Really confused about mood swings

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First off, I'm self-diagnosed with AS. I figure that's probably worth mentioning.

Moving on (and I'll describe this as well as I can, though it's difficult because my thoughts are racing even as I write this):

During times where I'm feeling uncertain about my future, my mood tends to fluctuate several times a day, for at least a few days straight, or sometimes weeks. As long as my mind is on something pleasant to distract me from my uncertain reality, I'm happy, but as soon as I have an idle moment to muse over my circumstances or to-do's, I'm instantly irritable.

Other times (such as when failure in school seems imminent, or I cannot tolerate the incompetence of people in positions of power over me, or etc) I'll basically go crazy. It starts out with rage, characterized by unintentional strength (i.e., accidentally pushing doors too hard so that they slam against the wall and nearly break, putting me at risk of expulsion/lawsuits) and, based on others' facial expressions, an intimidating (in a "crazy" kind of way) presence. Typically this is followed by a depressed phase, which comes about once I realize that the situation is completely beyond my control and that anger won't get me anywhere. At this point, every last trace of adrenaline leaves my body, and my energy is simply gone, to the point where even moving my mouth to talk is a difficult task. While in this state, I basically can't comprehend anything more complicated than small talk, nor can I articulate myself at all, which basically results in no information entering or leaving my brain- a real joy in the context of school, as you may imagine.

Then there are times where I'm inexplicably hyperactive and happy, and my auditory processing problems enable me to yell without realizing that I'm yelling, hence irritating those around me. I feel a wide variety of other emotional extremes as well; some are triggered by annoyances (big and small) while others seem to come out of nowhere.

Now, as I understand it, bipolar disorder is characterized by long-term mood changes, meaning that hour-to-hour fluctuations wouldn't occur. Is this correct?

I'm just trying to figure out if such extreme mood swings are characteristic of AS or not. I've read older posts but am still confused on how to tell the difference. My mood has been fluctuating a lot lately, and even though I have enough sense and self-control not to let it get to me, it's still really annoying to go from content to borderline suicidal to happy to completely emotionless to nostalgic to depressed, all in the course of a day. (Today, to be exact.) I wish I could see a real doctor about this, but I'm not rich.

Thanks guys.

The same things happen to my moods, as well. I will be laughing, one minute and on the verge of tears, the next. I find it, very strange.

I have been struggling with the same stuff all my life, but learning how to deal with it (as in "what to actually do") has greatly reduced its manifestations ... and that all has to do with learning to *act* properly irregardless of what I think or how I feel.

I was diagnosed "manic-depressive with psychotic tendencies" in 1981 when AS/HFA was just barely becoming known, and the "therapy" for me at the time was Thorazine.

I am far from qualified for diagnosing or prescribing anything, but I can tell you a spiritual awakening of the original Twelve-Step variety is at the very core of my being alive and able to function relatively well most of the time today.

I've been going through the same thing lately. When I try to imagine my life the way I wish it could be, I feel a little better. But once I realize that it isn't or might not ever be, I go back to being extremely depressed and have anxiety. What I wish is that I won the mega millions lottery and would never have to work again. I can do whatever I want, live wherever I want and be happy for the rest of my life. But no; my life has to suck. However, I'm a little hopeful that my life will get better. It has to. There's some reason why I haven't killed myself yet. I guess life is still worth living. Sorry if I just concerned anybody with that comment about killing myself.
One thing I've been struggling with is envying people who have jobs, have plenty of money, and are living happy fulfilled lives. Whenever I go anywhere and see people dressed all professional with expensive looking cell phones or other gadgets, or who are dressed nice with nice looking possessions and smiling faces, I just envy the hell out of them. I just can't help it. Does that mean I'm insecure?
One more thing. If you or anyone else out there had any wishes, what would they be?

this is exatly my problem and its goten worse since i was put on benzos for anxiety but its the onlything that works i would rather be moody than have panic attacks, im fine until im pulled away from my fixations like trees and music and cicadas, i have freinds that are all autistic or add, i dont do well around hyper people or kids, infact i have no abilaty to talk to kids i can only talk to those who are on topic with me or i space off, i have visions of what im going to create and if i fail the task all hell breaks loose and i cant sleep so i smoke pot, this was confused for ocd for years until i told them my obseesions were done out of pleasure not fear and my socail impairment was disabiling since i can not act proper in a job around people, wen i try i feel fake and it realy makes me feel like i want to run uhhhhhhhh

So am I just stuck with this then? F**k...