Expert: Ivan Goldberg, M.D. - 6/30/2010

Question
Hello,
I was wondering if I have some sort of bipolar disorder or something else.
My mom has bipolar and my grandma was manic depressive.
There are some days where I'm super happy and on top of the world and then something will happen or someone will say something to me and I'll just go downhill. I will wake up in a depressed mood, and its not just like rainy day  type blues, I feel really depressed and down and I'll cry and feel helpless.
the only thing that makes me think its not a disorder is that these extreme ups and downs are triggered by someone saying something to me or something happening to me. its not just random.
any advice/help would be great!
thanks

Answer
Hi Celeste . . .


There is no way that I can make a diagnosis by way of the internet. But I can tell you that people with a family history such as yours are at increased risk to develop a mood disorder. It certainly is possible that your mod swings, even though they are reactions to life happenings, represent a mild mood disorder of some sort.

Only a psychiatrist, after taking detailed history, can diagnose a mood disorder and differentiate it from other disorders that cause periods of depression.

Best regards . . .

Ivan
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