[laynielou]

I'm a 22 year old college student. On the outside I look like I'm doing quite well. However, for years now I've suffered from extreme highs and lows.

Sometimes, I feel like I have "the world by the tail". During these episodes, I work out every day, I lose weight, I hang out with my friends, and basically become "the life of the party" everywhere I go. But there's a bad aspect to this too... I spend way too much money, I drink too much, I do drugs, I ignore my family, I lie to everyone, and I make bad decisions without any thought.

Then there are the other times... I feel like I just can't go on. I start feeling extreme guilt for the things I've done. I have difficulty getting out of bed. I just cry and sleep. This is normally when I stop caring about school and skipping classes. I can't remember anything or concentrate.

I feel "normal" sometimes too. This is when I have to apologize to everyone and try to "fix" the things I've done... This normally doesn't last long.

I can't go on like this forever, but I just don't know what to do. I'm on Prozac for depression but it doesn't seem to help any of this. Please help.

[J_9]

It sounds as though you have the classic symptoms of Bipolar Disorder. The Prozac may not help you if this is indeed the case. Have you discussed these feelings with your prescribing doctor? If not, you should. There are many meds out that will keep you on an even keel.

[ANB428]

It sounds like you are bipolar like J_9 has stated previously. I am too. I experience the same moods as well. Going up and down, and feeling like your on top of the world to feeling like everything is just pointless. My doctor has prescribed me some mood stabalizers to help balance the chemicals in my brain. I am in the trial period of figuring out which medicine works best for me. You should go talk to your doctor about it and see what he says. I asked my doctor about anti-depressants and he told me that I was manic-bipolar. Which means that you are happy go lucky one minute and really depressed another. That doesn't mean that you are depressed. It is the chemical embalance in your head that makes you act the way that you act, making rash decisions without thinking about the consequences. Go talk to your doctor. Good luck.

[Choux]

YOu describe symptoms of BiPolar or manic depressive disorder. Since you have such strong manic episodes, your physician may recommend lithium to tame these bouts.

The problem with Manic Depressive disorder which runs in my family, is that people don't want to give up the "high" part of their disease because it can be so much fun in some cases. But, that is a sacrifice that must be made in order to level out and maintain *moderate* emotionalilty.

Being moderate and building on that kind of emotionalilty is the secret to developing real happiness. Moderation-not highs and lows. :)

Talk to your psychiatrist about your medication.