i know it’s not just “teenage hormones” (18f). i cannot yet be given a diagnosis on anything though i will be talking to a psychiatrist. this is really fucked up, i hate this so much.
i’ll be full of energy, all these ideas and motivation. i’ll talk really fast and have no need for sleep.
then, i’ll get depressed. i was doing GREAT all week and today, but now i’m about to cry simply because my friend only spends time with her friend group and never me. i was mad at that and suddenly ready to block everyone but i feel guilty and im mad at myself for being this way.
i know she can hang out with her trio, i know we’re still friends. i normally wouldn’t be mad but i truly think i’m going insane.
Do not take mental health advice from social media.
Sounds a lot like adhd, from hyperfocus on new interest to burnout to new interest to burnout this is life I like it idc, I have so many hobbies/interests and more to come
If this has been going on since your teens, it sounds like bipolar disorder. With the help of psychiatric prescriber, trying a course of lithium can be diagnostic; differentiating Bipolar and ADHD. Get a second opinion. Mixed, rapid cycle and atypical symptoms are hard for clinicians without lots of practical experience to discern from comorid conditions or differential diagnosis like ADAD.
Bipolar disorder can profoundly be affected by menstrual cycle, and/or hormonal birth control.
Not a doctor here, but sounds like classic symptoms of a few different conditions, from hormonal, to neurological, to dietary.
This is not something you should just accept, go see a doctor, ideally get basic blood test, hormone tests and an evaluation from a psychiatrist. But if you are not sure or are feeling overwhelmed, just start with one simple visit to the doctor, share with them your experience.
Don’t worry, I’m sure you will be fine and figure it all out ❤️
Update to my earlier comment: Made a post of it so I could go into a little more detail
Not a doctor, nor am I trying to minimize your experience. But a form of this happens to my daughter all the time. But with her it’s diet related. Her blood sugar crashes and she gets dehydrated because she doesn’t eat properly. Just throwing it out there, in case it could be something easily solved before jumping to the harder diagnosis.
i’ll be full of energy, all these ideas and motivation. i’ll talk really fast and have no need for sleep.
hi, am inpatient psych nurse. that is almost definitely not just teenage hormones; you need that psychiatry doc ASAP. until then I recommend working on a safety plan until you can make it to the doc; I’ll see if I can find a template when I get home later this evening.
Update: Made a post of it so I could go into a little more detail
I’m not a doctor and a dude, just speaking from personal experiences and shared stories, but are you on birth control? Birth control pills made my wife emotionally unstable when she was PMSing and finally she had enough and stopped taking them. It was a night and day difference and she hasn’t taken them since. Just food for thought.
A lot of people suggesting Bi-polar, but to offer a different opinion, ADHD could also fit. Emotional disregulation is often overlooked as a symptom in ADHD, especially in women.
I could suggest this video as a jumping off point for further investigation.
I will also share my experience, because female hormones are really wild, and I think sharing can help others recognize what is “normal” and what can be done. I would say that you’ve given a description which I could apply to myself. I am neither bi-polar nor ADHD. Occasionally I will be having a standard to good week, and without any clear trigger, I will be extremely depressed and emotional. I will, without fail, start my period 2-3 days later. I can also, somewhat reliably trigger panic attacks by drinking to the point that I would call “buzzed” in the 2-3 days before my period. Fortunately or unfortunately, effects of the menstrual cycle can change as you age. These predictable “lows” that I experience only started when I was around 25.
TL;DR You should also talk to your ob/gyn, and an endocrinologist, in addition to a psychiatrist.
ITT people mentioning bipolar disorder but I would suggest a strong onset of Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS).
My only question to you is, when did your menstruations start this month? You don’t have to reply to this.
But look up whether they started the day you were sad, or one day/two days prior.
If it was the case, it is very likely PMS.
Keep a calendar of your cycles and you will know.
Causes of PMS may be one or many, like birth control, undiagnosed depression, a stressful time, etc. etc.
Edit: typoI also had to think of PMDS which is like PMS but with very strong psychological symptoms. My sister got this when her Endometriosis became worse. Doing a thorough check with a doctor would be best.
From the ages of 14-40 next week, I can say hormones have easily had the most affect on my moods than anything else in this life - I am very mood stable in general, but like clockwork I can feel hormones hit and my thought patterns change. I fend off the craziest temporary depression/dark thoughts but once you know what’s happening at least you can sort of laugh at it. But when you don’t know WHY it’s happening, it’s scary as hell.
I’ve had the same experience, though only for about the past 10 years, and at 45 now, it’s more like there’s a single day in any given month where the crazy depression/dark thoughts and rage at the simplest stupid shit occurs, and by now I’m able to stop in the moment and recognize that it’s just temporary, and it always resolves itself in an hour or two. I can’t wait for menopause to hit and for all this shit to be over.
Me too bb me too haha. Bodies are wild
Bi-polar. I’ve been living with it nearly three decades. It comes on around early adulthood. It’s a pita getting on top of it and learning to manage it, but you can get there. Lemme try to speedrun you some info.
You most likely need medication to manage it, though a psychiatrist will make that determination. It can take a long time to find the right med or combination of meds. I’m sorry, but it’s going to be frustrating at times because it’s very much a “how’s this one working” process. Some of them will have unpleasant side effects, others not so much. But when you touch upon something that works, your life is back in your hands.
Don’t ever just go off your meds without the supervision of your caretaker. This can be dangerous both physically and mentally. I went off my meds once and crashed so hard that I couldn’t even speak to my then-partner. You need to ween yourself from them if you decide to change your treatment.
Manic episodes feel awesome and you might be tempted to take the ride when you notice that one is coming on. This is tempting because of the increased productivity and awesome state of mind. It always ends in some degree of disaster. So if you find a med that helps slow them to prevent them, even though it feels good, shut it down. You may spend lots of money very easily or engage in risky behaviors that can really screw you over.
It takes time to recognize the signs that a manic episode is coming on. I thought I’d never be able to control them but after it happens enough time, you can learn to recognize them and assert control via whatever you find that works. I have a specific medication that shuts them down. Would that med work for you? Who knows. Be prepared to be observant and learn about yourself. For me, I start making an unconscious pop with my tongue when manic, which helps identify it. Also, I find that keeping a really consistent sleep schedule helps whereas staying up partying all night could lead to mania. Hard to do at 18, I know.
It seems to slow down and become more manageable with age. In my late twenties and early thirties, it was more difficult to manage than in the second half of my thirties and beyond. I haven’t had a manic episode in maybe eight or nine years because it’s less challenging and I’ve been managing it effectively for a while.
You might need an antidepressant to help with the down cycles. Too much can induce mania. Go slow with your caregiver and ask as many questions as you need to. Ask how drugs and alcohol might affect your condition as well as your treatment.
Listen, I’m sure all this might sound like I’m saying that you got dealt an impossible shitty life. That’s not the case. It’s going to present challenges, but everyone has challenges and this is just one of yours. I’m extremely happy in life. If you offered to take away my condition and start over, I wouldn’t do it. My condition is part of what makes me me and I wouldn’t want any other life. Note that I didn’t always feel this way and be prepared for depression to really make things hard. That part sucks, but hey, again, you’ll learn to manage it if you choose to.
Hey, it’s not at all the end of the world. And there’s never been a better time in history to be neuro-divergent. There’s nothing to be ashamed of. I openly admit that I’m bi-polar and in treatment with anyone I know. It’s like having asthma. We are seen and accepted.
If I think of anything else, I’ll post again. But this feels about like how I would want to present it and what I’d want to emphasize. I might be done. Good luck!
This post is incredibly well written and I can second this, both as a patient and as a healthcare professional. @Mods: We should have a wiki/halloffame or something to point people to posts like this.
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!lemmygold for this guy, damn that was a good post
Definitely sounds like bipolar or something close. See a psychologist ASAP; faster cycles can be a warning sign. You’re not insane, you just have an unreliable narrator!
A few things I’ve learned from being married to a lady with bipolar for 16 years:
- it’s not your fault, but it is your responsibility
- not being able to trust your brain sucks, but knowing it can be a liar helps
- you can be happy and productive and have a normal life
- take your pills, especially if you don’t feel like it
- self-medicating has trade-offs - try to stick with TV or other distractions instead of things that can have consequences like drugs or sex
Good luck on your journey!
I have two friends and an ex girlfriend who are bipolar and this was my first thought too. I can’t really add much to what you said other than to stress seeing a phycologist ASAP and take your meds especially when you don’t want to.
Hey this sounds a lot like my mom she has issues with her thyroid and Bipolar so it would definitly be worth talking to a professional if you can.
Sounds like bipolar disorder, but you must consult a doctor about it, as we won’t know enough here.
Listen idk what you’re looking to get here.
Go to a doctor.
