Bipolar disorder....?

from my observation my mother clearly has bipolar disorder, shes really happy and nice at one moment..then yelling screaming, gets easily mad...thinks ridiculous things..spends money she doesnt have...etc......yet being that shes in denial of having that..shes under the impression that she has depression and tells her doctors/psychiatrists she has depression..and they give her depression medication..which is meanwhile making her bipolar disorder worse...is it legally possible for me to contact her doctor without her knowing and let them know that she really isnt depressed but has bipolar disorder and for them to correct her medication if i tell them how she really acts? Bc i dont know how much longer i can deal with her....thanks

Wow thanks everyone for your answers so far, you are all very nice and helpful.

She can be extremely happy one day, with tons of energy and in a great mood and it could even last for a few days, then some time later shes very angry, thinks ridiculous things, thinks that everyone in our family is against her. She can sleep for hours, and then stay up all night, has racing thoughts etc...

it has been very hard for me to deal with since she is my mother, but as much as it is hard on me i always tell myself she does have a mental disorder, which is just as bad as a physical disease in my opinion. She starts fights alot with everyone in our family, and thinks and says the most bizzare things that have no truth to them at all, and i dont think the depression medication is helping her, Has anyone heard anything about lithium and bipolar? thanks

You're in a really tough situation. Many folks with bipolar disorder (myself included) get diagnosed as having depression, but anti-depressants are exactly the wrong medicine for bipolar folks to be on. Have you tried talking with your mom-- telling her how all this makes you feel? You could contact the doctor, but note that this could put the doctor in a tough spot: i.e., having to notify authorities if you're underage (under age 18). Is there anyone in the family you could talk with? Anyone your mom respects? Bipolar folks are very good at rationalization, so it can be tough to reach them sometimes, but maybe if you talk to her in a sincere way she'll get it. Possibly suggest that maybe you go with her to the doctor next time, which would put the doctor in a bit less of a tight spot b/c they'd see that she and you are in this together.

At least you realize that her swift mood changes aren't about you-- that she's battling a tough disease. Kudos to you for that. You sound remarkably mature.

Sure it's legal. There is no law that says you cannot contact your mother's doctor and give them information. The law says that they cannot give you information about your mother's health care.
How often does your mother's mood switch? Bipolar disorder is not a one minute to the next kind of thing. Cycles occur over months. Spending money she doesn't have is a classic symptom of bipolar disorder. Does she also have tons of energy when you think she is in manic mode? Getting lots of things done and needing less sleep?
I think you are doing the right thing. Giving antidepressants to a person with bipolar disorder is not a good thing and doctors often misdiagnose people because they don't ask the right questions or patients don't tell them because they like being manic. Having even one manic episode makes you bipolar even if you never have a second one.

Have you talked to your mother about your concerns? If she is admitting she is depressed it seems she wouldn't mind admitting she could possibly have bipolar disorder. If she is seeking help then she probably really wants to get better and take the correct medication. She may have already been tested for bipolar disorder and not have it. Ask her if you can go the next appointment with her since this affects you also. Most doctors/psychiatrists don't mind letting family members get involved, it actually helps with her progress and it will also help calm your concerns.

Don't give up on your mother, she is the only one you got and I am sure if she was healthy she wouldn't want to be putting you through this.

there is no law that says you can't contact her doctor.
But they aren't going to take your word for it.

Tell her she has been acting kind of strange and you are worried about her. Try not to be too specific and try not to make her angry. It would be better if she calls herself to make an appointment.
If she won't listen to you, maybe you can get another adult to help you out.

she sounds just like me! i was just diagnosed with rapid cycling bipolar disorder. my psychiatrist said that the zoloft i've been on can actually be triggering the rapid cycling part. she said that bipolar depression is not the same as regular depression. see if you can get power of attorney to make your mom's medical decisions. then you can talk to her dr without having to deal with the HIPAA bull caca.
good luck!