and i am an doctor. it is very hard to diagnose bipolar if you haven't had a true manic episode, which it doesn't sound like you have had. i think getting plugged in with a psychiatrist now might not be a bad idea. for me my emotions got more out of wack for a little while after the baby. hope you feel better soon.

but I'd go see a Chinese medicine doctor.
What you're describing here looks to me like there is a problem with your triple warmer. Symptoms of this include depression (especially manic), a feeling of stuckness that can result in angry outbursts, often headaches that seem to be more towards the side of the forehead or by the ears...sometimes even migraines on the side, being totally riled up to the point that it is hard to sleep, and often a fear of death.
The triple warmer is one of the gateways to the heart, in CM, and is a fire organ. There are lots of massage techniques that can help relieve this, as well as acupuncture and moxibustion that can be done. I hope that there is somebody who works near you, because if this is the problem, it is really not hard to rebalance, and the treatment is very relaxing and enjoyable.
The triple heater governs the time from 9pm to 11pm, and often, the symptoms I described above could get worse at this time. Also, there can be issues with the Chinese Liver organ -- called "liver wind" that add to these symptoms. If that's the case, a person will usually wake in the middle of the night (usually around 2 or 3am) and can have restlessness and insomnia all around.

I hope this gets better soon, and sorry I can't do more...

"Fundamentally the markswoman aims at herself" DT Suzuki

And from a psychiatrist. And even then...not to bash doctors but they do tend to want to prescribe meds. You have to weigh the benefits of the meds with any harmful effects for the baby. If you are really sick, well then, the benefits may outweigh the bad stuff.

It seems to me-- a a very lay person -- that this is not bipolar, but depression with anxiety (that's the way my on-again off-again depression expresses itself so it's possible I just see me in you, know what I mean? So grain of salt). An ex-girlfriend of mine used to do drug trials in people with bipolar disorder-- and the manic episodes that people with bipolar disorder can be quite severe- deciding to re-wire the whole house and then doing it, despite no electrical experience, staying up all day and night for days on end... Now there may be a continuum of severity for this condition and maybe you have a mild form, and maybe it's triggered by pregnancy. But you may not have it, the family history may be a red herring...talk to another doctor.

Sending you vibes and hugs!!!

while I don't have a lot to add to the discussion in the way of insight, etc, I do want to say that I am thinking of you and sending you some love and support.

this sounds so much like what I was (and still am to a lesser extent) going through in post-partum depression. One thing I will say is that while I am no doctor, I would get a second opinion before beginning psych meds while pregnant, but this is just me...and I am one of those people who tends to be really (too?) careful about taking prescription drugs of any kind.

I have to agree with what all of these sage womyn have posted here. Bipolar is the new black these days. I'm not trying to sound glib, but I've seen a number of my friends struggle with it, and I've also seen a few misdiagnosed and improperly medicated.
While I occasionally suffer with depression, I think I felt pretty "bipolar-ish" during my pregnancy. Aren't mood swings and depression kind of par for the course?
Definitely see another expert and get a second opinion.
I can't say enough about the Omega 3's.
Take care and keep posting!

But my opinion is that it sounds pretty normal. I agree with the other mamas. If you have not had a mania episode, a diagnosis of bipolar based on family history is a little weak.

Take care of yourself, call in anyone who can support you, eat and hydrate well, avoid caffeine, SLEEP, try yoga, relax...this is preliminary, it doesn't mean you will be on lithium the rest of your life!

Seriously, bipolar disorder is bandied about so much today, one wonders if we don't all have it! Then what is the norm exactly?

Keep talking to the doc, keep an eye out for thoughts about harming yourself or others and enjoy the last few weeks mamacita!

you are pregnant with 'high-risk' issues, right? Don't you also have a few kidos already? Sure, maybe you are depressed...I think it is not so abnormal. Maybe find a Psychiatrist, not a psychologist.

Vibes.

Bipolar disorder is usually diagnosed after an episode of mania- if you've ever had a period of time in your life where you've been so "high" that you've been very impulsive with, for example, spending (going through your whole bank account, buying storefuls of clothes, gambling away more money than you have), sex (promiscuous, impulsive, sex with strangers), crime (brazenly shoplifting or outrunning the cops because you think you're invincible), or some other very risky, outrageous behavior. The definition of bipolar disorder requires this "high" (i.e. the one pole, with the other pole being depression). The high lasts at least a few days, the lows last at least a few days (the lows often last much longer).
I've heard bipolar thrown around a lot for severe mood swings or anger, but that's not the technical definition.
There's a personality type called "bipolar" or "hypomania" which is characterized more by mood swings, often quickly changing and unpredictable. This is not treated with medications generally, unless it's a feature of depression, which it sounds like yours may be. Medications for depression can sometimes precipitate a manic episode. Recent evidence has shown no advantage over placebo for SSRIs (prozac, zoloft, etc) for depression, and talk therapy is really the only mainstream therapy that has been shown to be effective.
Hang in there, I'm glad you're talking to people about this.

for bipolar disorder, depending on if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or none of the above, and depending on how you respond to them. You may just be symptomatic because of the pregnancy. I don't know what the full criteria for a diagnosis is. You do seem to have severe symptoms, and you should definitely be under some sort of treatment plan, if it includes meds or not. Counseling and keeping people around you and in touch with you would be a good idea, too.

Did you look into the omega fatty acids?

Sunflower the unflower

Mom's Tinfoil Hat
Foodie loves Picky

Ask yourself these two questions:
1. Do I feel so out of control that I might hurt myself?
2. Do I feel so out of control that I might hurt someone else, or the baby?

If your answer is 'yes' to either of them, do what the doctor says. If the answer is 'no' to both of them, I'd wait until after the baby is born and any post-partum depression subsides.

I am not, repeat, NOT, a psychologist! This is just an opinion! But I offer this opinion because I was MIS-diagnosed with bi-polar once. I was put on med after med, including lithium, which gave my baby a heart murmur. I never once considered suicide until I was placed on meds. And it's all because they said I was bi-polar when I was not. It was post traumatic stress from abuse as a child.

To me, it sounds like your symptoms coincide with just being pregnant. Pregnant ladies are CrAzY! Now, I don't know you, and I don't know what you're like on the other side of that computer screen. But I'd be wary of taking meds while pregnant, and I am always skeptical about any bi-polar diagnosis because of what happened to me.

Hang in there, mama! I'm sure you'll get it figured out! Maybe you could find a psycologist who doesn't prescribe meds? I dunno, like I said, this is all a lay-person's opinion.

Sending good, cheerful vibes your way in hopes that you can work it out!

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DR.MCCOY: Spock, you are the most cold-blooded man I've ever met.
SPOCK: Why, thank you Doctor.