Saturday, May 09, 2009 Bassoonicmayhem asks

Q: Could I be suffering from either Bipolar Disorder or ADHD?

I'm a 17 year old girl and I know most people would right off my behavior as 'typical teenage syndrome' but I've never been a typical teenager. I've moved over twenty times throughout my life and experienced the pain of divorce since I was 8. Since then, I have been diagnosed with hypothyroidism as well as clinical depression; I usually get an episode or two every couple of months, but recently I have been having extreme highs and lows. One second, I feel as if I could take over the world and then a few minutes later I feel suicidal. Most of my friends complain that I talk a mile a minute and at an extremely loud volume. I don't notice when this happens unless if someone points it out, which makes me very angry and I may take my aggressions out on them. I've always been very intelligent individual, yet with the infamous B type personality, and am currently going to an IB high school. People tend to describe me as laid back, bubbly and overall a good person, but since these extreme mood swings I don't think they like me as well.

I always considered myself to be reserved with my emotions and only displaying what others would see fit, but for some reason the past few months I have had these very extreme highs and lows. My doctor thought I had ADHD, which I have been tested for, but have yet to get the results. I'm starting to think that I'm not ADHD, but perhaps suffering from Bipolar Disorder. I would really like to know anyone's opinion because I'm constantly getting into fights with my mom which has only started this year. We usually get along very well, but for some reason I just get angry at her and I love my mom! Am I acting this way because I'm a teenager or could I be suffering from ADHD or Bipolar Disorder? I really just want some help. Oh and I do go to a therapist, but she treats me like a child and not like an adult, which I'm less than a year from being. So please, someone help.

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Answers (2)

John McManamy, Health Guide

5/12/09 4:42pm

Hi, Bassoonicmayhem. Knowthyself has great advice. I'll simply add this:

Congratulations on your heightened self-awareness. This will serve you in very good stead throughout your life. Too many of us are unmitigated jerks doomed to lead miserable lives and make lives miserable for others. Your power of critical enquiry will allow you to identify trouble situations in your life and make the appropriate course corrections.

The downside is your ruminations, if unchecked, may cause you the type of undue worry and stress that knowthyself refers to. But since you're going to be asking yourself questions anyway, here are a few to ask:

1. Is your performance in school holding steady? (Able to keep up, no sudden drops in grades, etc?).

2. Everything okay with your friends? (Getting along? Not losing them?)

3. Family? (You mentioned mom problems. Have you talked to your mom about how she is seeing your behavior? Moms can be very good at pushing their kids' buttons, so don't automatically blame yourself.)

4. Making bassoon mayhem? (Hobbies and activities are important. Still enjoying them? Losing interest?)

Here's what I'm driving at: Mental illness is defined by how it interferes with your life. Our thoughts and feelings and behaviors fluctuate. It's normal, especially for teens. But when performance falls off, our relationships suffer, and we start losing interest in things - then it's prudent to seek help.

Keep in mind, this help could be in the form of learning to cope with the daily stresses in your life. Teens are under much more stress than they were in my day, which means they are more likely to lose it. So the last thing we want is some doc slapping a label on you and telling you that you need to be on meds the rest of your life.

That may eventuate, but it shouldn't be the first option.

As you can see, no clear answer here. But my guess is clear answers aren't for you. You appear to see shades of grey rather than black and white. You see ambiguity rather than yes or no. You have the gift of deep insight, so I encourage you to keep using it.

Hope this helps -

knowthyself

5/10/09 12:57am

Maybe it is best that your doctor sorts this out for you. It appears you feel there is something wrong with you and while this may be true, it may not be so. Contemplating what may be the cause and jumping to conclusions can also cause stress, anxiety and emotional upset. If you let the doctor take care of the diagnosis, you can continue with your life as usual. If he comes to a diagnosis then you can deal with it and get treatment. Basically, don't worry about it until there is something to worry about.

I am not dismissing your concern but seeking out an opinion, based on what you have provided, could get you many different answers. One may be right or all may be wrong and an opinion is not going to get you what you want or lead you to proper treatment. It just may result in more questions. I do understand your need to know and that answer must come from the professional knowledge of your doctor.

Q: Could I be suffering from either Bipolar Disorder or ADHD?

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