i dont fully understand bipolar

[jman81]

im a 20 year old man, i have obsessive compulsive disorder and depression. but idk if i could have bipolar too. i dont quite understand it. i do have periods of mental dullness, im the most non observant person i know. its unbelievable. maybe thats why i cant recall if i become more active at certain times than i do other times. i do get very irritable at times. ive always been sort of privately  depressed but ive seemed to be happy when im out around people. i have had times where i talk so much i feel like ive overdone it, but that could be adhd or add or anything, im not sure if i have bipolar disorder, please comment and let me know.

[jman81]

and is this another symptom of bipolar? i dont do a very good job at keeping employment. i can be at work, and it doesnt even seem like im into my work, im thinking about what else i could be out doing. and it affects my work. im not focused on it at all. and ive heard people say that people with bipolar will spend their money on things when they were planning on saving the money for something else as well correct?

[jman81]

yea i do see a doctor regularly, thanks

[wineandroses]

I would say there is a possiblity that you have Bipolar but I really can not dx your symptoms.  I really suggest you discuss with your doctor as you do have some of the symptoms of Bipolar.  Your doctor can give you proper medication although some of the medication to treat OCD and Bipolar are the same.  Do you see a physc-doc on a regular basis?  If one does not tell the doctor of our symptoms there is no way they can properly dx and treat us.  I urge you to discuss with your doctor.

[jman81]

and also, noone can get a word in on me in an argument, im very persistent about my opinion. i dont really have times where i feel like i can do anything, but i have times where i feel so hyper i just wanna shout or yell something. i get hyper and pace the house for no apparent reason, back n forth from room to room for no apparent reason other than im wrestless.

[jman81]

some of the things u said do sound familiar, i get random bursts of energy and get the urge to shout or be hyper sometimes, ive even had times where i just sing very loudly because i have the energy to do it. im very irratable, but that could be my ocd. i cant focus on one thing either, i always put everything off untill later. im very happy sometimes and sometimes i get down. does that help any?

[wineandroses]

I can't because I am not a doctor, or a trained professional can give you a dx.  Please see a physc doc and tell him of your symptoms and concerns and allow him to treat you with medication that will relieve your symptoms.

All I can suggest is do you have rapid, quick and intense times that you are elated...for me it comes on so sudden and I have a sudden burst of energy, I feel like the highest high there is, I just want to dance around the house and sing.  I have danced with the dog many times!  I feel like I can do anything!  I get creative, my mind works very quick and I can get several projects going at one time...but it progress' to unable to concentrate or focus on any one thing, can't finish any project because my mind moves around so quickly, have a hard time following conversation or participating in conversation because my mind switches around so much. I talk none stop, switching to differnet thoughts or going into overkill of thoughts on a subject, no one else can get a word in.  I have feeling of grandur...I  have thought I could run a major company all by myself.  My mind gets confused, I don't sleep much, eventually the anger hits, depression starts, my mind goes to dark thoughts of suicide, I can't find a reason to live, I feel useless, I have these thoughts over and over and over in my mind, I try to sleep but my mind won't stop tinking of suicide, I make plans, I can't take the pain anymore, I hurt myself, I scream out trying to get the pain out, I've beat my head on the wall because I just can't take anymore pain....I've always gone for help at this point at the ER but there have been times that I had to really make myself go for help because the thought of ending it all seemed a better choice.
Do you ever experience something similar to this?
Going from one sphere to another in a matter of days or weeks?  Extreme, extreme opposites with no control?

[jman81]

thanks to all of u for ur replies. but based on what i said in my post, do any of you think u can give ur opinion on whether or not i have it. cuz i really dont keep track of my moods enough to know if i have it. but based on what i said please let me know if u think i have it. and id appreciate it if someone would view my profile and comment and my "searching for the cause" post about ocd. thanks to u all

[wineandroses]

I think you are referring to Bipolar I and Bipolar II.  I think Bipolar II experiences a milder form of mania that is shorter duration but still has the depression.  Bipolar I has more intense mania for longer duration and can experience hallucinations and delusions .  Both I and II experince the terrible down side of depression.  You are right though, the swings are more intense than what a "normal" person experiences.

[paranoid_cataclysm]

Bipolar disorder involves you swapping between high and low points in your emotions in a cyclic nature.  These highs and lows are higher and lower than what people without it or other related disorders/conditions experience probably.  I get the two types of bipolar disorder mixed around but one experiences full blown manic episodes (as well as depression) which usually result in hospitalization and the other experiences hypomania and what can be worse depressive episodes if I'm not mistaken.  Mixed states can be one of the most dangerous things to be in because you could have feelings of depression while at the same time having the massive energy to act out on these things that come to you when you feel depressed.  If you need anymore information just holler.  There's also a milder form of it called cyclothymia and a form of it called rapid cycling where the person can experience mood shifts multiple times a day or more.

[wineandroses]

Everyone's Bipolar symptoms can be a little different, every episode and be different.  Some people with bipolar have the mania and never have the deep depression, some episodes are preceded by depression and some  are preceded by mania.  There are different categories of Bipolar.  I would say the one thing most of us have in common is big mood swings from elation to deep depression.  
Anger is a very real part of bipolar, however, it can be sympton of other illness and disorders.  
I suggest you google some sites on Bipolar and take a look at the many symptoms that can come with Bipolar.  Actually, I would speak to my physc-doc for his opinion.

[ILADVOCATE]

There are mixed states where a person has some aspects of depression such as feeling down but the speeded up quality of mania. This is not uncommon in bipolar but a psychiatrist would have to determine what is going on. It would be worthwhile to keep a mood tracker and then print out the results for your psychiatrist so they can see what's going on and discuss all of this with them.