Signs...

[smjmekg]

Pretty sure I've asked this before, but it's been so long I don't remember. What are signs of bipolar disorder? I'm going to be setting up an appointment with a psych when I figure out how it works with my insurance, I just want some info first. I'm not going to go in with a self-diagnosis, it runs in my family on my dad's side. He's bipolar, schizophrenic and manic depressive. I know something is going on with me, I'm just not sure WHAT.

[a_marie981]

One thing-you definitely have the symptoms of the depression part of bipolar.  I'm bipolar type 2 and have had every symptom that you checked plus more, the only thing I don't have are the mixing of words.  Also like you I have had symptoms my entire life, but as of 7 years ago hit a major wall with it as it got a lot worse and started experiencing more symptoms that were a lot more severe leading me up to a suicide attempt.  One thing my psychiatrist explained to me about the differences of bipolar type 1 and bipolar type 2 is that having type 2 you have less severe manic moods and more severe depressed moods.  It's very good that you know yourself and acknowledge that something doesn't feel right.  It will most likely benefit for you to talk to a psychiatrist to get a correct diagnoses and if need be start on medication.  The longer you wait if you do happen to be bipolar 1 or 2 the worse the symptoms will become as it does get worse as you get older.

[smjmekg]

The only problem with finding someone else is you're limited to the number of visits via self referral, which is what I'm doing. Once you hit your limit you have to go to a regular dr to get a referral for more visits.

[thatquietgirl]

I understand that feeling.  It's so nervewrecking because you don't know what's going to happen, but at the same time, it is definitely a relief because you know you've made a step in the right direction by being your own advocate and seeking help.

My best advice I can give you is: If you're not comfortable with the person you see after a handful of meetings, find someone else.  Keep looking until you find someone you are comfortable with.

Good luck!

[smjmekg]

The reason I came to this forum is because I found out also that it runs on my mother's side, I don't know much about it on her side, I just know about my dad. I have an appointment set up for June 22, this was strictly for my info and opinions of what people think. I'm very nervous about seeing a psych, and it's unsettling even though it's good because I'm going to be able to at least talk to a professional about all of it.

[lindahand]

Part of those 'checks' is that it must last a while. To be diagnosed you must have at least one week of elevated mood, and 2 weeks of depression, or be to the level of severity of causing you to be admitted to the hospital. Mad one moment happy the next is not a bipolar symptom.

I have also never heard of someone being diagnosed with bipolar who has never been suicidal (or wished they were dead) although according to the strict criteria it is possible - I've just never seen it personally.

You may want to get checked out for ADHD as what you've checked may indicate that more. I have ADHD and bipolar. One thing about ADHD is hyper focus. If you are distracted doing many things but can do something you enjoy for hours to the exclusion of other necessary things - that is hyper focus. ADHD is not just a disorder of inattention but inappropriate attention. For example an ADHD kid may not be able to do their homework, but may read long novels or be highly successful at computer games. ADHD people crave novelty and excitement and can thus get themselves into trouble with shopping, or gambling, much like someone with bipolar disorder except with ADHD it is always present where someone with bipolar will have long periods (often years) of stable behavior. Also further complicating things it is not unusual for someone with ADHD to become depressed.

Regardless though it is important to go and get checked out. You have symptoms that are distressing you and there may be help out there for them. I would jot down each day, nothing fancy, anything strange that happens like if you lose your temper and for what reason and for how long, or if you are scattered or sad, etc. Then see if you can find trends and take that information with you to the psychiatrist. Try to act as an observer as much as possible and don't interpret the data into a diagnosis.

[thatquietgirl]

•Elevated mood~~~check  -- Could be due to being down as long as you are, so it's perceived that way when you have a rare day when you're happy.  How long does it last?  There is a time period for hypomania or mania to be stated.
◦Hyperactivity~~~check -- Could be mood-related.  Give some examples?
◦Increased energy~check -- Could be due to other things, too.  Again, some examples of how/when it occurs?
◦Binge eating, drinking, and/or drug use~~~(binge eating)check -- Binge eating is one of those gray areas.  It can be related to depression, too.  Some people want to eat A LOT and some people don't want to eat at all, and sometimes the same person can experience both.
•Tendency to be easily distracted~~~check -- Not necessarily a specific bipolar symptom.
•Little need for sleep~~~check -- Also a gray area.  Depression can lead to things like insomnia or can lead to too much sleep.  The qualifying thing here is: do you still feel tired even when you get little sleep/have a restless night?
•Easily agitated or irritated~~~check -- Another gray area.  If you're depressed, you're not feeling tops, especially when you're feeling as underappreciated as you seem to feel.  You're going to be agitated/irritated.
•Poor temper control~~~check -- Can also be personality related or depression related.

You haven't checked anything specifically manic or provided examples where it makes it sound more related to mania/hypomania than depression.  Some examples would be nice.

[smjmekg]

Where there are conflicting "checks", ie the over eating and lack of appetite, I go back and forth between them, another example the hyperactivity and sleeping a lot and insomnia. Some nights I want to go to bed ridiculously early, even though it's not possible, and others I'll be awake all night.

[smjmekg]

From MH's "Health Information" page...

The manic phase may last from days to months and include the following symptoms:

•Elevated mood~~~check
◦Racing thoughts
◦Hyperactivity~~~check
◦Increased energy~check
◦Lack of self-control
•Inflated self-esteem (delusions of grandeur, false beliefs in special abilities)
•Over-involvement in activities
•Reckless behavior
◦Spending sprees
◦Binge eating, drinking, and/or drug use~~~(binge eating)check
◦Sexual promiscuity
◦Impaired judgment
•Tendency to be easily distracted~~~check
•Little need for sleep~~~check
•Easily agitated or irritated~~~check
•Poor temper control~~~check
These symptoms of mania are seen with bipolar disorder I. In people with bipolar disorder II, hypomanic episodes involve similar symptoms that are less intense.

The depressed phase of both types of bipolar disorder involves very serious symptoms of major depression:

•Persistent sadness~~~check
•Fatigue or listlessness~~~check
•Sleep disturbances~~~check
◦Excessive sleepiness
◦Inability to sleep
•Eating disturbances
◦Loss of appetite and weight loss~~~check
◦Overeating and weight gain~~~check<~~~back and forth between the two
•Loss of self-esteem~~~check
•Feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness and/or guilt~~~check
•Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions~~~check
•Withdrawal from friends~~~check
•Withdrawal from activities that were once enjoyed~~~check
•Persistent thoughts of death

I listed everything and "checked" off everything that applies to me.

[smjmekg]

The letter mixing part I've done since HS as well, but it used to be as little as once every few months, but it is every day now, maybe one in between.

[smjmekg]

She's 17 months and I've at the very least the part where I can be happy one minute and p!ssed off the next since I was in high school, so at least eight years. It's gotten worse as I've gotten older.

[thatquietgirl]

It definitely sounds more like just depression.  How old is your daughter you're breastfeeding?  How long have the symptoms been going on?

[Anneinside]

You can look up the symptoms under "Health Information" on this site.

[Anneinside]

The criteria for bipolar doesn't have the symptoms you listed.

[smjmekg]

I'll list some stuff and see if what you guys think.

I can be just fine one minute and freak out over the tiniest thing. I don't know if it counts for the speech part but I mix up words/letters a lot. I'll say one thing and mean another. I used to have a big problem saying "cash my check" because I'd always say "check my cash". I'll be in mid sentence and completely forget what I was going to say, or what I was saying, like my mind goes completely blank. It used to be once in a while but now it's almost daily. I feel like I'm PMSing constantly. I cry over stupid things a lot. I feel like I'm useless sometimes, I've never been suicidal or even considered it. I have two kids and if it weren't for the fact that I'm breast feeding my daughter I feel like they don't want to be around me at all. I don't know if it's just depression or what it is, but I know something is going on.

[smjmekg]

My husband is military and I'd prefer not to talk to a dr because half of them aren't trained in the field they work in.

[thatquietgirl]

Bipolar and manic depressive are the same thing.  But anyway, bipolar disorder is characterized by periods of depression and periods of mania (feeling high, grandiose thoughts, rapid speech, rapid thoughts, sometimes 24+ hours without sleep yet still feeling energized, etc.).  Psychosis (visual/auditory hallucinations) may also be a feature of either depression or mania.  You can also have a mixed state or rapid cycle depending on the type you have.

While you're figuring out the insurance issue, you can probably talk to your general practitioner about what you're experiencing and they may be able to offer some advice or insight.