The disorder is permanent(you're stuck with it as long as you live) and if you don't treat it will get worse and worse and can become untreatable.

Btw I would just like to say the periods of mood swings happen between 3 weeks up to 2 months. Report It


Other Answers (8)




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  • Hard to say. You've had some rough situations to contend and they'd be difficult emotionally for just about anyone. As a teen, you've got hormones going on big time. Add pregnancy and it's multiplied. At the same time, you describe a little bit of bipolar traits so based on what you wrote, it's hard to say definitely not. The best thing to do is to see a psychiatrist for a real evaluation. Your doctor should be able to refer you to one. Of course, you should talk to your parents about this as well.

    Hey-

    I've researched symptoms of being Bipolar- from what you've said- it seems as if you're bipolar.

    the symptoms of bi-polar are the same for alot of illnesses. So u shouldnt diagnose yourself! U have been thru alot so Id say its just your way of coping in a way, plus your 16 so u have all those hormones going wild. And after an abortion your hormones can b all over the place for a long time after it. Its hard to say, there could b a number of different things going on, but u would have to see a doc to get a diagnosis. Good luck

    I think you may have been traumatised .. Your still only 16 . Your going through the motions .. mood swings are normal when you have been put under alot of stress. Bipolar people have about 6 months of each .. extreme high and then extreme lows .. You seem to be having some form of break down and you should seek medical advice I for one and no-one on here has the right to diagnose you with such a condition. If you haven't got a serious mental illness I wouldnt try to stigmatise your self into having one has you may regret it later in life .. Depression is severe enough but with the right help and meds you can over come it .. where as other mental health issues follow you for the rest of your life . I do sympathise with and wish you all the best .. x xx x x x x

    Hi

    Wow, you are on a bit of an emotional rollercoaster arn't you!! I would definetly say that talking with a dr. would be beneficial. You dont say how long these highs and lows last for, is the cycle very quick, over a few days? Or is it very slow, over a few weeks or even months?

    Your thought patterns during these times are concurrent with a bi-polar diagnosis but like I said it is only a dr. that can say for certain either way.

    Go and seek some professional advice, its great that at such a young age you can even acknowledge that there maybe a problem and want to get help.

    Good luck................x..............

    Well you may have bipolar but Id give it time. If you want to find out talk to your parents. They could take you to a doctor or psychiatrist. If you're uncomfortable with that you could talk to a school counselor, but be prepared for them to talk to your parents (that is, if they think you have bipolar or something like it).

    Wow- so much for a young girl to have spinning in her mind... You mention some textbook signs of bipolar for sure, but it would take a psychiatrist to officially diagnose you. I AM bipolar and that is a whole other story then what anyone reads in a book. PLEASE email me if you want to so we can talk about this more.... it's so much for me to get into here and I really want to help you. I don't care about "best answer" or any of that.... this is a big deal, and combined w/ everything else you have been thru recently, I can imagine how much pain you are in. Hope to hear from you sweetheart :)

    I think u have gone throught alot in the past years and i think ur alittle depressed but u don't know it.





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