Could this be Bipolar or 'normal' teenage "mood swings"

I can get very irritable very easily. I have had times for about 4 days where I can be joyful and very happy. And then for no reason at all can get very agitated and I start yelling and raising my voice at people I don't like it and want it to stop, but I don't know how to do that. Could someone please help.

This does sound like within the normal range for teens. I taught school for many years and so this sort of thing over and over. It seems that around 10th grade teens start to not have as many mood swings.

Bipolar people get angry, but it seems to me that before that there is a great deal of happiness, planning, and activity--maybe for weeks or months. How do you sleep? When bipolars are up, they may not sleep for days.
Jim S

My sleep is usually normal. Usually, I get 7-8 hrs. of sleep each night.

You might be experiencing complications from your other disorders -- anxiety produces irritability, as does ADHD -- in erratic episodes that seem unfounded. I have Bipolar, ADD, and persistent anxiety; from my experience (I'm 19) my irritability was incredibly high at times when I was depressed, or anxious. Like breaking things and yelling at my family members, high. It doesn't seem to have a correlation to bipolar to me, except in the aspect that it's provoked by a depressive episode.

I've read that depression often goes undiagnosed in teens, as it can take on different forms of expression: anger, irritability, violence, etc. I never thought that I was depressed in high school since I could still have fun with my friends on the weekend, laugh, and derive some sort of pleasure out of daily activities. Now I've had multiple psychiatrists tell me that I was probably depressed from the time that I was a young child. So sometimes expectations for how severe a disorder has to be can prevent you from seeking help.

Since there are so many different (and more acute) signs of bipolar, you might want to talk with your doc if you're concerned that you might have it, or if you feel like it's impairing you. Otherwise, if you're on medications, you should look at changing doses/meds to see if that may be what's causing your irritability.

It's just that day by day the irritability gets worse and worse. I need help, but even the doctor and therapist I see who is very good, can't seem to understand what's going on and help.

Do you take an anxiolytic medication for your anxiety (like a Benzodiazepine -- Xanax, Vistaril; or an anti-depressant-- Wellbutrin, Prozac)? Both types of meds are good at calming irritability and anger. I take Vistaril because it seems more functional than Xanax, which knocks you out. Anti-depressants are also helpful with anxiety, & are prescribed for many other disorders other than Depression (since imbalances in Serotonin can lead to impulsiveness: aggression, eating disorders; depression, anxiety, & other disorders).

jesseryn wrote:Do you take an anxiolytic medication for your anxiety (like a Benzodiazepine -- Xanax, Vistaril; or an anti-depressant-- Wellbutrin, Prozac)? Both types of meds are good at calming irritability and anger. I take Vistaril because it seems more functional than Xanax, which knocks you out. Anti-depressants are also helpful with anxiety, & are prescribed for many other disorders other than Depression (since imbalances in Serotonin can lead to impulsiveness: aggression, eating disorders; depression, anxiety, & other disorders).

When I first started the Zoloft, I was taking Ativan for 5 weeks. After the 5 weeks the Zoloft was working so the dr. figured no need to continue the Ativan, so we agreed that I should stop taking it. I had very bad withdrawl symptoms. I don't want to take any more anxyolitics. How do you think I would do on a so called "mood stabilizer".

Hi,
If your primary symptom is anxiety/depression (and it's worsening) I don't think that a mood stabilizer would help very much. In addition, bipolar people respond badly to anti-depressants: become more depressed, or have manic/hypomanic episodes. Your symptoms are likely worsening because you stopped taking the anxiolytic med. If you taper off of meds very slowly, this isn't such a big deal (I've been on different anxiolytics, taking them "as needed," so I was constantly having withdrawal effects). Personally, mood stabilizers do very little/nothing for my anxiety (I still take anxiolytics). Anti-depressants (in non-bipolar) can cause impulsiveness, aggression, and violent behavior (eg. recently studied spike in suicide rates among people on SSRIs).

Here's some info I found by googling Anxiety disorders & bipolar disorders:
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment
On this page: What is anxiety? | What are the symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)? | What is an anxiety attack or a panic attack? | What causes GAD? | How can I help manage the anxiety and panic in my life? | When should I get help? | How is GAD treated? | Is medication recommended for treatment of GAD? | Are there herbal treatments for anxiety? | Online resources | Related articles

Did You Know?
The majority of GAD sufferers agree that their illness has a major impact on their relationships with spouses/significant others, friends, children and co-workers.
Romantic relationships and friendships are most adversely affected.
Ninety-three percent of GAD sufferers who have received treatment report improvement in their quality of life, with 22 percent indicating that they noticed a "dramatic" improvement after receiving treatment.

Generalized anxiety disorder is different from normal anxiety because the anxiety persists over a long period of time and it impairs normal daily functions. An overanxious mind causes worrying, dreading and dwelling, but often prevents action. With generalized anxiety disorder, living a normal life becomes difficult because the mind will not turn off, and the worrisome and anxious thoughts take over.

Typical symptoms and behaviors associated with generalized anxiety disorder are: Emotional :
chronic worry and anxiousness about events that are unlikely to occur
inability to shut off constant anxious thoughts
feelings of dread
restlessness and inability to relax
Physical:
anxiety or panic attacks (see section below)
lack of energy
muscular tension, aches or soreness
stomach problems (nausea or diarrhea)
headaches
sweating or hot flashes
dizziness or lightheadedness
insomnia (trouble falling asleep or staying asleep)
shakiness or trembling
Behavioral:
concentration problems
irritability or easy to startle
avoidance
procrastination
unrealistic assessment of problems

If you have generalized anxiety disorder, you may have better and worse times of the day, or better and worse days. As with other anxiety disorders, you may also suffer symptoms of other disorders as well, such as depression, social anxiety, or panic disorder. Generalized anxiety disorder can be treated though, and learning ways of dealing with your sources of anxiety can give you a stronger and more resilient attitude toward future trials.

Criteria for Major Depressive Episode (DSM-IV, p. 327)A. Five (or more) of the following symptoms have been present during the same 2-week period and represent a change from previous functioning; at least one of the symptoms is either (1) depressed mood or (2) loss of interest or pleasure. Note: Do not include symptoms that are clearly due to a general medical condition, or mood-incongruent delusions or hallucinations.

1.depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day, as indicated by either subjective report (e.g., feels sad or empty) or observation made by others (e.g. appears tearful). Note: In children and adolescents, can be irritable mood.

2.markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities most of the day, nearly every day (as indicated by either subjective account or observation made by others)

3.significant weight loss when not dieting or weight gain (e.g., a change of more than 5% of body weight in a month), or decrease or increase in appetite nearly every day. Note: In children, consider failure to make expected weight gains.

3.insomnia or hypersomnia nearly every day

4.psychomotor agitation or retardation nearly every day (observable by others, not merely subjective feelings of restlessness or being slowed down)

5.fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day

6.feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt (which may be delusional) nearly every day (not merely self-reproach or guilt about being sick)

7.diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness, nearly every day (either by subjective account or as observed by others)

8.recurrent thoughts of death (not just fear of dying), recurrent suicidal ideation without a specific plan, or a suicide attempt or a specific plan for committing suicide
B. The symptoms do not meet criteria for a Mixed Episode.
C. The symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
D. The symptoms are not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication) or a general medical condition (e.g., hypothyroidism).
E. The symptoms are not better accounted for by bereavement, i.e., after the loss of a loved one, the symptoms persist for longer than 2 months or are characterized by marked functional impairment, morbid preoccupation with worthlessness, suicidal ideation, psychotic symptoms, or psychomotor retardation.

Criteria for Manic Episode (DSM-IV, p. 332)
A. A distinct period of abnormally and persistently elevated, expansive, or irritable mood, lasting at least 1 week (or any duration if hospitalization is necessary).
B. During the period of mood disturbance, three (or more) of the following symptoms have persisted (four if the mood is only irritable) and have been present to a significant degree:
inflated self-esteem or grandiosity
1.decreased need for sleep (e.g., feels rested after only 3 hours of sleep)
2.more talkative than usual or pressure to keep talking
3.flight of ideas or subjective experience that thoughts are racing
4.distractibility (i.e., attention too easily drawn to unimportant or irrelevant external stimuli)
5.increase in goal-directed activity (either socially, at work or school, or sexually) or psychomotor agitation
6.excessive involvement in pleasurable activities that have a high potential for painful consequences (e.g., engaging in unrestrained buying sprees, sexual indiscretions, or foolish business investments)
C. The symptoms do not meet criteria for a Mixed Episode.
D. The mood disturbance is sufficiently severe to cause marked impairment in occupational functioning or in usual social activities or relationships with others, or to necessitate hospitalization to prevent harm to self or others, or there are psychotic features.
E. The symptoms are not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication, or other treatments) or a general medical condition (e.g., hyperthyroidism).
Note: Manic-like episodes that are clearly caused by somatic antidepressant treatment (e.g., medication, electroconvulsive therapy, light therapy) should not count toward a diagnosis of

Criteria for Hypomanic Episode (DSM-IV, p. 338)
A. A distinct period of persistently elevated, expansive, or irritable mood, lasting throughout at least 4 days, that is clearly different from the usual nondepressed mood.
B. During the period of mood disturbance, three (or more) of the following symptoms have persisted (four if the mood is only irritable) and have been present to a significant degree:
1.inflated self-esteem or grandiosity
2.decreased need for sleep (e.g., feels rested after only 3 hours of sleep)
3.more talkative than usual or pressure to keep talking
4.flight of ideas or subjective experience that thoughts are racing
5.distractibility (i.e., attention too easily drawn to unimportant or irrelevant external stimuli)
6.increase in goal-directed activity (either socially, at work or school, or sexually) or psychomotor agitation
7.excessive involvement in pleasurable activities that have a high potential for painful consequences (e.g., engaging in unrestrained buying sprees, sexual indiscretions, or foolish business investments)
C. The episode is associated with an unequivocal change in functioning that is uncharacteristic of the person when not symptomatic.
D. The disturbance in mood and the change in functioning are observable by others.
E. The episode is not severe enough to cause marked impairment in social or occupational functioning, or to necessitate hospitalization, and there are no psychotic features.
F. The symptoms are not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication, or other treatment) or a general medical condition (e.g., hyperthyroidism).
Note: Hypomanic-like episodes that are clearly caused by somatic antidepressant treatment (e.g., medication, electroconvulsive therapy, light therapy) should not count toward a diagnosis of Bipolar II Disorder.
**I didn't include the mixed episode, but it consists of both types of previously episodes occurring at the same time; mixed episodes are only in Bipolar I, and Bipolar NOS. Also, Bipolar I = depressive + manic episodes; bipolar II = depressive + hypomanic episodes; Bipolar NOS = depressive + manic/hypomanic episodes + possibly mixed episodes (basically the cycling is different than specified in Bipolar I or II, or it's Bipolar II w/ mixed episodes-- I was II, now I'm NOS).** [/i]

I stopped the anxyolitic (ativan; generic: lorazapam) back in April 2005. I've just recently started having the worsening of 'whatever this is'. I'm not trying to be mean or aggressive. Just reporting the facts. I've been doing research on BPI and BPII but I don't fit the depressive symptoms but do fit 3/4 of the manic symptoms. Any ideas based on the new info I can present. Thanks for your info. I read it a couple of times to get the information to sink in. It was very helpful.

jesseryn wrote:Hi,
If your primary symptom is anxiety/depression (and it's worsening) I don't think that a mood stabilizer would help very much. In addition, bipolar people respond badly to anti-depressants: become more depressed, or have manic/hypomanic episodes. Your symptoms are likely worsening because you stopped taking the anxiolytic med. If you taper off of meds very slowly, this isn't such a big deal (I've been on different anxiolytics, taking them "as needed," so I was constantly having withdrawal effects). Personally, mood stabilizers do very little/nothing for my anxiety (I still take anxiolytics). Anti-depressants (in non-bipolar) can cause impulsiveness, aggression, and violent behavior (eg. recently studied spike in suicide rates among people on SSRIs).

averity05 wrote:I stopped the anxyolitic (ativan; generic: lorazapam) back in April 2005... but I don't fit the depressive symptoms but do fit 3/4 of the manic symptoms...

averity05 wrote:

ddeehopes wrote:

averity05 wrote:What do you mean by not knowing from day to day.

Many bipolars find it hard to deal with the fact that they are not in control of the moods from day to day. Never knowing what mood will dominate them when they wake up. Or even from hour to hour in many cases. This can cause the exausted depression that many have that causes them to give up[/i].

That seems to describe me perfectly.

I'm confused as to if you [i]do or don't have depressive symptoms?