Bipolar Disorder & Extreme Moods / Question
Published: July 3, 2003
Dear TeenHealthFX,
What's going on with you? Well as for me I'm very skeptical, confused, and my head feels very heavy and cloudy all the time. I encounter so many mood swings that I don't understand myself anymore. One day I'm cool ready to go feeling great then the next I wake up so moody with a nasty attitude like xxxx everyone!!! My body feels weak sometimes, emotions racing, and crying spells. I know for myself that I'm a very moody person, but why do I take it out on others? I'll even get violent if I have too. For a while now my family thinks I have a real problem but they haven't addressed it. In the past I had a few anxiety attacks, there was one that was horrible. My throat blew up I couldn't breathe and I was shaking like crazy so I took myself to the hospital.... The doctor prescribed ativan; I don't take it unless I feel an attack coming. I know I'm depressed, I feel it I have all the symptoms; I want to visit a doctor to see whats going on with me mentally. I'm scared that I might really have a problem. Then that goes on my record and I know I'm capable of working but I have a feeling that I might have a personality disorder - does that even exist? And if so what do you think the doctor will tell me? As for the testing what types of testing do they perform? And if they find something wrong with me will that stop me from working? I need some questions answered, because I know I don't feel right not like I used to. Also do you think all these mood swings could be caused from drug use in the past, especially ecstasy? I'm a 20 yr old female very social, pretty, outgoing, don't starve myself, but continues to have this feeling of emptiness. Just some days I don't feel right, what do you think is going on inside of me? Get back to me please.
Signed: Extreme Moods
Dear Extreme Moods,
TeenHealthFX is concerned about you. Having mood swings, anxiety attacks and feelings of emptiness are a lot for anyone to have to deal with. We cannot tell you what is going on with you over the Internet; you need to be evaluated by your doctor. Your doctor can do a physical evaluation and run some tests to see if there is anything physically wrong with you. If there is not a physical cause for your symptoms, your doctor can refer you to a psychiatrist - a doctor who is specializes in emotions, moods and behavior.
A psychiatrist will evaluate you by talking to you about your symptoms and how you are managing them. The evaluation will help the psychiatrist decide what the course of treatment should be - therapy or a therapy and medication mix.
Talk to your parents about how you have been feeling and that you want their support to get professional help. They can help you find the help that you need.
If you do not have a doctor and live in northern
Regarding your concerns about working - treatment for mental illness should not impact on either your ability to work or to find work. Your mental health records are confidential.
For more information on depression check out our answer to Feeling Down also, check out our answer to Roller Coaster of Emotions
Signed: TeenHealthFX
Compared with other age groups, teens have the lowest rate of seat belt use, and male high school students are more likely than female students to rarely or never wear seat belts.
