when should i seek my doctor

i feel as though i may have bipolar symptoms but they seem to be more on the mild side. i am afraid to talk my doctor because i feel i might not have it. at which point do i go in to get evaluated. i dont want to waste anyones time. but also i think i put it off cause im afraid i will be bipolar and thats hard for me. plus the medications i am on seem to be helping me, they are prescribed for depression and anxiety but they help with my mood swings and irritability and lack of sex drive. those are my main symptoms... anyone think it could be something other than bi polar? i have also in the past been told i have ptsd but im not sure thats accurate. i feel as though i havebeen mis diagnosed in the past and now want to find the real problem. thanks everyone

[ILADVOCATE]

There are varities of bipolar where depression is more pronounced. We have some websites linked up such as "Depression Central" for informational purposes. Keep a mood tracker as well. A psychiatrist will only diagnose you with what is going on and part of that is based on their understanding of what you explain to them so the best thing to do is help them get a full understand of what you have. The visit can only help if you let them know what's going on and work with them.

[paranoid_cataclysm]

It could be something like Cyclothymia which is a mild form of Bipolar Disorder for all we know or it could even be Bipolar Disorder and you just don't think the symptoms are as bad as they really are or it could even be like ILADVOCATE is saying.  No way for us to know for sure you need to go see a psychiatrist.  It's not the end of the world to be told you have Bipolar Disorder.  There's no difference between having it and not knowing and having it and knowing except that without knowing you have all this sh*t happening to you and you don't know why which I'd much rather know there's a reason for it so I think the not knowing it and having it would be harder.  I know before I was diagnosed I was lost and confused as to why my brain was totally f*cking up and it was just getting worse but now that I know why I have a sense of relief and know now I'm not lazy or my cognitive confusion isn't because I have intellectual problems and such.