[FrogsWithSocks]

I've been lurking around the site for a week or two now and have finally built up the courage to post (I'm very weary of people I don't know).

I am a senior in high school who turned 18 about a month ago. I have always been an incredibly good student because my moments of lethargy were always balanced with moments of incredible production. However this past year I have been fighting an increasingly uphill battle.

In order to find reasoning behind my behavior I started doing research and have recently been thinking that I may have rapid-cycle bipolar.

I had always assumed that my mood swings were just part of being a teenager but it used to be that when I was up all I would do was never stop talking, sleep very little and drive everyone insane. Recently that energy has become more and more internal to the point where when I am “up” it feels like I am going to start exploding from the inside out. I get overwhelmed at the slightest things and cannot seem to control anything I do. I can’t sleep for more than two hours a night and eat very little. There is no real word or emotion to express how I feel.

When I am “down” I have various levels of depressions. Sometimes it gets really bad and other times it isn’t too horrible I just want to sleep a lot.

Do these sound like symptoms to you, or just normal teenage behavior?

If it sounds like symptoms, I’m sure some of you are older than me; you might even have children of your own. I am not very open with my parents. We’re close we just don’t talk about things. My family is more of a “don’t ask don’t tell” kind of family. How would you suggest I try and bring up my concerns? If you had a child how would you want them to bring their concerns to you if they had these types of concerns? If you have been in my situation, how did you handle it?

I just don’t want to go to college without figuring my life out a little first. I’m afraid that I’ll finally spin out of control if I do.

I’m sorry this post is so long, I appreciate your time,

Froggie

Hi Frogs,

Welcome to PC.

I'm so glad you posted. I know it's scary the first time but it will get easier.

I'm posting a link to a website that has some good info for teens on how to tell their parents. Hopefully they'll be some parents here who can give you their perspective on it.

I hope you find it helpful and let us know how it goes.

Click Here...

[bipolar_bear]

I wish I could tell you what your symptoms represent but the truth is that a trained professional is the one who has your answers. Bipolar is not always the easiest illness to diagnose correctly and self diagnosis is not recommended. But, it is great that you have identified what your symptoms are to help them make the diagnosis. This is not a good illness to go untreated for any length of time.

I have a son who is a little older than you. I would like him to be honest and direct should he be having the mood swings you are having. The tricky part is that there is no way they can be prepared for what you are going to tell them. Try not to let their first reaction deter you. Please be persistent though. It is very important that you recieve the help you need.

I wish that I had told someone so many years ago. It would have saved so much heartache and things that didn't need to happen. I know it is a hard thing to do but you sound like a very determined person. Please do not give up on yourself. If you find out that it is teenage behavior then all you have lost is an hour of your life talking to someone. Not a bad deal.

Good luck. I hope that things go well for you. Hang in there. There is help for you.

BTW I am no comparison to Petunia's link. As usual..

[Soidhonia]

Hello and welcome to Psych Central.
I feel the best advice at this time is to go see a therapist and get diagnosed to see what disorders you may be having at this time. Then you can get the help you need for the issues you are having. Take care and good day Soidhonia

[polarbear206]

Hi,

You could very well have an underlying bipolar disorder. Esp. with an onset in your teen years. Check out my bio. I hope you can trust in us. I am a psychiatric nurse and have bipolar. I am going to direct you to some informative sites, so you can sort things out. Find a good psychiatrist that specializes in mood disorders. You have alot going for you, so you need to nip it in the butt, so you can have a long productive normal life, and look forward to college. I have an 18 year old who will be going to college next fall.

http://www.psycom.net/depression.central.lieber.html

http://www.psycheducation.org

http://www.mcmanweb.com/index.html

polarbear

How would you suggest I try and bring up my concerns? If you had a child how would you want them to bring their concerns to you if they had these types of concerns? If you have been in my situation, how did you handle it?

polarbear, being a psychiatric nurse and a mom, do you have any info/advice on how she could tell her parents?

That seems to be the main issue right now, and it might be her biggest hurdle. The dx will come as soon as she can get to a P-doc, but it doesn't look like that's gonna happen unless she tells her parents.

I gave her a link to a teen site that has a section on how to talk your parents but I know she's also looking for input from a parent's perspective.

Thanks,

Petunia

[polarbear206]

It might be a good idea for her to go to her school guidance counselor and explain the situation. Many schools have in house psychologist who can meet with her parents and discuss her concerns. They are not allowed to diagnose, but will lead them in the right direction for help. There is so much stigma attached to mental illness, and her parents would probably be more open-minded to agree for a mental health professional to evaluate their daughter. I would also suggest she print out some literature about teens and bipolar disorder for them to look at. It was a very good thing for you to give her the info you did too.

Thanks,

polarbear.