New Member asks question

This is my first post and I have been wondering for a while if I might be Bipolar or suffer from depression.

Just starting to type this post has brought me to the edge of tears.

The first thing is that I haven't slept properly for years broken sleep and insomnia and right now I just have no energy, but this time last week I felt as it I could do just about anything. I was all set to write a book and even lined up an illustrator. Now I just want to go back to bed and it's 10.30 in the morning here. But I can't, I have to go and care for my 91 year old mother and my disabled sister.

I don't even know if this makes any sense. What I wouldn't give just to get out bed in the morning and get on with life.

Yesterday afternoon I just wanted to curl up in a ball and be left alone.

I have never been diagnosed or had any treatment.

Kezzie

Hi Kezzie and welcome to the forums. I hope you'll keep talking to us. Are you considering going to get some professional help? That has helped a lot of us here. Again, welcome!

kezzie, welcome. up at the top of the page, you can click on "quizzes" and take some of those to see how you might "rate" on different DXs.

if it is possible, i'd sure make an appointment with a professional and see what they say. a Pdoc will usually make the diagnosis and then you will see a therapist for "talk" therapy. keep us updated...PM me if you need to. pat

I have learned from close friends that the "down" side of bipolar can feel the same as I do in my depression (I do not have bipolar, and I believe I have a correct diagnosis of "clinical major depression"). So the things you describe could be depression or bipolar but they are definitely symptoms of something and you deserve to feel better.

You did the right thing and took a great step posting here to discover more. Next step really is to have a proper diagnosis from a doctor, so that a treatment plan can be established. It may feel hopeless, but help and relief from this suffering is available and possible.

Although you really do need to see a professional for help, understanding and support are an important part of recovery, and that is what we are all here for. So please continue to join us here, to post and to read as you feel comfortable, ask questions or just get some understanding. I hope you will find this to be a unique and close-knit community that can serve greatly as an important aid in getting through this.

Welcome to Psych Central

Hi, Kezzie and welcome!!

You have a lot on your plate to begin with caring for your mother and sister. I would think that alone would contribute to some fatigue and stress.

I agree with the other posters that, if at all possible, see a good psychiatrist for a possible diagnosis. It is possible to feel better whether by meds/talk therapy or both.

Please feel free to PM me anytime and again, welcome!

Thank you guys for your responses to my post. It is 11.45pm here and I don't feel at all sleepy and have managed to get through the day. I do not feel as fragile as I did this morning. I seem to act as if everything is OK as long as no one throws me a curve ball and asks anything out of the ordinary of me.

The irony of the fact that I spend a large portion of my time caring for my extended family when I am not really capable of looking after myself properly is not lost on me.

I know that I should be looking for professional help but that would mean doing something that would create a stressful situation and I am not sure if I could do it right now.

I have a sister who has many apparent classic bipolar symptoms but I don't know if she has ever been diagnosed, but that is a whole other story. But I do see some similarities between us but she becomes much more manic than I do.

I really am not sure that I want take drugs for the rest of my life. If I was diagnosed are there other options for treatment? I took the Bipolar Quiz and saved the score but can't find it again now but was either 31 or 32 , I think.

Kezzie

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Kezzie said:
I took the Bipolar Quiz and saved the score but can't find it again now but was either 31 or 32 , I think.

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Kezzie, try clicking "My Profile" (located next to the logout button) and about midway down the page there is an option of 'view saved quizzes' - I hope you find your quiz results there .