Im pretty sure I have bipolar, not clinically ..at least not yet. Last week I was so energetic happy even, had a lot of energy and didnt sleep much. This week I just feel angry and sad... and worthless. And I sleep constantly and have a constant head ache. I dont find a lot of point in anything anymore ..school friends ...I hate it all at the moment. I told my mom that I thought she was right, because the other day she also suggested that I may have bipolar. She wants me to see this Psychiatrist that she & my brother go to. I've met her before where I supposedly had ADD. She spends 2 minutes with you and tells you you need medication. I dont want medication ... ONLY if I have to will I take it. Im wondering if there is any alternative to medication? Any suggestions would be appreciated.
see a psychologist instead of a psychiatrist. psychiatrists are the ones that usually push meds...because they can...they have a medical degree and can write prescriptions themselves. a psychologist can refer you to a psychiatrist when and if you decide that it's appropriate to try meds. make it clear that you see meds only as a last resort going in.
Seriously, listen to lady of the freaks. Good advice there. I went to a psychologist before- about ten years ago who asked me a few questions and gave a diagnosis and wrote a prescription and that was it. I have since realize that what I was going through was stress and needed help coping, not a label and a medication. You may or may not be bipolar, what is going on with you could very well be situational or hormonal and going to a psychologist may help you figure that out. Good luck.
YA...you need a psychologist. You need to learn to deal with the problems and not just cover them up. You have gotten great advise. You should see if you high school has a psychologist on staff. Most schools do.
For bipolar disorder, medication is an essential part of treatment as well as therapy. They need to go hand in hand. Bipolar disorder is an imbalance of chemicals in the brain and without medications to balance these chemicals, all the therapy in the world will not help. I have tried it before, and I almost ended up in the hospital. Please do not make the same mistake as I have and give medications a chance before you write them off. Make sure you keep in close contact with your doctor and therapist when starting a new medication. Best of luck! Peace and love
Meds and therapy do go hand in had when it comes to bi-polar disorder, but she needs to see a psychologist before starting meds. It could be that there are other things going on and she is not bi-polar. All options need to be looked at before meds are started.
A pyschiatrist can tell the difference and not all feed patients medicine. Just see a good one. Peace and love
A psychiatrist gives meds that is what they are there for. If she needs meds that is fine but pi-polar disorder gets misdiagnosed often especially in teen girls. Seeing a psychologist first will give her some insight and help her find all the available options.
The most important thing is to find a good doctor, no matter if you go to a pyschiatrist or a psychologist. Peace and love
First of all, do you get PMS and is it maybe related? Check that first. Talk to your family doctor, then to a shrink. The difference between the pschologist and psychiatrist is that a psychiatrist is also a medical doctor. If you want to just try therapy first you don't have to take meds. That is what I would recommend unless it gets out of control. Also, what are you eating? High sugar? Taking drugs? There are lots of things that can cause what you have going on. Is this the first time it happened.
