Not sure if Ive really got bipolar?

Gerson — Fri, 15 Apr 2016 16:20:52 GMT

Hey my names James I'm 22.

My dad left the country when I was 3 and my mum became depressed and still is. as a kid I was kind of anxious all the time. always had belly aches and trouble falling asleep as well as nightmares every night. I was diagnosed with anxiety and depression about 5 years ago after a close friend died.

i was quite depressed for a few months after he died but at some point I started to feel better than I ever had in my life. I finally felt like I could be my self and I was full of confidence. I was making everyone laugh. My social anxiety was a lot lower I felt like I could hold a conversation with anybody.

That lasted about 3 months and I slowly started getting depressed again. I began losing all confidence in myself and was so ashamed of what was happening to me (not being able to interact with any of my family or friends) that I decided it was best to isolate myself until I got better.

i ended up spending about 2 years lying in my bed watching movies and playing video games going days or weeks at a time with no human interaction at all and avoiding leaving the house at all costs. during this time me concentration and memory were pretty much gone.

i moved houses and started to make an effort to see friends and get outside even though it felt uncomfortable.

I tried drugs and it was the first time if felt normal and happy in years if not in my life and I started to abuse it a long with other drugs for a couple of years.

i ended up seeing a psychiatrist who diagnosed me with bipolar and psychosis Because of my constant racing/repeating thoughts that usually make little to no sense or end up just like static in my head. I was on medication for a couple of years and apart from helping me sleep i couldn't notice a difference in the way I was thinking

But I never had the mood swings. Apart from 3 months 5 years ago where I was happier and more confident. I never have mania or even feel happy I'm always depressed.

How can it be bipolar if you're never high?

Not sure if Ive really got bipolar?

white knight — Sat, 16 Apr 2016 04:46:31 GMT

Hi Gerson welcome

The problem with diagnosis is- it has to be done by professionals. Also get a second opinion.

In 2003 I was incorrectly diagnosed with bipolar 1 (the most severe) and ADHD. Then a second opinion was done in 2009 and I was rediagnosed with bipolar 2 (much less severe), dysthymia (a low mood constant depression) and depression along with dwindling anxiety.

So for 6 years I was taking the wrong medication. Not good and it accounted for me falling asleep at the wheel when driving long distances with my job.

So you can see there are several illnesses that you could be suffering from. I don't have many "highs" at all yet I have these issues.

We also know that commonly when you have issues like ours it is lifelong and the sooner you accept that the better and continue to take medication rather than stop/starting.

Until you get a conformed diagnosis from another psych, take the prescribed meds and settle down with life you could be always confused and on the wrong track.

Best of luck. And in your spare time read up on the thousands of threads here.

To help you along google the following threads

"Topic: depression a ship on the high seas- beyondblue"

"Topic: what life's like at the end of the tunnel- beyondblue"

"Topic: motivation- search and rescue it- beyondblue"

Tony WK

topic Not sure if Ive really got bipolar? in Young people

Not sure if Ive really got bipolar?

Not sure if Ive really got bipolar?