Expert: Ivan Goldberg, M.D. - 1/23/2010

Question
Hello,
I have noticed that I have some very strange characteristics, my doctor believes it might be bipolar disorder and i was just wondering if in your opinion it sounded like i had that or a different type of disorder.
Here are my symptoms:
i love people one day and hate them the next
i feel very very happy sometimes for no reason
i get very stressed out very easily
when i get stressed out I get hyper
i have way too much energy all the time
when i get very stressed out i become very depressed
i get anxious and worried easily
i get panic attacks easily
the less sleep i get the more hyper i am and the more happy I am
if i am not interested in something i can not focus on it
sometimes i smell a smell that is entirely indescribable and weird and I smell it totally randomly
i enjoy it when others are in mental pain
i often diss people to make myself feel better
i am very dominating and controlling
in situations i feel like i can not be the weak one, i always must be the higher person in authority
I often want to die
i am often not afraid of death or situations that involve it (i often like situations like this)
this is basically all the symptoms i have (i am probably forgetting some if you ahve any ideas it would be most appreciative
thank you very much
-Stephanie  

Answer
Hi Stephanie . . .

I would love to be able to nswer your question butr it woudl be unethical for me to try to make a diagnosis based on information provided over the internet without ever having interviewed the individual.

I suggest that you complete the questionnaire found at: http://www.psycom.net/depression.central.bipolar-screening.html and take it with you to your next appointmentr with your psychiatrist.

Best regards . . .

Ivan
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