how can you tell the difference between teenage mood swings and bipolar?

5 Comments

1. Lucia G says:

   May 20, 2010 at 8:48 am

   Best way to tell is to wait. Teenage mood swings eventually level out, Bi-Polar gets much worse. The only other thing I can suggest is that Bi-Polar is something that does not get better so if you notice your moods getting better it is most likely not Bi-Polar.
2. Breanna says:

   May 20, 2010 at 8:55 am

   you can’t
3. Katie <3 says:

   May 20, 2010 at 9:01 am

   The “mood swings” associated with bipolar disorder are more long-spanning. Meaning that they consist of two stages (three if you include the mixed state), depression and mania, and on average they last for about 6 months or so, but it depends on the person.

   Teenage mood swings usually don’t last as long. They usually last a few days, or weeks maybe, but never years, like bipolar depression or mania can. Bipolar disorder doesn’t mean that you are happy one minute and crying the next. That is a teenage mood swing.

   When you’re manic, you forget to eat for days. You destroy the relationships most important to you and you go to the supermarket barefoot. When you’re depressed, you just want to die; you long to kill yourself, but you simply don’t have the energy or enthusiasm.

   And it lasts for many months. It can last years. It can last longer than the time it takes for a teenager to grow up into an adult and balance out their erratic hormone levels.
4. W E says:

   May 20, 2010 at 9:19 am

   The only way to know for sure is to get evaluated by a professional. Bipolar mood swings are extreme by anyone’s standards. They are also noticeable by your friends and parents. If you have concerns that you are bipolar, I would talk to the school counselor.

   Hope this helps.

   Below are some questions to ask yourself. an answer of yes to the mania questions or No to the depression ones, may be to an indicator that you may have the illness. But, as I said you need to evaluated for a real diagnose.

   Some of the basic signs of mania are:
   are you sleeping very little?
   Are you prone to spend money like it was growing on trees?
   Are you talking so much that you are annoying your friends and family?
   Are you doing things that are risky more than normal?

   As to depression:
   Can you get out of bed?
   Are you able to study? Do you enjoy things that are normally fun?
   Are you so depressed that you are temped to hurt yourself?
5. PosterChild says:

   May 20, 2010 at 9:37 am

   I agree with Lucia – a teenager shouldn’t be diagnosed with bipolar because there are so many hormone changes occuring that can cause similar symptoms.

   As you get older, if you still have the same swings or worse, make an appointment with a non-prescribing therapist. If you are referred to a psychiatrist for evaluation, and its determined you are bipolar, get a second opinion before resigning to it. Too many people are being drugged for mental illness who really shouldn’t be.