Does this sound like bipolar?

[Ellalovescake]

I have an appointment with my psychiatrist tomorrow after seeing my gp the other day and crying to her about how out of control things feel. When I saw the psychiatrist previously bipolar was mentioned but I shut it down by saying that I didn’t want medication and that I was fine. My life feels so chaotic and disastrous! I’ve definitely had periods of a higher mood which have been seen by the dr. In these periods I’ve spent a lot (sometimes over £1000 in a day or two), I discuss sex quite explicitly in front of family members and often try to initiate sex with my partner in front of others, I also don’t sleep very much in these periods. I’ve never held down a job for more than 6 months because I just get bored so quickly. When I have lower moods I cry a lot and think that my partner will leave me and I feel such guilt for everyone having to put up with me. I also spend so much time at my mums lying on the sofa and doing nothing. I was just wondering if anyone thinks that this does sound like bipolar? I’m really anxious about it and am terrified to see the psychiatrist tomorrow!

Hiya, I'm bipolar. The spending thing sounds like me and I can't take anti depressants on their own as it makes me hypomanic.

It sounds like it could be hypomania, although I'm sure your psychiatrist will be the better judge! Have you ever had hallucinations or/and delusions?

Good luck with tomorrow. I was the same, but my psychiatrist is absolutely lovely and easy to talk to. Just make sure you tell them everything you've written here, don't worry, I'm sure they would have heard it all before!

I find this mood chart quoted useful. Does any of it relate?

Yes some symptoms do sound very familiar to what I know of bipolar disorder

Thank you both so much for your replies! I had a psychotic episode about 10 years ago now (when I was 18) but was never diagnosed with anything then. Over the years I’ve had a few hallucinations during very stressful periods but have never had another episode. Yes the chart is very useful to look at, I think I probably don’t quite get manic, most of my behaviour is based around sex (always feel a bit embarrassed when talking to the drs about this) and spending not really around any delusions. I tried an antidepressant about 18 months ago but it made my sexual behaviour much worse so the dr stopped it.

How did your appointment go?

It’s been a horrible day! The psychiatrist said he thinks it’s bipolar and I’m to go on quetiapeen (not sure if that’s how you spell it!) I spent £3200 over the weekend and I think my relationship with my partner may be well and truly over. The psychiatrist said he thinks things have been spiralling out of control for a while and that I need to be stabilised on medication. I’m absolutely devastated as I really didn’t want to go on medication. I feel like my life is ruined! I’m 30 next year and my life is an absolute mess! Thank you for asking though, I really do appreciate it! x

Oh gosh I feel your pain. I'm currently on sertraline 100mg. My psychiatrist said if he was going by 'text book' he would take me off it straight away, but he doesn't want me to dip again. Had really bad depression over the summer. Then I went hypomanic and he put me on aripiprazole, which I take at night now as it makes me feel quite sick.

It was either that quetiapine, lamotrigine or olanzapine. Had to google them as I'd never heard of them before! I just said just give me the one with the least side effects. He said aripiprazole has the least and less likely to put on weight, I was like yep! Say no more! I'll take that please!

Hope you're doing ok hopefully the medication will help.

Come and join the bipolar thread, there's loads of us. You're in good company!