I have no clue whether I have bipolar or
not, but I think I might. Here's some
background...
I'm a freshman in highschool, and I have
an older brother (a junior) who was
diagnosed last year with depression and
add. My mom has epilepsy and all the
women on her side of the family have a
mental disorder. (that's all I can think
of to describe it, it's mostly depression)
my 31-year-old cousin was diagnosed with
bipolar in her senior year of highschool,
and she died three and a half years ago.
They never found what she died of, but her
doctor thinks she might have been
misdiagnosed. She thinks michelle was
schizophrenic but was never diagnosed for
it. Therefore, she was on a very
high!dosage of the wrong medication.
Michelle had very severe mood swings, and
that's what I thought bipolar was when I
was growing up, just the big mood swings.
But ever since last year, when I started
having mood swings, when i'd go from being
really hyper and excited to just an empty
feeling, I thought it was hormones. (i
had just started my period) but then
tonight, I came home from freshman dance
really excited and high on sugar and
laughter. Then I went downstaiss, got
talking with my brother and endee up in a
fight with him, and by the end I was just
empty. It's starting to wear off, but
it's scaring me. I went through at least
six emotions in about 10-15 minutes.
I've been feeling like this for over a
year, and I haven't told anyone, not even
my mom, who i'm really close to. I'm
scared of what people are going to think,
which I know I shouldn't be, because I
know that there's nothing I can do about
it, and that there are people just like me
out there and people who can help, but
they scare me. Will you help?
|
zilbucks
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 25 Apr 2004 Posts: 210 Location: NY
Posted: 08-21-04 18:38pm
Hey, I understand what your going
through..I'm 22 and this past feb, was
diagnosed with bipolar 2. I was very
reluctant to get help, and figure out what
was going on...And I was also terrifed of
how people would see me, hw my friends
reactions would be...But the truth is ..I
had to put myself out there, I needed the
help and I needed the support, and
everyone has been so incredibly accepting
of it..And alot of them already suspected
something was up..With my hyperness/low
points...And you also find out that it's
not so unusual for osmeone to have any
type of mood disorder, alot more people
have them than you would think...It's just
not talked about, because hey?? Why talk
about something if it's under control?
You may find that some people aren't
supportive or are standoffish, this is
when you will find out who your real
friends are...Dont worry about everyone
elses opinions of you...Worry about how
your feeling...The fact that mental
illness *does run in your family, you need
to get better...The longer you wait, the
worst it could get...
|
HLFOLKNER
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 23 Aug 2004 Posts: 29 Location: arkansas
Posted: 08-23-04 23:56pm
I have been told by doctors that mental
illness can run in families. You need to
get help. Seeing a doctor is very
important. Four years ago my life was a
downward spiral with 2 suicide attempts.
The thing was I really did not want to
die. I could not understand why I was
trying to take my life. I got help and
was diagnosed as bipolar. I now have
several meds I take and live a wonderful
life that is pretty normal. The right
meds make all the difference in the world.
Don't be afraid or embarrased. Some
people have the wrong misconception about
bipolar disorder. You can live a normal
life with bipolar and you are not a freak
if you have this disorder.
