I 've been on antidepressants for 10 years and about 2 sometimes 3 times a year I have episodes that generally last about a month or more ,where my meds all the sudden don't work at all. I have about a week or 2 where I spend alot of money and are VERY irritable and wake up 3-4 times a night. Then following thoses 2 weeks I feel severly depressed. The depression lasts longer than a week or 2. I have come out of 1 of these episodes in the last couple to 3 days and are really starting to think that maybe I'm a manic depressant / bi-polar. I'm scared to death about the meds I've heard about for bi-polar. People committing suicide and having split personalities. I need to hear from some of y'all who have bi-polar or have the same symptoms as I have. Thanks.
Q: Are my symptoms bi-polar instead of depression?
Hey Wendy,
I have often wondered this about myself especially since there are different types of bipolar disorder.
I will first give you some information from Health Central, the first is a quiz to help determine if it is depression or something else.
The second link I will give you is the Bipolar site right here on Health Central which has tons of information and reading for you.
In answer to your question, however, I think you are putting the cart before the horse. Nobody is going to give you meds for being bipolar before you get an official diagnosis. You need to go to your therapist or psychiatrist with your concerns. And I know it might seem frightful with all the horror stories you might hear but honestly, there are a lot of people who have bipolar disorder who are doing well and managing their lives effectively with the help of medication. But you don't even know if you have this particular type of mood disorder yet so try not to worry until you have all of the facts before you. I know...easier said than done.
I believe we are all on a mental health spectrum with many variances in between. Who knows what any one of us would get labelled with should we go seeking a diagnosis. So please don't be too frightened by labels. Write down all of your symptoms and present this list to your therapist or psychiatrist. That way, he or she can make a proper assessment of what is going on.
Hope this helps. Perhaps others can chime in with their experience.
Thank you for your question.
This is really strange that I should read this now. I too have a time but only about once a month I get really down, and consider suicide, or close to it. I go see my Dr. in two weeks and going to discuss this with him. I see my therapist next Wed. and I'm going to let him know also. I will try and remember to get back at ya with what they both have said. I'm only on medication which really does help, but I often wondered about this also.
Granny8
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