angry and agitated

I jusy don't know what is the matter with me. For 5 years I was diagnosed with Bipolar disorder. Luckily I moved to CA and found an amazing doctor and 2 ttherapists. I did open Pandora's box however. After 15 months of weekly sessions with my psychiatrisy and therapist, I no longer have the label of bipolar, but PTSD and ADHD. Sexual, physical, emotional.........abuse for 32 years. I'm now on Trileptal and Concerta. I'm a rapid metabolizer, so I have to take the Concerta 4x a day.
I just seem to be so angry and agitated and emotional ALL the time!! Before my period I am an emotional basket case. I just want to be calm - does anyone else feel angry and agitated all the time?? What are your diagnosos's - maybe I'm missing something.......I just really need someone who understands to hear me.
Thank you.

Hi,
I was recently Dx Bipolar, then ADHD. While my symptoms of ADHD were vaguely present all of my life, I noticed a sharp spike in them around the time that I started having the most intense Bipolar episodes. The disorders are co-morbid, so I would talk to one of Therapists' about the possiblity that you could be both (along w/ PTSD).
I COMPLETELY relate to the "angry and agitated and emotional" part, in fact I'm about to have my period, and have been worse than ever. If you're taking birth control, depending on the type and amount of each hormone, you might be suffering unneccessarily. I've changed my bc pill about 4 times in 4 years, since now some offer low estrogen, or low progesterone levels. Hormones are like toxic chemicals to me -- I become irrational, excessively sensitive, MOODY, and angry. Also, when I was on Topamax it broke down some of the hormones in the pill, so I didn't get the effect of the full dose; I felt so much better.
I'm now taking Lamictal, Provigil, and Adderall, and my dr warned me that Adderall can INCREASE the intensity/frequency of mood swings in bipolar patients. I know that concerta acts in a different way than amphetamine stimulants, but you might want to ask your dr if your mood swings are being increased in intensity by Concerta.
Finally, keep in mind that diagnoses are merely labels that are meant to facilitate the best therapy possible. When SSRIs didn't work for me, I went to my dr.'s and told them I thought I had Bipolar. They told me that I could try a mood stabilizer, and if that helped I probably did have it. I've been evaulated by three other therapists since then, and all of them are open to suggestion of what kinds of therapies (cognitive & pharmaceutical) would be best for my symptoms. When you were DX w/ Bipolar, were you put on a mood stabilizer; and if so, do you remember feeling better/more stable on it?

Good Luck!! ~Jessie