Do I have Bipolar disorder?

This is my first post here... and I feel like I'm going crazy. I just turned 14 last month. Last year, I was searching online about Bipolar, cause I knew there was something wrong with me. When I looked at the symptoms, they sounded exactly like me, all of the symptoms for both mania and depression. I took the quizzes online to see if I have Bipolar (I know that they aren't always that reliable) and all of them said yes. Now when I look back to when I was around 11 years old, I do see a lot of the signs for mania. I already knew I was depressed in one way or the other. Or maybe the mania symptoms back then came from my low blood sugars, since I am a Type 1 Diabetic. Once, when I was trying to fall asleep, I had a hallucination of these two voices arguing. There was a static sound the entire time which kept growing louder and then it stopped all of a sudden. My parents don't exactly know anything about this, since I never told them anything. They probably just think that I'm very,very moody. The rest of my family seems to think that too. Some days, like this week, I can go from being extremely happy and productive to laying in bed and crying for no reason at all. Any opinions on if I have Bipolar or not? And I just read that Bipolar gets worse over time, and it really seems like that for me. I really want to tell someone. And I can't exactly tell my parents, we're not that close and I don't know how to tell them anyway. Any thoughts, please?

[jngemera]

Hi.  My name is Jennifer.  I work for Mental Health Mental Retardation of the Brazos Valley.  MHMR.  I am a peer provider who guides groups for people with mental illness.  I also not only guide others I have Bi-polarism also.  Bi-polarism disorder involves at least one manic episode such as Inflated self esteem. (where you feal higher then most)  decreased need for sleep yet increased energy, more talkative then usual, racing thoughts, goal directed activity, distracted easily, restlessness or agitation, excessive engagement in pleasurable but potentailly harmful activities, and depressive episodes.  If you experience a mixture of these then you need to ask for help.  I know how it can be for you or parents.  Go to them though, or go to a school counselour and ask them to have your mom come in so you have someone with you who can help explain it.  Good luck, but get help this can be a threatening illness.

[ILADVOCATE]

   Yes some of what you are describing sounds like bipolar but only a psychiatrist could provide a diagnosis.If your parents are not approachable about this issue you could speak with a guidance counselor who could refer you to to a therapist. As well you could speak to the doctor who treats you for the diabetes and see if they would know of a therapist as well.

[jngemera]

Hi.  My name is Jennifer.  I work for Mental Health Mental Retardation of the Brazos Valley.  MHMR.  I am a peer provider who guides groups for people with mental illness.  I also not only guide others I have Bi-polarism also.  Bi-polarism disorder involves at least one manic episode such as Inflated self esteem. (where you feal higher then most)  decreased need for sleep yet increased energy, more talkative then usual, racing thoughts, goal directed activity, distracted easily, restlessness or agitation, excessive engagement in pleasurable but potentailly harmful activities, and depressive episodes.  If you experience a mixture of these then you need to ask for help.  I know how it can be for you or parents.  Go to them though, or go to a school counselour and ask them to have your mom come in so you have someone with you who can help explain it.  Good luck, but get help this can be a threatening illness.

[Sam998]

Thanks for the comments :) And I thought about telling my doctor or someone else, but I can't get anything out, nothing about my diabetes either. I got treated for selective mutism before. It got a lot better, but it's still there... I hope I can get help. And I have all of the symptoms you stated.

[hell1971]

If you cant speak about it then you may find it helpful to write it down and then you can pass this on,

[Amy4891]

I agree you should tell someone. It is important for doctors to know all of your symptoms so they can treat them properly. Yes if you cannot speak then write it down. I know it can make some people nervious to talk about certain things, but you can neither diagnose or treat yourself and since you are so young you can only get help by telling some adult so they can help you. Good luck to you and take care dear.