bipolar

[phdown]

I feel like I might be polar. Some days I'm happy, energy level is up and I'm all around more positive. Other days I wake up feeling like a train hit me. I'll sleep tell late in the day and I have an overwelming depressed feeling. It always starts right when I wake up. I never was like this. My life has been extremely stressful in the past year. Does anyone know if this sounds like bipolar disorder? Any advice would be much appreciated. This problem is becoming very serious. --thanks.

[phdown]

Thank you for the advice. I have been thinking about seeing a professional for some time. In the last month I have been to the emergency room twice because of extreme anxiety attacks. The stress seems unbearable at times. Thanks for the advice.

[lindahand]

Bipolar disorder can be triggered by a stressful event. Positive or negative.

The 'ups' tend to be a bit disfunctional. What I mean by that is on your 'up' may be accompanied by increased spending, talking too fast, getting impatient, wearing brighter or more sexual clothing, being more sexual in your actions, being creative or immersed into your work to the point of ignoring necessary tasks, being able to work longer hours and not get tired, sleeping less and still be rested, taking risks you normally wouldn't like driving too fast. It is a bit larger than life. Many people crave hypomania because it does feel really good. It is reason many people will go off medication. It has to be a marked difference from a normal good mood. If you want to do research the terminology for this is hypomania.

Depression is a little easier to understand. For bipolar depression suicidal thoughts are really common. Depression in bipolar disorder lasts days. There is an exception to the rule which is ultra rapid cycling bipolar in which you switch moods hourly or daily, but this has to happen consistenly over a period of weeks as well. Generally speaking it is not bad or good days, but bad or good weeks or months.

Unless you really identify with the symptoms I mentioned I would start with a psychologist and see what they say. If you go to a psychiatrist you will most likely get medication, and if this is stress related, medication may not be the answer. If the psychologist feels like something more is going on they will refer you to a psychiatrist for evaluation. Psychologist have equal or more training that psychiatrists in the field of the mind. Most spend 8 years in school studying mind disorders. Psychiatrists get their MD first and then after that specialize. Psychiatrists though are the ones allowed to prescribe meds. Cognitive behavioural therapy is a good type of therapy to consider.

I would also use a mood tracker. Either here, on a different site, or pen and paper. This way when you go to the professional of your choice you have some tangible evidence. You may also find that there are triggers to your mood. Events that make things better or worse.

Take care best you can and do seek out some help. It is distressing you and that alone is reason to address this. With help these things usually do become easier to manage.

[ILADVOCATE]

Sudden shifts in mood and difficulties sleeping can be signs of bipolar but there are others as well. Only a psychiatrist would understand the specifics but it would be worth speaking to one. It would also be worthwhile to discuss the specific stressful experiences you have had with a talk therapist.