is it possible

is it possible to be slightly bipolar. i dont have the depression  part, but i do get mood swings and easily frustrated. if i do more then two closes i cant sleep. i dont get highs and lows but i can be happy one minute and angry the next. hubby has told me at one point that i could be bipolar and even a comanager has said that he thinks that is a possiblility. i know i dont need a mix of meds but maybe a mood stabilizer. i control my mood swings at home but at work, where it is stressful i cant control it all the time. or maybe i just hate my job.

Hi worriedgirl,

We can't suggest on this board what you should take medication-wise nor can we diagnose, so the very best thing you can do for yourself is see a psychiatrist asap.

Do you currently have a diagnosis? There are many different levels and aspects to bp, so maybe you fit in somewhere special with the diagnosis? Do you mood chart?

I would consult a profession and let us know how it works out :)

Hugs,

Mogs

Get a free mood tracker by googling Mood tracker Bipolar

Recently heard that there is a mood thermometer. Haven't found it.

Hi girl,

First thing is to keep track of what you are experiencing. With out being able to express it accurately, you won't be able to help a psychiatrist evaluate you for any disorder.

I certainly felt "bipolar" before diagnosis, but without having that professional help and treatment, I was only grasping at straws.

What the experience of being bipolar and on medication is is different for every person. I'm stable with few side effects, UNLESS I get stressed out or have any changes. And IF my moods can be controlled on meds, any stress or change will cause my anxiety/panic issues to flare up.

I am very thankful for my experience. There are many on here that don't have it this good. Not that it's "good."

Good for you! I hope you get answers - whatever they are. Please let us know what happens. :)

How old are you? ADD is a common misdiagnosis amoung kids and teens.

What is the criteria you didn't matched (my curiousity only)?

i am gonna post some of the symptoms of ADD and comment then you will see what i mean. Bill, i dont have the mania or any other symptoms of bp but i do of ADD.

“zoning out” without realizing it, even in the middle of a conversation. (i zone out alot, sometimes while driving)

extreme distractibility; wandering attention makes it hard to stay on track. (i am easily distracted and i cant stay on track)

difficulty paying attention or focusing, such as when reading or listening to others. (my focus is very minimal, i have hard time following conversations)

struggling to complete tasks, even ones that seem simple. (i start a task and dont finish it and start another which leads to a dozen unfinished tasks)

tendency to overlook details, leading to errors or incomplete work. (this is me in every sense)

poor listening skills; hard time remembering conversations and following directions(i forget conversations almost as soon as they happen and same with following directions)

a tendency to become absorbed in tasks that are stimulating and rewarding. This paradoxical symptom is called hyperfocus.

poor organizational skills (home, office, desk, or car is extremely messy and cluttered)
tendency to procrastinate (i wait til the last minute to do anything at all)

trouble starting and finishing projects (again this is me)
chronic lateness (i set my clocks five to ten minutes ahead to make me t hink i am late so i am on time)

frequently forgetting appointments, commitments, and deadlines (i forget commitments and deadlines constantly)

constantly losing or misplacing things (keys, wallet, phone, documents, bills) (i dont even pay the bills as i will forget to mail them or lose them)

underestimating the time it will take you to complete tasks
frequently interrupt others or talk over them (i do this all the time)

have poor self-control (i cant control most things i do)
blurt out thoughts that are rude or inappropriate without thinking (i am often saying things that are inappropriate for the occasion or when it doesnt need to be said)

have addictive tendencies (this is the one i dont have but i seen how my family is with drugs and alcohol so i stay away)

act recklessly or spontaneously without regard for consequences (i do this all t he time)

have trouble behaving in socially appropriate ways (such as sitting still during a long meeting) (again this is me)

sense of underachievement (i totally feel this way)

doesn’t deal well with frustration (i get frustrated and shut down completely)

easily flustered and stressed out (i am very easily flustered and stressed out)

irritability or mood swings (i go from happy to sad to happy to angry within minutes)

trouble staying motivated (i cant get motivated to do what needs to be done, for example cleaning)

hypersensitivity to criticism (i cry over just the slightest criticism)

short, often explosive, temper(i have a real short fuse)

low self-esteem and sense of insecurity (again this is me)

feelings of inner restlessness, agitation (me again)

tendency to take risks (im not a big risk taker but that is because i am careful)

getting bored easily (if i am bored i wont do it and i get bored easily)

racing thoughts (my mind is on ten different thoughts at once and i will bounce from subject to subject)

trouble sitting still; constant fidgeting (i hate sitting still)

craving for excitement (i need excitement)

talking excessively (i dont shut up)

doing a million things at once(yep i do this all the time)

You may be fed up with constant nagging from loved ones to tidy up, listen more closely, or get organized. People may have labeled you “lazy” or “stupid” because of your forgetfulness or difficulty completing tasks, and you may have begun to think of yourself in these negative terms as well.

every one of these i fit. and i know some are normal but for me this is me. after talking with a few friends and family they say yes they have thought for years that i was ADD but never said anything for fear i would be upset but they never thought it too bad. well it is, when my husband tells me 7 times to do something and i forget to do it, it is a problem. the doctor thought with the stuff i said in session one that i was. i think come tuesday i will be diagnosed with it. and if so then i can get help and be more effecient and not as stupid.

Post Edited By Moderator (happy bill) : 11/27/2010 4:37:46 PM (GMT-7)

Sounds like you need to get the ADD symptoms under control first before you'll be able to see if there is an underlying mood disorder. For your sake, I hope there isn't!

Well the therapist is extremely positive i have ADD so i am now going to see a therapist on Jan. 19th but i have this place that will get me in on Dec. 15 to evaluate for meds. i am well on my way.

Im not bipolar and I wish they had a forum for what I have. But have you ever heard of borderline personality disorder? That is what I have and Im starting treatment for it.....again. A lot of the things you stated I have. Just thought maybe you can look at the symptoms of it and see if you fit that category. We can present as manic, bi polar, schizophrenic and psychosis. I had a psychosis episode in Feb and March and when the doctor looked at my hospital papers he automatically thought I was bipolar. After seeing me and committing me, he diagnosed me with borderline personality disorder. I was diagnosed with it when I was 16 years old, so I knew. The high treatment for BPD is dialectical behaviour therapy. They really try to avoid medication because it is more of a learned behaviour from PTSD, childhood trauma, things like that. Just thought I would open the door to not only ADD/ADHD and bi polar but BPD as well. Good luck!

i have heard of it. i havent had any breakdowns or anything like that other than crying but if it comes up i will consider it. i just found out my mom was ADD so it is possible. i am keeping all avenues open but im hoping that i can get meds to control my thoughts and my life.

i am willing cause i am tired of living like this. i know i cant change on my own.