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Originally Posted by chaotic_serenity
I have been trying to figure out if I have bp, sometimes it seems to describe me perfectly while other times I'm not so sure. There are times when I am so depressed that I don't want to get out of bed much less talk to anybody and other times when I can't stop fidgeting. I don't really bounce off walls but I get very antsy and irritable. I'm not sure what to do, I can't keep going like this, I have two young boys and I don't want them growing up thinking I'm completely insane, but I can't afford to go see a doc.. Can anyone help? Please!?
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I thnk before you decide that you are BP, you really need to get a checkup to see if there is not something else going on with you body that is causing these symptoms. Unfortunately, there are many underlying illnesses and deficiencies that can cause depression, anxiety, mood swings, etc.
Depending upon your age, it could be perimenopause...which means that your female hormones are starting to fluctuate. Pay attention to your cycle and when the depression is getting worse...if it gets worse around your cycle or right before then it could just be hormonal. I know you said you don't have the funds right now but you need to have your estradiol, progesterone, testosterone tested. In addition, thyroid problems can cause the same symtpoms. In that case you need to have your TSH, T3, T4, Free T3, Free T4, and sometimes thyroid antibodies tested to see if you have Graves or Hashimotos disease...both thyroid disorders! Hashimotos disease swings back and forth between being hyper and being hypo...sounds EXACTLY like BIPOLAR DISORDER! You can find further information about thyroid disease at stopthethyroidmadness.com and doctors here
http://www.thyroid-info.com/topdrs/. Also Adrenal problems can also cause symptoms of depression and mood swings!!!
Also vitamin and mineral deficiencies can cause these symptoms as well, vitamin d, magnesium, etc...
Start using a calendar to track how you feel...that should at least give you a clue. Also, processed foods could make things worse...and food allergies can also cause depression... In that case, you can use an elimination diet to see if you are allergic to any of the foods that you eat on a regular basis...
It is very complex, and unless you really press doctors to check all of these things, you can go undiagnosed for years or forever and simply MISDIAGNOSED WITH depression or bipolar disorder...
The problem is getting doctors to delve into these matters, as well as interpreting the lab testing CORRECTLY. Sometimes you can be told that your hormones...in my case...thyroid is normal. But when I asked for copies of the tests they were at the LOW END of the normal range... Now upon further investigation and further research, I learned that the symptoms were consistent with bipolar disease...hyperthyroidism.... Unfortunately, it is hard to find a doctor to treat the symptoms unless the labs are COMPLETELY out of the range... So most people have to see Alternative/DO's/Naturopaths to get proper treatment!
Tell you what, check out power-surge.com and see if any of what they are talking about sounds familiar...it is a site for those in perimenopause or menopause... You might think that you are too young to be in perimenopause, however, some women start in their early 30's... I started at 36!!!
TJ
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Smooches! Hope you have a Beautiful, Blessed Day!
Thyroid disorders can cause depression and can mimic bipolar disorder... Please read below regarding one form, hypothyroidism, and have your numbers checked...TSH, T3, T4, Free T3, Free T4, and Thyroid Antibodies (for Graves Disease and Hashimotos Disease (which mimics BP)