Q:
Recently I have become curious if I am struggling with some sort of depression/bipolar disorder. It has affected both my mother and grandfather, so I have some sort of family history of it. I am usually a very, very happy person and I have so much energy sometimes I don't understand where it comes from. I'm not an abuser of any type of drug, and I'm not on any medication besides birth control. Just sometimes I will get the worst feelings I've ever felt, and nothing has really happened that should make me feel this way, but the best way to describe it is "indifferent". Like, I feel like there's nothing to look forward to and everything at the point just sucks. Luckily they don't last for very long, a few hours at most, but when this happens its just so unexpected and I HATE it. Also, I've noticed that I get extremely angry VERY easily. Something small will happen (I'll knock a bottle of perfume off my desk) and I'll just get filled with this unexplainable rage. I hate feeling so unpredictable, and I really would like to know why it's happening. Can oral contraceptives do this to a person, or is it most likely something more severe. I would REALLY love an opinion, as I want to change it asap. Thanks.
A:
Everyone has times of indifference or apathy or inexplicable anger, but extremes of any emotion are concerning because they can lead to impulsivity, poor decisions and damaged relationships.
Due to your family history, you know you have the genetic/biochemical propensity for mood disorder, possibly bipolar. Your description of your mood changes and fluctuations without explanation or provocation suggest you may be exhibiting some mood disorder symptoms. The wisest course of action is to have a psychological intake which is a comprehensive history gathering and symptom assessment which can then be evaluated in light of standard diagnostic criteria. There are very successful therapies, both behavioral and pharmacologic, which can be very beneficial.
Oral contraceptives can lead to depressive symptoms, usually mild, but rarely are the sole cause of the types of symptoms you are reporting.
Call the WWU Counseling Center at 650-3164 for an intake appointment and the therapist who meets with you can better plan out a strategy for getting this under control. Another helpful web resource is www.psycheducation.org.
~The Doc
