Hi, im 19 and i was diagnosed with bi polar disorder. Actually the diagnose was made after about a 5-8 minute evaluation from my doctor. Well since then I have been freaking out about everyday. I have many friends and a girlfriend. All which says they have never noticed any crazyness in me. All my friends and my g/f said "Josh, you dont have bi polar, chill out." To hear that is very reassuring and makes me feel better about it. Ive always had pretty low self confidence. I have also been very depressed before. There were 2 times in my life where i was very depressed, but have felt normal afterwards...with low self confidence. I have been extremely stressed out the pass few months. I mean i feel like ive had a lot of up and downs...nothing extreme, but a lot of them. Ive worked at my job for 3 and half years. I am so burned out with this job. I go there and the day doesnt seem to move. It gets me down everytime i go there...while being very anxious. Let me also remind you the strictness and the stress this job causes. This job has made me miss some important things in my life such as prom, and concerts and stuff of the sort. I have got about 6 or 7 of my friends hired there...and 5 of them quit within the first month. But anyways, I had a rough childhood. Ive had a pretty rough past. I lost my g/f of a year in a car accident about 2 years ago( we had just broken up before the accident). About a year later I started dating my recent g/f. It was an off and on thing and we made official about 4 months ago. I have to admit...its been really hard being with her. Im scared shes gonna leave (no confidence thing). Ive talked to her about this and she tells me she loves me. Heres another thing with it...ive been really stressed dating her because of the simple fact..of my last g/f...and she so much happier than me. I feel like im no fun. So ive been tryin real hard to keep up with her. Shes very intimidating to me. IM the kinda guy that likes to have it equaled out ya know. Well since i started dating her...it feels like ive constantly worried most the time. Im living with a alcoholic mother (which isnt abusive in anyway) but shes depressed and nags at me a lot. Its very hard for me to feel comfortable around people. I dont even feel comfortable with myself most the time. Im sick of my job..so long and boring. I feel like i dont get much respect a lot of the times. I feel like im in a sad/ bad mood most the time. Sometimes i can get excited or happy, but i never really had these so called mania episodes. I mean like ill get happy...feel a little better about things, but still have low confidence...when im not down...it feels like i can talk about things a little more and not feel as embaressed about it. But then i start thinkin again and get down. My friends tell me this is normal. I felt like my life was on a pretty good track about 7 8 months ago. But i graduated school and gettin ready for college and im just so confused about every little thing in my life. But the more i think about bi polar and research is the more i think i have it. Everyone tells me I think to much. My best friend is the exact same way and hes doin well and doesnt think he has it. Through all this stress and everything ive been trying to change who i am at the same time. Trying to build my confidence up and find who i am. So my question is...does this sound like the normal stresses of life? Am i jsut on some rollarcoaster right now? Am i trying to hard to change myself? and one more question i want to ask. For the medication you do take for bi polar. Is there anymedication that will not make you feel like a zombie? You can live normally and get up and down at the right times? Still connect with people and live a normal life. Im just completly freaked out right now. This is always on my mind and i feel stressed from the minute i wake up till i go to bed. Thanks for listening

I don't know much about bipolar, but from how you described yourself, you sound like you are depressed. Was this a psychiatrist who diagnosed you? Have you been seeing a psychologist or other counselor? If so, I'd talk with them about your questions about the bipolar diagnosis.

I have several cousins who are bipolar. When my psych heard about my family history of bipolar, he suggested that maybe I was bipolar too. I kinda grinned at him and told him that if I'm bipolar, then I've sure been missing out on the highs --I have depression, although doing much better since taking meds. He kinda laughed with me and agreed. I had been seeing him for awhile so he already of familiar with me --if he didn't already know me, perhaps he would have concluded that I was bipolar, who knows?

Sometimes i can get excited or happy, but i never really had these so called mania episodes. I mean like ill get happy...feel a little better about things, but still have low confidence...when im not down...it feels like i can talk about things a little more and not feel as embaressed about it.
How long are your "happy" periods? From what you described here, it sounds like you'll have a day when you are not so depressed, but it doesn't really sound like mania. I tend to feel extra-depressed when I am stressed over reports I need to write for work. Once I've finished the work, I am soooo relieved and feel happy. The happy period may last an afternoon or maybe even a few days. The difference in my mood is striking in comparison to how depressed I felt in comparison to my level of anxiety & depression before I've completed the work ...but it is in no way mania ...it's just "happy."

Could you described how feel & behave during one of your happy/excited periods?

Well heres the thing. I used to do kinda bad in school, but my last 2 years of school i did good. I decided i wanted to do good. Just doing my homework and getting it done made me very relieved and happy. Ive been out of school for a year and getting ready to start college. This year being off school has made me feel the way i have. School jsut makes me feel a lot better about everything. When i get happy...i can talk a bit more. In mania your supposed to do these crazy things like shopping sprees and what have you. I usually tend to buy more stuff when im depressed. To try and make myself feel better. But i always know my limit. I know not to go haywire and go in debt. Thats the thing...I know between right and wrong. I know the consequences of things. Ive just been really confused with situations lately. Its hard for me to make decisions. When im happy and excited...i just feel a little better about myself and feel like i can talk to people a little better. I mean i dont feel as worthless as i do when im down. I still have the confidence issue, but its just like im not as worried about as what there gonna say. Another thing...that really really bothers me. Sometimes I will be thinking and feeling kinda hopeful and then it just dies on me. Ive asked my 2 closest friends if that ever happens to them and they say "josh, it happens to everyone." I know im makin people sick talkin about this. I havent seen a psychiatrist yet...it was my family dr. Which i think is impossible to make a diagnosis in that short period. I try so hard to stay up and i just cant. Its hard for me to watch a movie or relax in my room because im so anxious...when i do relax i get down. Im trying to fight it. It seems like when i get my mind off it and im doin something im enjoying then i feel fairly good, but it goes away after a lil bit. So i dont know. I appreciate your consideration

the fact that it took you 5 mins to get dx'd with bi-polar would make me question it. The few people i know who have bi-polar all told me that the diagnosis took way longer than 5 mins. Sometimes being 'observed' over a couple of weeks or so. Also, your GP, i wouldent trust that diagnosis from a GP. Also, dont view it as a "fight" or you will screw yourself into the ground, a more posative outlook would be a "chalange". All this from me, kinda hypocriticle.

How can they diagnose bi-polar, in 5-8 minutes? It makes me question this doctor's diagnosis. It sounds a lot like depression. I hope you are able to see a different doctor, and get the right diagnosis, so you can feel better.

That's like what a lot of these doctors do, with the ADHD diagnoses. The doctor see a person for 5 minutes, and instantly diagnoses them with ADHD without ruling other factors out.

Josh, this so-called diagnosis was far too fast in my opinion. I often think our friends can tell a great deal about us, and right now, I think you need to trust in your girlfriend and friends and go and get another opinion. Preferably from a psychiatrist, or someone much further up the chain than your GP.

I feel really concerned that you have received a Dx that is not correct, and don't see how this could possibly do you any good at all.

Please Josh, go and seek another opinion. Sometimes we have to remember that Dr's are only human, too. They make mistakes, but this is a biggie if wrong.

I wish you all the best, and sincerely hope you get all the help that you need in the proper way.

-Viktoria :)

Step 1. Start looking for a psychiatrist. Step 2. Start feeling a little more optimistic, because a psychiatric professional is going to start trying to help you feel better. Step 3. Find a good talk therapist. You need someone you can trust to help you work through your feelings of low self worth. Step 4. Relax. Now you have your tools in place.

i would recomend reading up about the diagnosis process possably, might help with your understanding of the whole thing.

hey, just wanna say thanks to all ya guys. Its much appreciated.