I've never posted on this site before but I've got nothing to lose, so here goes...
I'm almost positive I'm bipolar. I can go from basically being naturally high (thinking I can do anything, completley happy, not afraid of anything) to insanley depressed (huddled in a corner, the only thing I want to do is die). I figured it out about a year ago but I don't want to tell my parents. They are so good to me and I know they would just blame themselves. I want lithium or some other drug that will stabalize these mood swings, but I have no way of getting it without my parents finding out (I'm 16yrs old). I don't know what to do anymore. I can't take going back and forth like this all the time. I'm unpredictable and I can tell it annoys people. They shouldn't have to deal with that. I have two more years before college. I don't know if I should just hold on those two more years or try to get help. I am not suicidal, just miserable. You have no idea what this does to my life, my friends, family, schoolwork.
I'm also scared that meds will suck out my soul. Ive heard that. Music is my life. I write lyrics and I play the piano and guitar. I don't want to give up writing music no matter what. Ive heard that mentally ill people have more talent when they are off their meds. Is that true?
Lastly, I'm not even sure that my parents will believe me when I tell them. One of my best friends blew me off when I told her and it nearly killed me.
It's ironic that I'm writing this on the internet but won't tell it to my parents.
Got any advice? Please help.

Tell your parents. What do you have to lose if you do? Sure, they might blame themselves, but that is a problem that can be treated by them being counselled by others that yours is possibly a physical problem about which they could have had no part in causing. At your age, your only way to correct diagnosis, obtaining medications and freeing yourself from your going through the anguish that you have is to be telling and discussing this with your parents.

Please do that.

Tell your parents,, getting help at a young age means a lot,, it will only get worse and much harder to control later on in life,, there is nothing wromg with being bipolar as long as you treat it and understand it,, when you tell your parents you might be surprised to find out how many people in your family history have had it

Also understand the medication is there to help your moods be balanced. The medication is there to help and I'm pretty sure that bi-polar disorder has to be treated with some type of medication.

Please, please, please talk to your parents. If you can get yourself better now why wait? Do you like feeling like this? I doubt you do. Your parents will not be mad at you they will be concerned for your well being. Calmly tell them how you have been feeling and that you are really worried because you don't think its normal and you want to go see a counselor to be evaluated. Don't fly off the handle or be whiny or do any of those things that makes parents not take teenagers seriously. Be calm about it. I was depressed as a teenager and I sat my mom down and just said the way I feel scares me and I need help please don't write me off on this. I really need help. I got help. I didn't have to take medication or anything. Sometimes there is something else wrong with you and the depression is a symptom of it only a professional can tell you that

The doctors will try you on meds, it might take a while to find the right meds that work for you but your lucky you are young and you have parents to help you, do this now before its too late

O my god I know exactly what you are going through. For 2 years I went from being normal to hyper to suicidal in days. I was psychotic (hearing and seeing things) and I felt like such a burden to my parents and family. I was finally committed to a psychiatric hospital for 6 months where they told me I was bipolar and put me on lithium. I also had a lot of counseling and CBT which is cognitive behavioural therpay. This helped me to control my mood and look for warnings that it was going to change and remove myself from situations. I know that you are desperatly searching for an answer, but lithium is a strong drug only used in SEVERE cases. Please try and talk to someone and get some therapy. Don't worry about your so called friend either. My "friends" did the same thing so I made new ones who accept me for who I am. I really hope you get things sorted and if you need any help or just someone to talk to I am always here.

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Originally Posted by DBCgirl19

I've never posted on this site before but I've got nothing to lose, so here goes...
I'm almost positive I'm bipolar. I can go from basically being naturally high (thinking I can do anything, completley happy, not afraid of anything) to insanley depressed (huddled in a corner, the only thing I want to do is die). I figured it out about a year ago but I don't want to tell my parents. They are so good to me and I know they would just blame themselves. I want lithium or some other drug that will stabalize these mood swings, but I have no way of getting it without my parents finding out (I'm 16yrs old). I don't know what to do anymore. I can't take going back and forth like this all the time. I'm unpredictable and i can tell it annoys people. They shouldnt have to deal with that. I have two more years before college. I dont know if I should just hold on those two more years or try to get help. I am not suicidal, just miserable. You have no idea what this does to my life, my friends, family, schoolwork.
I'm also scared that meds will suck out my soul. Ive heard that. Music is my life. I write lyrics and i play the piano and guitar. I don't want to give up writing music no matter what. Ive heard that mentally ill people have more talent when they are off their meds. Is that true?
Lastly, I'm not even sure that my parents will believe me when i tell them. One of my best friends blew me off when i told her and it nearly killed me.
It's ironic that I'm writing this on the internet but wont tell it to my parents.
Got any advice? Please help.

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Instead of living without medication,which you already know the feeling of,try the next step in your future.
To be where you are in the discovery process,and with the insight you have as to the symptoms,is a question to your family like;MOM?DAD? can I see a Dr. I want to talk to them about my________.(mood swings,attitudes,etc) so difficult.

Please think about this,I suffered for 15 years before I was diagnosed and treated,and NO,don't think you'll lose the 'edge' for writing music,you'll gain more by being able to think like a human,if you like it today,it'll be there on meds tomorrow.

A Dad of a 17 year old here. Have a 17 year old daughter.

Honey, listen up. You are 15 years old & a raging pool of hormones (by definition). What you describe is absolutely NORMAL. The rapid mood changes you describe are simply hormones, this should get better as you grow up. BiPolar mood swings occur in cycles not related to your period & outside events, this doesn't sound like your description.

Eat better, get proper sleep & some regular exercise, plot your period & mood swings in a calendar. Do this for a few months. Keep away from drugs & alcohol. If you are having relationship issues with everyone (not just boys) then read up on "Making Friends for Dummies" & change your approach / attitude or talk with a school guidance councilor.

If you do not feel 100% better in 4.. 6 weeks then talk to your parents & a proper doctor. But do not try to self-diagnose. "Teenage Angst" is not something you need a medical diagnosis for, there is no gold star for being labelled with a mental health condition. There are too many people trying to apply "therapies" to the simple process of growing up. Have a chat with some women your grandmother's age about what it was like being a teen "way back when"... you might be amazed at what you have in common.

If you do get so down that you start having thoughts about harming yourself then talk with an adult immediately. Keep your chin up, you may not feel comfortable about talking with adults but guess what.. been there, done that.