Aa
Help?!
Hi, i'm 16 and i htink i have BP. My moods switch in the space of seconds across opposite emotions and i get angry and mad really fast. I don't know whether this is because i'm 16 and a teenager or wether i actually do have BP.
Because you're technically underage and in BC, you can go to social services and they will get you in really quickly. I do suggesting going to your family doctor as well. For minors, BC has a great mental health system, and actually much more then adults.
Mood swings and anger, are part of teen brain growth, but if you know it's way beyond that, I'm proud of you for seeking help. The faster you catch it, the longer you can lead a stable and productive life, kudos to you, now get busy!
Mood swings and anger, are part of teen brain growth, but if you know it's way beyond that, I'm proud of you for seeking help. The faster you catch it, the longer you can lead a stable and productive life, kudos to you, now get busy!
If youre looking for a psychologist in Canada - try the Canadian Psychology Association
http://www.cpa.ca/home/
Who have a lot of information on where to get one and how to do is well as information on the provinces systems
As you are in British Columbia here is the local Association : http://www.psychologists.bc.ca/#
It also says that while the medical services plan does not cover psychology there are lot of other options and your parents may even have this covered in a health plan
http://www.cpa.ca/home/
Who have a lot of information on where to get one and how to do is well as information on the provinces systems
As you are in British Columbia here is the local Association : http://www.psychologists.bc.ca/#
It also says that while the medical services plan does not cover psychology there are lot of other options and your parents may even have this covered in a health plan
In nearly every country but the USA therapist normally means psychologist. When I say therapist thats what I mean as well - A psychologist is therapist in my books and in Australia legally thats what you have to be in most states.
I have no idea how expensive psychology is in Canada but I find it pretty hard to believe there are none working in the public sector.
In the USA therapist can mean "I studied a night course and got this shiny certificate and now I can 'treat' people's lives"
The US medical system has turned therapy into a dangerous free for all of cracked ideas and cuckoo theories that make it impossible sometimes to pick education from superstition.
I have no idea how expensive psychology is in Canada but I find it pretty hard to believe there are none working in the public sector.
In the USA therapist can mean "I studied a night course and got this shiny certificate and now I can 'treat' people's lives"
The US medical system has turned therapy into a dangerous free for all of cracked ideas and cuckoo theories that make it impossible sometimes to pick education from superstition.
Its very easy to read a list of symptoms and see yourself in them. I know we can all find things about us which sound familiar in most lists.
First thing to do is talk to your parents about how you feel and what you are going through, yes it may just be a teenager but its always good to discuss it and make sure.
After that get your parents to take you to a family doctor they trust, hopefully you have one that you know and that helps, the doctor can check some things with you and then send you to see a psychiatrist. Its the psychiatrist who will make a diagnosis if there is one to be made and he or she will be the one to discuss medications with you if you need them and reccomend therapy.
Its a good idea not to take medication from a family doctor or GP until you have been diagnosed - the reality is they are just not trained to diagnose mental illness and some bad mistakes have been known to happen. See the psychiatrist before starting medications ok.
On psychiatrists - do not be afraid to see them, there's really nothing scary about them at all and they are there to work with you - the whole point of medical treatment is to take away the fear and help you. And never forget doctors work for you not the other way around so if you don't like one find one you do.
On therapies - CBT and DBT can work but therapy cannot take the place of treatment and medication if thats needed - it may be that CBT can help you control the moods but if you are Bipolar it cannot fix or treat the illness and control it - no therapy can control Mania and Depression in a Bipolar despite what the books and online courses will tell you.
What I would do (and did do as a teenager when I started having probs, never was diagnosed as BP then but we tried) is talk to your parents first and go from there - you may not be bipolar at all and it may just be normal teenage growing up - it does not hurt to be safe but don't rush into medication - side effects can be nasty and if you don't need it you don't need it.
First thing to do is talk to your parents about how you feel and what you are going through, yes it may just be a teenager but its always good to discuss it and make sure.
After that get your parents to take you to a family doctor they trust, hopefully you have one that you know and that helps, the doctor can check some things with you and then send you to see a psychiatrist. Its the psychiatrist who will make a diagnosis if there is one to be made and he or she will be the one to discuss medications with you if you need them and reccomend therapy.
Its a good idea not to take medication from a family doctor or GP until you have been diagnosed - the reality is they are just not trained to diagnose mental illness and some bad mistakes have been known to happen. See the psychiatrist before starting medications ok.
On psychiatrists - do not be afraid to see them, there's really nothing scary about them at all and they are there to work with you - the whole point of medical treatment is to take away the fear and help you. And never forget doctors work for you not the other way around so if you don't like one find one you do.
On therapies - CBT and DBT can work but therapy cannot take the place of treatment and medication if thats needed - it may be that CBT can help you control the moods but if you are Bipolar it cannot fix or treat the illness and control it - no therapy can control Mania and Depression in a Bipolar despite what the books and online courses will tell you.
What I would do (and did do as a teenager when I started having probs, never was diagnosed as BP then but we tried) is talk to your parents first and go from there - you may not be bipolar at all and it may just be normal teenage growing up - it does not hurt to be safe but don't rush into medication - side effects can be nasty and if you don't need it you don't need it.
Quote: "But my best advice is speak to a talk therapist."
This option is probably not available in Canada. The closest we come to a talk therapist would be a psychologist.
Psychiatrists do a lot of talk therapy here in Canada and they do it within the medical system, i.e. for free. Psychologists (and even the ill-defined psychotherapists) work usually outside the medical system and can be very expensive.
This option is probably not available in Canada. The closest we come to a talk therapist would be a psychologist.
Psychiatrists do a lot of talk therapy here in Canada and they do it within the medical system, i.e. for free. Psychologists (and even the ill-defined psychotherapists) work usually outside the medical system and can be very expensive.
Hi Tharina,
Congratulations: You are AWARE of your mood swings. Not bad for a 16-year old, I'd say.
I think you're right in your hunch that there are similarities between BP and being a teenager. That makes it difficult to sort out one from the other, and that's why you will need a good psychiatrist to help you understand what's going on. If indeed you have BP or some other disorder, it will be best to learn to manage it at a young age.
A wise doctor will probably suggest therapy at first. There are some very gentle therapies around, such as Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), and Dialectic Behavior Therapy (DBT). I don't know whether there are qualified CBT or DBT doctors in Victoria, but that shouldn't be too hard to find out. If there is no one trained in these techniques, you can even take a CBT course on your computer.
The thought of seeing a psychiatrist probably scares you right now. It took me decades before I could bring myself to open up about my struggles. But you have already taken an important step in posting here and asking for help.
Where do your parents stand in this? Have you filled them in, and are they supportive?
Please let us know more.
And oh yes, welcome to the bipolar community! By the way, on a clear day I can almost wave to you: I live on the Sunshine Coast.
All the best, and don't hesitate to write in again!
Congratulations: You are AWARE of your mood swings. Not bad for a 16-year old, I'd say.
I think you're right in your hunch that there are similarities between BP and being a teenager. That makes it difficult to sort out one from the other, and that's why you will need a good psychiatrist to help you understand what's going on. If indeed you have BP or some other disorder, it will be best to learn to manage it at a young age.
A wise doctor will probably suggest therapy at first. There are some very gentle therapies around, such as Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), and Dialectic Behavior Therapy (DBT). I don't know whether there are qualified CBT or DBT doctors in Victoria, but that shouldn't be too hard to find out. If there is no one trained in these techniques, you can even take a CBT course on your computer.
The thought of seeing a psychiatrist probably scares you right now. It took me decades before I could bring myself to open up about my struggles. But you have already taken an important step in posting here and asking for help.
Where do your parents stand in this? Have you filled them in, and are they supportive?
Please let us know more.
And oh yes, welcome to the bipolar community! By the way, on a clear day I can almost wave to you: I live on the Sunshine Coast.
All the best, and don't hesitate to write in again!
It depends how extreme and intense they are.Technically if someone's mood switches rapidly in bipolar that's rapid cycling. And intense anger can be part of bipolar in what is called an agitated mixed state. But on the other hand, the way you are describing it is self aware so its complex. It depends how extreme it is and more importantly how it impacts on you. Emotional fluctuation is normal for that age. Its how its affecting your life in general and what's else is going on. I couldn't tell without knowing how your life is affected. Those two would be symptoms but bipolar affects a person's whole life. Its a whole spectrum of symptoms. Cyclothymia is mild bipolar and some people with that are not affected as much but if you had bipolar it would be affecting you severely, not just general moodiness. On the other hand, if your quality of life is deteriorating then yes something is wrong.
The website "Depression Central" details bipolar and you could see if the other symptoms match up. But my best advice is speak to a talk therapist. That way you could sort out the everyday issues in your life. A person doesn't have to have bipolar for that. Everyday people see talk therapists. Then if the talk therapist thinks bipolar is an issue they could refer you to a psychiatrist if warranted.
The website "Depression Central" details bipolar and you could see if the other symptoms match up. But my best advice is speak to a talk therapist. That way you could sort out the everyday issues in your life. A person doesn't have to have bipolar for that. Everyday people see talk therapists. Then if the talk therapist thinks bipolar is an issue they could refer you to a psychiatrist if warranted.
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