I don't think i'm actually bipolar??

Hi everyone!!
So, I was diagnosed w/bipolar a few days ago by a psychologist. This was my first time seeing this person and the reason I was even seeing her in the first place was that I was in a 5150 hold and they set up the appointment for me when they released me (I was in the hospital for suicidal ideation) and I was in an LA county hospital so they made the appointment for me with someone who works for the county. Basically, I talked to her for like an hour and she diagnosed me but she didn't really even explain what type I apparently have and she's not changing my meds or anything and she didn't explain what bipolar is and also my next appointment isn't until June for some reason. I had a really bad depressive episode that lasted like 3 months and that ended in me going to the hospital, during this time period I would sleep like 10 hours a night and not want to get out of bed. I have had depression before this but its been pretty off and on and I've been on an SSRI for about a year. Anyways basically one of the reasons I don't think I'm actually bipolar is because I'm sleeping pretty normally? Like last week I slept for about 3 hours a night for 4 days in a row but then 2 nights ago I slept 8 hours and last night I slept like 10. Also a few months ago before I had my depressive episode I would sleep like 5 hours a night during the week and then 8 hours during the weekend and I also did a lot of other stuff during this time period that made my psychologist think I was bipolar. I'm just kind of skeptical because I thought one of the symptoms of BP was not being able to sleep when not depressed and I feel like I don't need to sleep (but I still am sleeping normally a few days a week, usually on the weekend when I don't have to set an alarm to wake up for class). But when I have to set an alarm and wake up having only slept 3-5 hours I'm not tired during the day. I also do impulsive stuff when im not depressed but I think that's just my personality ??? Has anyone else experienced this ??? Am I just in denial??
-Sarah (Im sorry this is so long lol)

Hi Sarah!

Sorry you've been through this. In my experience my sleep can be all over the place... some nights when depressed I sleep 12 hours and nap all day. Some nights when manic I sleep 1-2 hours and feel full of energy after. I think it differs for everyone. You could write a list of your questions and bring them in to your next appointment and get some more solid answers.

slizzy wrote:explain what bipolar is

Partial description. I've never felt depression but I've been both hypomanic and manic.

All manias are a form of seziure that affect the consious part of the brain, causing the organ to pursue elation.

I'm told depression is in a hiearchy of three; headache, migraine, depression. I'm told by the depressed that only depression makes you feel homicidal, and that homicide is not important.