Lately I have been obsessing that I may have bipolar disorder since there is a higher chance of people who have OCD that also have bipolar disorder. I just keep telling myself that I have not been professionally diagnosed. Has anyone else ever experienced something like this? Am I the only one??

You already know I’m in this boat! I just called two different psychiatrists to talk to a professional about this and hopefully put it to bed once and for all.

Can’t relate to those delusions. Was that when you were 25 and then got diagnosed? Are you stable in recent years? Have a lot of doom thinking that if I had bipolar I’d ruin my life - but I know a lot of people with bipolar can lead very normal productive lives when treated

I usually think I have bipolar because sometimes my mood fluctuates slightly. Or I can go a couple weeks without obsessing and then it’ll come back in a cyclical manner. Plus my anxiety really affects my sleep and energy, in both directions (too much too little)

I am bipolar 2, and OCD, both diagnosed by a professional. I can share my experience if wanted.

Rachel I want you to but I cannot decide if I want it as a compulsion or for real insight. I guess how old were you at diagnosis? And how do the two differ/how do you differentiate?

OCD in 1992 at the age of 12 inpatient. Bipolar, 2005, 25, inpatient as well. The symptoms for me are very different with the exception that they share depression as a symptom. Bipolar are big big swings in moods with manic highs which are an entity in itself. Being bipolar can be very destructive on your life affecting major aspects of life. Some people lose all their money while on a manic high, cheat, lose their spouse, go off on some dream of doing something outlandish but is really just a delusion. OCD does not produce delusions like bipolar can that I know of. Both can wreck your life in very different ways.

OCD for me at its worst produces severe anxiety and I wont leave the house type thing. I do the rituals, the excessive checking, counting, scared of germs.

I’ve got mostly mental obsessions and checking/reassurance compulsions. Rachel, almost all the things you mentioned re:mania are exactly what I obsess about and fear in relation to bipolar.

Im sorry, i cannot relate but you definitely made me feel a lot better with how I am currently feeling. I don't think Im having delusions. :) i just tend to have really negative thoughts and obsess about them for days and sometimes weeks. Eventually they pass. I would just love to break the cycle.

Im very productive. But i fear i have bipolar and if i get diagnosed it will ruin my life also..

I like to use the mayo clinics info on bipolar or the national institute of health. Those are reputable for reading.

Im on the fence about getting diagnosed. I feel like i dont have it and itll be a waste of time and part of me wants to go for shits and giggles to see if i do have it..

I could imagine anxiety,OCD and Bipolar is a horrible cocktail to have..

Uncontrolled bipolar makes you want to take huge risks, make big changes with little time to think on it. Then your also happy like on drugs happy, euphoric.

My fear is I have it already and the anxious energy has actually been hypomanic and it’ll just escalate until it’s full blown mania and I ruin my life and relationships. I’m scared to visit the psychiatrist because of confirmation bias and over diagnosis issues. Hopefully a psych will alleviate those vs exacerbate them.

Well those experiences I had are because I was not on meds at the time, it is manageable with medication. Glad I could help . Your better off going for testing to rule it out.

Im thinking about doing the same! Hopefully it isn't too expensive.

Jay Bird you just said all I wanted to say lol

Can you experience delusions with OCD? I want to say that I have because I think I have obsessed over a delusion at one point but the thought or delusion eventually went away by distracting myself/keeping busy.

Germs don't bother me, a messy silverware drawer, unmade beds, stuff like that does not bother me. I do count and repeat things and thoughts though which i feel brings the anxiety and obsessing part.

Yes same here jay bird

Delusions from OCD only? Not that I know of. I spent 3 months on a manic high, lost thousands of dollars due to just shopping because I thought soon I was to be a super model. Lost 70 pounds, not that it was meant to lose. I had no concept of time, when to eat or sleep. Literally. None of that. I thought traffic lights were signaling me to a higher calling and were leading me to somewhere so I basically drove all over the state. I was always super giddy happy but not in my right mind. I stole a car then abandoned it on the highway because I was convinced there was a bomb in there. From there, I hitch hiked down state because I thought eminem was my bf. Can anyone relate to those delusions?

I tried to buy a hummer as well and almost got away with it.

Same here jay bird.

Well I am 39 now, and have been stable for 3 years. Before that I went through a severe depression of a year which was the worst I ever experienced. That was the bipolar not OCD. In 2005, I was diagnosed after all that happened. I have gone years with no problems. The key is the right meds, therapy , and basically taking care of your physical health as well. You can lead very productive lives despite the diagnosis. You will want to be diagnosed before it rears its ugly head because the initial onset is the worst you will experience.

I associate my stuff separately, because the symptoms have been distinctly different for me. You can have anxiety with both. So there is some comorbidity.

My psychiatrist says I have a highly complex chemistry to delicately iron out. Lol

I've made huge risks before and big changes with little time to think on it. Irrational thinking. Impulsive decisions? But i dont know about the happy on drugs euphoria feeling. I dont think ive experienced that.

I totally understand. After reading rachels comments i feel a lot better and have a sense of relief.