Questioning possibility of bipolar - Bipolar Disorder Message Board

light the world · 03-05-2009, 07:37 PM

Ok first of all I don't have a bipolar disorder but I'm just starting to question it. It has ran on both sides of my family. For the past couple of nights I have not needed any sleep. I just get racing thoughts that will keep me up in the night if I try to even get any sleep. I know that these are sings of manic. Even when taking seroquel I still don't fall asleep. And its 400mg of to which is a pretty decent dosage for my age and body weight. Does anyone have any suggestions for me. Especially when it comes to the racing thoughts. I just want them to go away.

dreams in neon · 03-05-2009, 08:44 PM

No one here can diagnose you since we are not medical progessionals, but do you ever have periods where you feel extremely happy, have increased energy and are severely depressed? If so, it's very possible you could have bipolar. If you're curious to know whether you do or not, I would discuss this further with your psychiatrist.

dreams in neon · 03-05-2009, 08:46 PM

P.S. Racing thoughts are a part of mania, but a manic episode usually occurs when someone hasn't slept for 5 or more nights. The only exception to this would be if you're a rapid cycler like I am and your moods change every few days, several times a day or (in my case) every hour and sometimes every minute.

If Seroquel isn't helping you sleep, I would ask your psychiatrist to either increase your dosage or switch you to a different sleep med. I take 100mg of Trazodone when I'm feeling level and 300mg when I'm manic or can't sleep. When I take 100mg, it works within 20 minutes. When I take 300mg, it works within 5.

Bunnylover · 03-05-2009, 08:50 PM

You can definitly have racing thoughts with hypomania, which doesn't necessarily involve staying up all night (although it can.)

Whatever is happening, you sound concerned enough and that this is disrupting your life enough that you should see someone. If you don't know how to find a psychiatrist, try asking your primary doctor for a referal.

dreams in neon · 03-05-2009, 08:56 PM

I should mention that it's quite possible you could have BPII which is characterized by hypomania (mild mania) and depression. You could also have a milder form of bipolar called cyclothymia which consists of mild hypomania and mild depression.