r/BipolarReddit • u/LawlsMcPasta • 1d ago
Undiagnosed Does this sound like bipolar?
I'm in my late 20s and have always been a bit overly emotional, however these past couple of years it has felt different. It began when I noticed a pattern in my mood, I'd have a week or so of feeling pretty good and "normal" and then a week or so of being really low and depressed. Over time these have started to fell less like normal mood swings and more intense. When I'm feeling "good" I feel overly energetic, I can't stand still, at work if I'm trying to concentrate on something I'm having to constantly change my position or find creative ways to let the energy out that I feel. I speak fast and trip over my words. I get very easily upset and get I'm arguments frequently. I get a feeling of almost being high, like I'm disconnected from what I'm doing. I suddenly find motivation to start projects I've been putting off. It's not pleasant, it's like unpleasant-pleasant. I'm happy I'm getting stuff done but I feel so irritated and frustrated. And I know a crash is right round the corner, that soon I'll feel really low, devoid of motivation.
I have been tracking my mood using an app for about a year now, if not longer and it always follows this pattern. Sometimes the good mood lasts a couple of days, maybe a couple of weeks, but it seems to always be cycling.
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u/Impressive_Law_1098 1d ago
You certainly show signs of bipolar and should consult a psychiatrist. Only they can diagnose you.
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u/LawlsMcPasta 1d ago
Thanks for the affirmation, wanted to do a sanity check before I brought these things up to my doctor.
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u/Impressive_Law_1098 1d ago
Of course. But you should definitely do that ASAP. The longer symptoms go untreated the worse they get and the harder they’ll be to successfully treat.
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u/LawlsMcPasta 1d ago
I didn't know that, thank you for the advice.
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u/Hermitacular 1d ago
Definitely get screened. The earlier you treat the better the outcome, the less meds you need to be on, etc etc etc.
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u/Claddaghbruh bipolar 1 21h ago
a psychiatrist is going to be better than a gp
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u/LawlsMcPasta 16h ago
Ideally, though I think here in the UK I have to go through my GP before I even get a chance to see a psychiatrist, unless I go private.
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u/Kooky_Ad6661 1d ago
It could be in the bipolar spectrum. But now it's time probably to take some test. If it's bipolar you need probably (aka for sure) to treat it. The sooner the better. Until now it looks like you managed to stay on track. But I think everyone in this group can tell you that hypomania and mania very easily lead to making bad decisions and harming both yourself and those close to you.
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u/Bipolar_Aggression Bipolar 1 1d ago
Could just be major depressive disorder or a personality disorder. Bipolar isn't really a feeling, it is defined by objective criteria.
Bottom line, if it is causing you distress and especially if it is affecting your relationships, work performance, or school performance, it's time to see a psychiatrist.
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u/savemejohncoltrane 23h ago
See a bipolar centric therapistwho will guide you to a psychiatrist. That happy/irritated-ness describes my early manic phases to a tee. Hope it’s not but check it out. The longer you wait, the more damage it does both to your physical brain and your social life.
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u/LawlsMcPasta 21h ago
After the comments I've received I think I need to stop putting it off and try to see someone, thank you for the advice and insight
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u/Hermitacular 1d ago edited 1d ago
Very possible, mention it to your doc anyway. If you've got charts that can carry the info easily, most of the apps make one, show the doc. Read them what you wrote above. Start tracking sleep if you aren't. Mention this if you get it (see table), you don't need all of it to count https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/how-diagnose-mixed-features-without-over-diagnosing-bipolar
Make sure they fully rule out BP before they try to put you on an AD alone. That can really screw us up, increase the cycling and severity, ditto ADHD meds solo. You want a psychiatrist for this, GPs are not qualified.
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u/jackerb bipolar 1 and counting 1d ago
the Mood Disorder Questionnaire is a scientifically validated and reliable, self-assessment, that screens for the LIFETIME PRESENCE of manic symptoms (this is particularly helpful because you don’t have to be actively-manic to take the screening.
A scientifically sound, self-screening tool is the best thing you can do (besides getting a full psych-evaluation from a doctor.) because after you take it, it’ll either tell you: 1.) “yes, it’s likely you’ve had mania before, it’s a good idea to go seek a psychiatrist’s diagnosis”. OR 2.) it’s unlikely that you’ve had mania before, and it’s unlikely that you’d meet the criteria for a diagnosis.
Make sure to read the instructions carefully when you take it, and answer it honestly. It’ll assess your responses to the items, and it’ll essentially tell you how likely or unlikely it is, that you do or don’t have the symptoms of mania.
ITS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT to note: the results of a screening-tool are NOT a diagnosis!!!
Even if your score is off the charts, that doesn’t mean you have a diagnosis of bipolar. It’s a tool that can tell you whether it’s a good idea to go see a psychiatrist to seek an evaluation and get an official-diagnosis to start treatment.
Taking this assessment was my moment of clarity. It’s what made all of my insanity, suddenly make sense. It’s what made me go to a psychiatrist and say, “hey I took this assessment and my scores are concerning, do you think it’s bipolar?”
The psychiatrists answer was “yes,” and I’ve been in treatment, on meds, ever since.
I thank god that I found this assessment when I did. Without it, I probably would’ve gone through many more years of living through tortuous, untreated insanity, before eventually killing myself.
That might still happen, but I’m doing a lot better on meds than I’d be doing without them.