Have I got bipolar

[Hannah977]

Only recently I have been looking into depression which lead to me looking into bipolar. I have been feeling quite down recently and like i have very little to look forward to. I feel nobody understands me and i just want to no if i do have bipolar. I saw a question which someone described and i had the exact same symptoms as them. Everyone advised her to see a gp and tell her parents but i feel i cant tell my parents and im too young to see a gp on my own. i am only 14 and i get down often, i cant sleep properly, i am either always hungry or never and i am now pretty much all of the time in a depressed sort of mood. I am also very stressed with homework, exam, tests etc and am finding it difficult to keep on top of it all. I cant concentrate in certain conditions and have recently had a very short temper.

I dont no if this has anything to do with it but i see things like random lights out the corner of my eye and i will give it a second glance, and of course there isnt anything there. I also see the same things but with small insect liek things, which also arent there.

This may have nothing to do with it but i thought i would put out all of the possibilities

If you can help or give any advice please do as it would be muchly appreciated and i am really worried and confused right now. thank you everyone

[Seph1212]

What you describe doesn't sound like BP but rather depression. I also have to wonder whether your depression is exogenous (situational) because stress can cause those symptoms too. I think maybe that's why Elinah suggested the 3 year thing simply because life is stressful, and school and adolescence especially are for almost everyone.

If I were you, I wouldn't want a diagnosis attached to your medical record at such a young age. Medical records do not go away, but life stessors often do.

That said, a short course of ADs could help you to sort of "reboot", but during this rebooting period learning coping skills will help for a longer term solution. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is good. In time you may find out that you are unipolar or bipolar or you may not. In either case the skills learned (and used!) will be beneficial.

[marina000]

i was diagnosed by the age of 15 years-old, i had one friend who is still very extremely important to me, a beautiful friendship i must say, i am trying to fight depression and the effects of bipolar disordesr, being in college and all.
i have a sweet boyfriend who trying to help me and that dear friend of mine now is more a sister than a friend ... those are the small things who keep me warm inside. i have been depression clean for 5 month until last night and tonight when i snaped and suicidal thoughts and behaviour started to grow on me, tonight i cryied hard because i felt tired inside, i am trying hard, i will try harder, no matter what to keep myself peaceful and happy...

i think that's what you might think of doing to, putting up a fight against depression and bipolar effects ... hold on to dear friends and family they are sure a bif help too and don't close yourself up, being in the dark doesn't do any good trust me, black clothes either ... for me, they made me look like an emo at the age of 16 ... i was pretty sacry when i look back on those pictures... i hope you get better, anything you need and that i might be of use, please do ask ... best and kinds thoughts...)

[Hannah977]

these are all really useful thanks and i will consider it all but i think i will think it over a little more before making a move on what to do.

just to answer the question no none of my family that i no of has any form of depression but my mum does get quite stressed often if this has anything to do with it

i will search the high anxiety thing to find out more so thank you all a lot and more comments and information would be apprecited!!

[hell1971]

I also get stuff like bugs etcs in my side vision, I have been told this is a sign of high anxiety when your mind plays games with you. regardless of your diagnosis and with or without a diagnosis you can still get help. Can you explain to your parents / parent that you need help and you want to go to the doctors, if you cant, do you have a teacher you could talk to for advise, please get some help you dont need to suffer like this, help is out there if you reach out.

[Elinah]

see your doctor for a diagnosis for depression. get the medication you need to help you deal with this. have you got a family history of depression?

[Hannah977]

okay thank you but to be honest im not sure if i can cope with this for 3 years! im not suicidal or anything but it is a lot to deal with and i am finding things like school extremely difficult which i havent really experienced before.
thanks again

[Elinah]

At the moment, it would be hard to try and get a diagnosis for bipolar if you havent experienced mania, bipolar is mania and depression, whereas depression is just depression. Because your so young, it could be a passing phase which is why doctors find it difficult to diagnose such a serious thing as depression. But if it continues on at a Much later stage e.g 3 years time, it could be serious therefore you must seek medical help.

But still go and see a gp and see what they may have to offer you in terms of advice and coping with stress.