Do I have Manic Depression?!
Question: Sometimes I feel really happy, like when I am with my friends, and then there are other times when I feel really low and suicidal. Also I can cry a lot. I can feel guilty often, I find it difficult to remember things and also I feel sad and hopeless. I have also felt like I dont want to eat and I have went through many phases where I have had dramatic weight loss. I thought I just had normal depression, but I am starting to think it is Manic Depression. I am only 14 and I can't bring myself to tell my parent's, because I know my Mam will probably just brush it off and say im over-reacting. I also dont even know what I would say to her. I have been bullied in the past, and I feel a bit lonely too. Please help me figure it out, and maybe do some self-help because I can't bring myself to tell anyone. Thanks
Answers: Sometimes I feel really happy, like when I am with my friends, and then there are other times when I feel really low and suicidal. Also I can cry a lot. I can feel guilty often, I find it difficult to remember things and also I feel sad and hopeless. I have also felt like I dont want to eat and I have went through many phases where I have had dramatic weight loss. I thought I just had normal depression, but I am starting to think it is Manic Depression. I am only 14 and I can't bring myself to tell my parent's, because I know my Mam will probably just brush it off and say im over-reacting. I also dont even know what I would say to her. I have been bullied in the past, and I feel a bit lonely too. Please help me figure it out, and maybe do some self-help because I can't bring myself to tell anyone. Thanks
Aw hon, you really need to see your GP if you want to get help and truly think you have bipolar. I am 25 and it took about ten years for me to be properly diagnosed with the illness because it can mimic so many other disorders and diseases. The first step to arriving here though was a visit to my GP when I was your age.
I was checked out for everything, blood tests and CT scans among other tests, and when no physical cause for my symptoms was found, I was referred to a psychiatrist. I had a proper evaluation and was diagnosed me with major depression and prescribed citalopram alongside regular counseling. The initial steps were mostly painless and well worth my time because mental health is just as importanat as your physical health. It wasn't embarrassing and everything between my doctors and me was confidential.
Over the years I got worse because I was not properly diagnosed, so some of the treatments actually made me worse and I got sicker until I had a breakdown in my last year of uni. When they identified I had bipolar and we found the right medication and therapy regime, my life has improved and the condition is quiet manageable provided I look after myself. Anyway the moral to this story is, if you need help, don't be afraid to ask for it and the sooner you deal with this, the easier your life will most likely be.
You need to talk to your parents about this and explain to them that this is more than just normal puberty blues and you really need them to go out to bat for you on this one, trust you and help you get some sort of treatment.
right you need to go to your doctor, you can go on your own.. make an appointment and go tell the doctor how your feeling. also do some positive things for yourself like..join a local fitness club, choir, drama group, swimming, anything that you think you might like.. maybe ask if you can do some voluntary work in a local charity shop or something.....
You may have BiPolar so you could look it up on the search engine but then again you could be feeling really fed up and getting this confused with depression...
Doctor is your first point of call i think
forgot to mention your hormones are all over the place at your age so dont panic too much...
You have taken a brave step by asking this question. Well done!. You appear to be afraid to talk with your mother about it but this fear is something you must overcome. Take another little step now and talk to your mum. Explain to her your feelings and ask her to bring you to a child psychiatrist who will discuss all your fears and feelings. They are there for this purpose and they will know what to do. Its very important for you and don't be afraid. Many teens have hidden anxieties and secret depression. But those who face it get the help they need and a programme for complete recovery. Later you will smile and see the benefits of some therapy. So think about this. :)
No-one on here is qualified to diagnose you with anything. Go to your gp on your own and talk to them. Or maybe there is a counsellor at school who could help? Explain how you feel. Your parents wont have to know unless you want to tell them. At least you can back it up with " I went to the doctor and he said........" Join clubs and do things that you enjoy and take it one step at a time.
no you have not manic sick.? think you may be alone such as you have not had any boyfriend.this is bad thing for you.you must date anyone.that can be solution
It sounds like regular depression. I'm sorry, I know there is nothing regular about depression but the manic side of it is a lot worse than simply being happy when you're with friends.
Things often seem bleak at 14 and I can promise you some of it will get better but that does not mean you cannot be helped right now to make life a little easier for you.
There are some things you can do like eating right, sleeping well and trying to relax but unfortunately that's difficult when your mind won't stop milling around. Best thing would be to talk to someone, like ring childline. No one can get better all by themselves.
Try a diary if you can't think of an actual person you want to talk to. Get as much as you possibly can off your chest and onto paper. Once it's out of your head and in front of you, you may see some things a bit clearer. After that though, you really should talk to someone. Don't ever let anyone tell you that your feelings are not valid or that you are overreacting, it is how you feel and you want some help. Try a doctor or a councillor, there is help out there for you.
Only a doctor can diagnose you. They no longer call it manic, depressive. It now called bipolar disorder. From what you told us, I dont think you are bipolar or manic/depressive because you dont seem to have the manic phase, the racing thoughts, the manic tendencies. I think you have unipolar depression. But as I said, i am not a doctor, and you need to see one. If you dont know how to tell your mom, may I suggest you have her read these answers which I believe are self explanatory. I do believe your mom loves you very very much and she WILL take the time to help you. Dont ever underestimate the powers and love of a Mom. Please have your Mom read these as soon as possible. Best of luck to you and may God bless you.
I had similar problems when i was growing up, trust me kid get help it will follow you into adulthood, so tell someone. currently I'm taking inositol supplements as a way to curb my anxiety and depression so maybe you can look into that.
Nothing you describe sounds manic or hypomanic (subthreshold manic). You do sound like you have some depression going on. Talk to your mom and dad honestly and completely. Don't decide how they will respond because the truth is that's just a scenario you are making up in your head. Find out how they really will react. Just pick the right time and be honest. If not them, then talk to your doctor. The big thing is that the worse thing you can do is to keep it all to yourself!
~bipolar
lbaker26 is right, no one here can diagnose you and Curly is right, you need to let someone know and it is a good thing that you're aware of this and want to do something about it.
I'm 17 and I went through depression when I was 12, I had it for about 3 years and put on a lot of weight and lost it again rapidly. I didn't go to school during this time because I developed a huge fear of sociolising and as a result, it made it alot harder for me when I had to go back to school in year 11.
But I did it, I got help and saw a child Psycologist for three years through a health care organisation called C.A.M.S which is especially for childrens mental health. My GP refered me and it was the best thing she could have done for me because I'm in my last year of college now which I never thought would happen.
I made the decision to start seeing a counciler before Christmas too, simply because I'm used to talking to someone about how I feel and it may not be drastic things or problems but it's still nice to feel as if you have support. Which is why I urge you to confide in someone you trust and look for some kind of student welfare in your school or go and see your GP.
It's very important to get an answer to your question straight from a good and relaible source because if it really isn't as bad as you believe it is, then you'll never know and will continue to think the worse. So, again, go and see your GP or find out if you have a school counciler.
No matter how big or small the problem is, the important thing is that you're feeling down and you need support. Don't be afraid to tell someone, I think you'll find that their reaction will be alot more pleasant and helpful then you're letting yourself think *CoughMumCough* :)
So go on, take the next step and tell someone you trust. You'll be surprised how many people there are out there who are ready to listen :)
I dont think you have Manic depression. Manic depression, or often reffered to also as bipolar disorder, is when you have periods of highs and lows, usually these high and lows last periods of two to three months, not days. Manic depression is so serious because when coming out of a depressed state, into a manic episode is when people are more likely to commit suicide. You are most likely experiencing mild depression, and I think you should see your GP and talk to them, and be HONEST about how you are feeling.
You need to be able to talk. You could ring the Samaritans or Child Line. If it helps, IM a friend online