Pls help !!i dont know well if i have bipolar disorder or anxiety?

6 years ago , i had a special event in my life that affected my behaviour so much . i cant explain what is the event even my psychiatrist , i couldnt tell him abwt what i have done.since then,whenever i have stressful event like exams , i have very bad mood before exams and fear of failure.even if no exams i try to escape from my self by eating a lot and moving alot this was diagnosed as mania. i try not to sit with myself at all.i was diagnosed as bipolar coz the dr dont know the event that i did be4 and affected my life.since i was diagnosed to be bipolar,i take mood stabilizers and antipsychotics.i feel no real improvement coz i still escape from myself and have bad mood be4 stressful events. i hope u help me to differentiate if it is bipolar or anxiety.

In all honesty I don't think its either. My friend was basically diagnosed with being bipolar as well after a very traumatic event in her life. She's not bipolar by any means after researching it and it doesn't sound like you are either! She had to learn to live with the past as that makes her who she is today and although you said you can't even tell your psychiatrist, i think you should try to explain what happened (unless that will get you put in jail or something). We all make mistakes when we are young but the best way of feeling better with yourself is to be open and talk about it. Maybe join a group where people discuss their traumatic events and see that you aren't alone. You also need to get rid of negative people that are in your life. Everyone has their ups and downs, you just need to know how to control them. Your past makes up who you are and gives you experience about real life. You have to be happy with who you are. If you really cant be try to rectify the situation/people that the event happened with. Talk about it and show what it's done to your life, I can guarantee you'll start feeling better.

If you want an answer to your question, you need to tell your psychiatrist and your therapist what this event was, and why it was/is so significant to you. Keeping it secret is not serving you well. Beyond that, no one here can say whether or not you are bipolar based on a short paragraph. I have bipolar and can read what you describe a few different ways. Seriously, talk about the event. Nothing bad will happen.

A lot of ppl have "test anxiety". You definately have what your diagnosis is. It wouldn't matter what event caused your illness to surface. All you can do now is treat it. Your doing the right thing by continuing on with your psyciatrist. Google test anxiety for more info on that subject. Good luck!

Only a psychiatrist can tell you this accurately. In my opinion Sounds like bipolar I have anxiety panic attacks and have not experienced what you are. Yet everyone is different. Get a new doc.

It's possible to have bipolar and anxiety. I have Manic Depression (which is Bipolar 1) and suffer from Anxiety. The two go hand in hand sadly. See a doctor about it though.

Just tell your doctor about the event!
You're already seeing a Psychiatrist, that's what they are here for.

u probly have both

You may well have been misdiagnosed. Generalised Anxiety Disorder: There is a saying in the mental health field: "if the only tool you have in your kit is a hammer, you tend to treat everything as a nail". So it goes with doctors, and their prescription pads: handy, quick, and convenient, when trying to manage a large list of patients, with very limited time for each.

With anxiolytics (anti-anxiety medication, such as Lexapro, or Paxil, which treat both anxiety and depression) you are only addressing the symptoms, and even then, often only temporarily, as your system becomes used to it, and you have to accept the risks of an increased suicide/homicide rate, aberrant behaviour, and side effects, such as possible sexual dysfunction, (common) or weight fluctuation. For those reasons, I recommend first trying the alternatives, (which only treat the symptoms, using supplements like inositol, and SAMe, or herbal remedies, such as c(h)amomile but the cause, as well) using the EMDR variant, EFT, and relaxation techniques. The anxiolytics/antidepressants will still be there, should the alternatives prove insufficient for you, but give them a tryout period of several weeks, first.

See anxiety treatments, at ezy build (below) in section 6. Set yourself a specific time period for worrying about anything, (say; around three quarters of an hour, possibly when you get home, or after your evening meal, but not too close to bedtime) after which, resolve firmly to refuse to even entertain the thought of worrying again on that day: realise and accept that to do otherwise would be counterproductive to your mental health, and enjoyment of life.

You will have had your "worry time" for the day, and can just write down any more thoughts that come to mind, and say to yourself: "Well, I'll just have to worry about that tomorrow, won't I?". It is important to deal with a negative internal monologue (self talk), or mental process, such as disturbing thoughts, or images, by the process of (a): recognising it, and (b): challenging it immediately.

When you notice something negative, such as: "I'm never going to get over this!" or: "Why am I always so pathetic/useless/such a loser?" or even: "I can't do this/will never get over this!", or a disturbing image, recognise that this is part of the mindset which will hold you back from progressing in your recovery. Having identified and labelled it, I first visualise a large "STOP!" sign, then I say to myself as forcefully as you can, even aloud in a big voice, if alone: "I know this tactic: GO AWAY FOR A WHILE !!!" You may want to use either: "ruse", "ploy", "game", or "trick", instead of "tactic". In the case of an image, visualise a large "STOP" sign, or your preferred version. Some people go so far as to keep a wide rubber band in their pocket, then put it around their wrist, when they catch themselves backsliding, stretch and release it, as a method of reprogramming their mind sooner, but I don't regard it as being strictly necessary. Remember to remove it, afterwards, if you use this method.

Practice one of the relaxation methods in sections 2, 11, 2c, or 2i, daily, and when needed. Alternatively, give the EFT a good tryout, to see if it helps you. There is also a version for use in public places, (if you like, you can claim to have a headache, as you massage/lightly tap your temples, but you would then be restricted to subvocalising: saying it to yourself in your mind). Section 53, and pages 2, 2.q and 2.o at http://www.ezy-build.net.nz/~shaneris also refer: "Even though I sometimes suffer from anxiety, I deeply and completely accept myself." Neurofeedback treatment for anxiety is increasingly becoming available. Herbal remedies, such as valerian, (which is not for use if depression is also present) and passionflower, are often effective, but the idea is (as with anxiolytic medication) to use them like water wings, or training wheels on a bicycle, providing initial support, and giving time for other treatments, such as therapy, and relaxation techniques, to take effect.

(The following is a variant of EMDR therapy, which has been used successfully for those people suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, insomnia, and anxiety: it is easily learned, quick to use, yet can be very effective. It is easy to be dismissive of such a seemingly unusual technique, but give it a good tryout, for at least a few weeks, to see if it is effective in your case.). Prior to using either of the methods in the above paragraph, first sit comfortably, and take a deep breath. Then, without moving your head, move your eyes from the left, to the right, and back again, taking around a second to do so (say: "a thousand and one": this takes approximately a second). Repeat this procedure (without the words, although you can count, subvocally, if you like) 20 times. Then close your eyes and relax. Become aware of any tension or discomfort you feel.

Then open your eyes, and take another deep breath, and repeat step one, closing your eyes, and relaxing afterwards, in the same manner. Then, repeat the procedure one last time. Some people may find that this is all they need do. With experience, you may find that you can practise this in public, with your eyes closed, which greatly widens the window of opportunity for its use, and avoids attracting unwanted attention. I have found that the 2 - 3 minutes spent using the EMDR markedly reduces distractions to the relaxation process, and is repaid many times over. ========================== ======================= ======================= ========================= There is a quiz in section 6, at ezy build, and one for bipolar disorder in section 10. I suggest you seek a second opinion, ASAP. You may have both disorders, but if you had bipolar disorder only, and your medication had stabilised over some months, you should have improved considerably, so something is amiss.