[Bartholomeow]

I think that I might be bipolar, more specifically cyclothymia (I know not bipolar).
Here's my story.
2 years ago I was mugged and it changed me a lot. Most importantly my mood. My mood began to change drastically randomly. For about 2 weeks I would be depressed and then 2 weeks I would be extremely happy. I would be confident, sleep 4 hours every day and wake up feeling amazing. I was confident and my self esteem was crazy high. I would buy crap I didnt need. I would do many things at once and I just couldn't stay still. And then, out of nowhere, I would be depressed again. It all continued for a year, till this year it's become more frequent. Instead of 2 weeks it turned into weekly changes. My friend mentioned to me that whenever I was really happy I reminded him of his bipolar sister whenever she had her mania (except mine was more mild). I decided to do research and I noticed that I did a lot of what was described as bipolar except my "highs" were not as extreme as full mania, and my deppresvie episodes werent full blown depression. That's how I found cyclothymia. Now I want to see a therapist about it. I'm actually going this week to talk to one about the anxiety and stress post mugging (2 years late...) and I dont know how to bring it up? Do I just say "I think I might be bipolar?!".

[wildflowerchild25]

Sometimes it’s best to just describe your moods and let the professional make the decision.

[Blueberrybook]

Could be anxiety or panic disorder too, due to such a traumatic event in your life. Best to get evaluated. Not sure if you are male or female, but if you are female, I have noticed my menstrual cycles have a LOT to do with my moods. A normal cycle has roughly 2 weeks of increasing estrogen leading to ovulation, then decreasing estrogen & increasing progesterone leading to your period if not pregnant. On the pill or birth control other than condoms or the copper IUD this obviously changes because hormone levels differ on the pill/Mirena/Nuvaring, etc. Just wanted to throw that out there. The femaie hormones definitely play a part in my moods. I do have panic disorder too, from being an accidental victim of gun violence.

My advice to you is to get a professional opinion. It is very strange for bipolar to be consistently 2 weeks on manic, 2 weeks on depressive, like clockwork.

[Unrigged64072835]

I'd take what you wrote to the therapist and show them. They'll help you out.

[~Christina]

Since you flip back and forth all the time your not finding baseline which if you don’t have a baseline to compare to I think you could be in a mixed atypical cycle.

Regardless explain how you feel and let them give you opinion.

[downandlonely]

I would make a list of your symptoms and see a psychiatrist with them. It sounds like it might be bipolar 2, but I don't know enough to diagnose someone.

[*Laurie*]

Originally Posted by downandlonely

I would make a list of your symptoms and see a psychiatrist with them. It sounds like it might be bipolar 2, but I don't know enough to diagnose someone.

I agree.

Originally Posted by wildflowerchild25

Sometimes it’s best to just describe your moods and let the professional make the decision.

I agree with this.

You'll want a professional opinion anyways so that you can get the proper help for whatever you have (be it bipolar, cyclothymia, or something else). And the other thing is, doctors don't like people who self diagnose. I'm not saying your opinion is wrong, because you could be right, but they just don't like when you do that. They get a little leery. So if you do seek help, let them come up with their opinion first, then have a conversation.