Can someone help me identify this....

My girlfriend (a 19 year old college student) has me worried. I think she has some mental illness, but I have no idea as to what it could be, and I'd like some opinions.

First of all, she is usually depressed, she doesn't exactly soacially isolate herself, but she doesn't make a lot of attempts to make friends and what-not. Sometimes she will think that things are out to get her (not physically, but she'll think her parents are mad at her when she has no reason to think that, and things like that), she always blames herself for stuff happening even if there is no way it possibly could be her fault (Today we were waiting for a city bus which was running late, so we went back to the bus depot to figure out if it was late, and the depot was closed. When we were walking back up to wait for the bus it passed by and she said it was all her fault we missed it, even though it was my idea to go back to the depot and ask), and other things similar to that.

I figured most of this was just part of her personality, and I've been working with her to help her get a more positive attitude and such, which has been working decently.

Today, though, she scared me to death. We were waiting for the bus to go back home, and all of a sudden she starts laughing hysterically, I ask her why she's laughing and she says she doesn't know. She accidentally slammed her back against the back of the bench when she was laughing, and I asked her if she was okay because she has been complaining of a really sore back. She laughs some more, tells me that her back feels fine. She then gets up, and starts walking. I ask her where she is going and she says "I'm up for a walk back to Sterling". Sterling is where she lives. It'd be about a 3 hour walk. I tell her to come back after she makes it about 200ft. I thought she was joking around at first. She comes back over, still laughing manically, sits down, then passes out on my lap. I finally get her to come to, and she complains about her back hurting and asks me what happened. She had no memory of what all she had just done.

So we both go back to our rooms. I got off the bus first, and she still had about 40 mins to ride. I tell her to call me when she gets there. When she calls me, she tells me that she remembered what happened vaguely.

She and I have been together for over a year now, and I know she wouldn't lie to me about anything. I repeatedly asked her if she was kidding and she said no.

What do you all think this most likely is? I plan on getting her to see a Psychiatrist/Psychologist as soon as possible, because I'm afraid she'll have another spell like that and hurt herself. How urgent is it, really, though?

Any ideas what it could be?

You might be about to be dumped?

Irrational behavior is a great way to end a relationship, I've used it many times.

he's not about to get dumped. You people come up with the stupidest $#%^ sometimes.

Sorry dude I really don't know what that could be. Talking to a psy would be the best thing, as soon as possible so she doesn't hurt herself. If it takes too long to see a psy take her to a regular doc they might have some idea sooner then a psy visit can offer you more professional advice.

Before you make any rash decisions, please read the following article and take it into consideration.

PSYCHIATRIC STIGMA follows you everywhere you go for the rest of your life.

http://www.antipsychiatry.org/stigma.htm

Don't tell me about 'rash decisions' you idiot. If I didn't know that it could be something serious I wouldn't worry about it. When the people you love start doing doing stuff like my girlfriend did without knowing about it, then see if your story stays the same, asshole.

If you ever felt the fear for someone that I felt yesterday, you'd want them to seek help too...

Not to mention that that stupid article is very one-sided and biased....

hydrogen,

It doesn't take much to get abusive language flowing from you. Are you like this in your relationship as well? The real problem is probably you and not her?

No, actually i'm not. I just have had a lot of people I love that suffer from mental illness, and I can't stand people talking poorly of it when there is a section in here made for folks with anti-psychiatric babble.

My dad is a manic-depressive, and with the psychiatric/medications he's taken, he is a whole new person. No more suicidal tendencies, no more flying off the handle, etc.. I also have a lot of friends that have been helped by psychiatry and such.

It takes me a lot to start 'flowing abusive language', but the one thing that manages to get it flowing is ignorant people. Have a nice day.

I think it should be entirely your G/F decision whether she sees a shrink.

You shouldn't put pressure on her. Let her speak for herself. Bloody carers!!!!!!

PS: Your Dad is a human being, not a manic depressive. Try to see him as a person and not view him as a pathology.

Yes, my dad is a person. I realize that. What I meant was that he probably wouldn't be here if it wasn't for psychiatry. That's something you can't argue.

It is my girlfriends choice in the end, but i'd rather her go see a psychiatrist than be dead. I love her way too much to just sit back and let her end up dead.