how do you tell if you are bipolar?

[Pounce]

I've been feeling fantastic recently, especially the past couple of weeks. It's felt like the weight of the world was lifted off my shoulders after being depressed for so long, and I was back to my confident overachieving self. But I'm worried. Is it a manic phase, or is the depression lifting? I'm worried about the impression I might have made on my psychologist last week. My head was filled with a million thoughts, racing around, and I know I was talking very fast, and was very excited (I've just bought a new house you see). I was talking nonstop, jumping from topic to topic. Anyway, someone from her office called me "for follow up". That's not happened before. I was immediately terrified that she's send men in white coats to come and get me. I thought I might have to run off into the bush and hide. I haven't returned the call. How do you tell the difference between feeling genuinely elated and excited, and being mildly manic? I've been fretting about being bipolar for a while. I've never been diagnosed with anything. In the hospital the psychiatrist just said that "I seem pretty depressed"

[White_Rose]

Dear Pounce

I read your thread in Anxiety and I can see you are very anxious about life. Having a fear of being forced to stay in hospital is very uncomfortable and I appreciate how scared you feel. 

If a psychologist has some concerns about your well-being he/she should follow up with you. To just ignore the situation is a huge breach of their duty of care.  It does not automatically mean you are about to be locked up.

If your ADs are starting to kick in it's quite likely you feel so much better and that's a fantastic feeling.  Added to your recent house purchase it is reasonable that you are very happy.  So please trust your psych. As you were told in your other thread psychologists are not ogres.

Please contact your psych ASAP and make another appointment. If someone was 'coming after you' I think you would know by now.  Depression plays with our brains and gets us to believe all sorts of rubbish. The best way to deal with it is to talk to your psych. Trust her to have your well-being as her focus.

I have often said that the best way to get through a rough patch is to go through it.  There is no other option. Trying to stand on the sidelines will only heighten your anxiety and prolong the bad patch. Have faith in your psych and jump in. You will be OK..

Let us know how you go.

Mary