How does it feel to be manic/depressive?

Recently I was talking to a friend about my mood swings and she mentioned that my symptoms sounded a lot like bipolar ones. I'm just curious as to how people who actually have it feel when they are manic or depressive.
As I don't know if I AM bipolar I can't say that I am "manic" or "depressive" but there are times when I feel like I'm on top of the world and feel totally confident. I talk too fast and think too fast and feel happy for seemingly no reason at all. Usually I fight with my family the most when I'm in these ultra-good moods which is bizarre. :/
But there are also times where I have long periods of hopeless feelings, cryin spells... I feel like I am letting everyone down and that there is no way of feeling better. I hide in my room and just ooze around.
And these happen all the time. I mentioned this to my mother and she said that people have mood swnigs just like I do but I can't help but think it is NOT normal to be really happy one day and then within a few days feeling like I am the most worthless person on the face of the earth. I just don't get it.

I'd like to know how you feel when you are manic or depressive because I am feeling pretty lost right now. I talked to my mom about possibly being bipolar and she and my dad think that if I only put more effort into controlling my emotions I would be perfectly all right, even though I really don't feel I have any control at all.

I don't know that much about bipolar disorder but I did a little online research and the symptoms sound a lot like mine.
I'm 16, if that makes any difference.
Thanks a lot

Welcome, sounds pretty much like bi-polar, might be best if you see a Pdoc first are you on any meds at this time?
I 'am able to accomplish alot when I cycle, don't get much sleep during this ,

HI. My name is Lia.
The way that you are describing your symptoms do remind me a lot of myself. Keep in mind that i'm not a doctor and there are many different types of bilpolar, some more severe than others. Either way though, this mood disorder is dangerous. I get hypomanic (less severe than manic). When i slip into this mood, I have acceess energy and start to feel really good. Then I get extreamily irritably, anxious and I pick fights. Of course, when i'm "high", it means i'm going to "crash" into this aweful depressed feeling. I feel like there's no point to anything I do and no point to life at all. I'm sorry that your parents are not being supportive of this. A mood disorder is treatable but there are parts about it that are beyond your control. Medication has really helped me feel 98 percent better. Perhaps you could find a counselor to talk to. I find it's easier to talk to counselors and perhaps they can direct you elsewhere. Best of luck with this and I hope you feel better soon!

~Lia
crazymusiclvr@aol.com

Hi, c4ww,

I gotta agree, what you say does sound like bipolar. Why don't you keep a mood chart for a while, (you can find lots of 'em with a search), that will give you a really good idea of what your symptoms are doing, and you can show it to a doc or pdoc to document what's going on. It can be really hard to describe all this stuff when you're in the office, and to say it in a form that is useful to the pdoc. With a mood chart kept over a period of time, you can hand it to them and say "This is what's been going on".

Definitely see a pdoc (psychiatrist) when you can--they're the only ones who can really take care of BP.

Best of luck to you,

DJ

PS. Welcome to PC!

Welcome to PC and the forums,
The best you can do is, stop possibly self-diagnosing, and get to a psychiatrist for a professional evaluation, from there if there is a definate,true, diagnosis then there may be medications prescribed and/or talk therapy combined.
Until you do this, it may bring on more,unecessary stress, wondering and assuming you have a disorder or even more than one diagnosis, which it is not uncommon for a person to have multiple diagnosis of things. Don't dismay, there are treatment(s) for this,if needed.
But do not allow yourself,friends,etc. to decide a DX before you actually go and consult with a professional mental health provider, preferably a psychiatrist.
Just my 2 cents, based on real life experience.
Please take care,
DE