Is this bipolar or Autism?

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I know I asked before but I've been researching a lot about Bipolar disorder now. I'm not sure if its possible but I notice there are a lot of things more bipolar related that don't actually correspond with my autism diagnosis. I don't really have manic episodes but I do have times where one minute I'm happy and hyperactive... then I'll go into moods where I end up being depressed and wanting to die.

My thoughts are always racing so much that I end up going into modes of anxiety and depression. It's like, I have the worst attention span and I just can't seem to get my thoughts in order. I get distracted easily by anything around me. Other times I get so stressed over every little thing that I start panicking and almost go into tearful moments where I want to self-injure myself.

I notice that my moods are always changing and I'm often pretty irritable also. I don't sleep much and if I do, I end up sleeping all day after staying up late. My energy is usually really high. I often have to escape my bedroom because I get overloaded by all those random emotions of depression... I'm always so hyperactive.

But I never have moments where I cry or anything but I have a lot of anger. I mean it seems its only more mild to moderate symptoms of Bipolar but I just wonder.

That sounds like bipolar or cyclothymia. Have you talked to a psychiatrist about it?

Not yet. The thing is, with autism, I always have a harder time explaining those things to him. I want to though since it might be the reason why my emotions are often so hard to control. I always thought it was just because autism.

Try writing what you want to say down, and if you have time give yourself time to go through several revisions until it sounds good no matter what your mood.

Yeeeeah... I do write everything down but it ends up being two pages long. My mind is often that disorganized that I really can't say what is important and what isn't.

They have a PhD. They can read two pages. Just write down what's on your mind and then come back to it another day, and remove stuff that you think is rambling and irrelevant after all, and make changes to add or clarify other parts. Then come back to it again another time and do it all over again and again until it looks reasonably presentable enough that you can answer any questions about any holes or confusing spots in your letter. Psychologically prepare yourself to give them something you will never be completely happy with or you will never give it to them.

Doesn't sound quite right for bipolar to me, your moods seem to be changing too rapidly. More like borderline personality disorder if anything, especially with the urge to self-harm. BUT problems with regulating and expressing your emotions could well be down to your ASD diagnosis and if you already have access to therapies that will help you with this I really wouldn't rush out to get another stigmatizing label if it can be avoided.

Emotional dysregulation is, I concur with LittleBlackCat, more symptomatic of borderline personality disorder than bipolar.

(This is my first non-introductory post, so I apologise if I get something wrong)

I went from a diagnosis of Bipolar I, borderline, and others, to Aspergers (last fall). Right now I'm in evaluation to see if maybe the Bipolar is more of an aspect of the AS than a comorbid diagnosis.

I'm so new to the world of AS that this is all very confusing to me. But I'm really hoping that the bipolar diagnosis is dropped. I'm so tired of being on so much medication, and my current psychologist is in agreement with me; the only time the meds seemed to make a difference were when I had done work in therapy and had made progress on my own. But bipolar is a hard thing to just drop. I guess no one wants to be held responsible if something goes wrong.

I just wish there was more (reliable) information available on the crossover symptoms between AS and Bipolar. Or maybe I'm just not looking in the right places...

[quote="iheartmegahitt"]I know I asked before but I've been researching a lot about Bipolar disorder now. I'm not sure if its possible but I notice there are a lot of things more bipolar related that don't actually correspond with my autism diagnosis. I don't really have manic episodes but I do have times where one minute I'm happy and hyperactive... then I'll go into moods where I end up being depressed and wanting to die.

My thoughts are always racing so much that I end up going into modes of anxiety and depression. It's like, I have the worst attention span and I just can't seem to get my thoughts in order. I get distracted easily by anything around me. Other times I get so stressed over every little thing that I start panicking and almost go into tearful moments where I want to self-injure myself.

I notice that my moods are always changing and I'm often pretty irritable also. I don't sleep much and if I do, I end up sleeping all day after staying up late. My energy is usually really high. I often have to escape my bedroom because I get overloaded by all those random emotions of depression... I'm always so hyperactive.

But I never have moments where I cry or anything but I have a lot of anger. I mean it seems its only more mild to moderate symptoms of Bipolar but I just wonder.[/quote]

From your description of your symptoms,I am leaning towards the conclusion that you are indeed suffering from some sort of bi-polar disorder.I suppose now, that autism can be the root cause of a bi-polar disorder.

exactly....

I try to explain to people that my brain just won't stop racing and they just don't get it. it's not that I don't try to listen or pay attention... I just can't some days. I get to distracted. I do the stressing out thing too. Actually I did just a few minutes ago. it stinks. Sorry you are dealing with this too. For me I think this is just part of Asperger's. I simply don't regulate my emotions well. I don't think this has to be a bipolar symptom. For me it is included in the Aspie issues and so I do not have a separate diagnosis for emotional regulation.

I tried to be part of a paid study for bipolar disorder because I was feeling depressed. I was immediately excluded from the study because I never experienced 'mania' such as feeling the need to buy something I couldn't afford or partaking in other irrational behavior.

It could always be a bipolar mix state aspergers

The only type of Bipolar that fits how you describe your mood swings would be cyclothymia with ultra-rapid cycling. If you've never had a full-lown manic episode it can't be Bipolar I, and if you haven't been hypomanic it can't be Bipolar II. But I'm with you on the whole zero attention span, difficulty telling others your thoughts, and racing mind. It's hard to tell what problems are the result of the autism or ADHD acting up. The meds used to treat Bipolar often have very bad side effects (especially the antipsychotics/lithium salts used to prevent manic episodes).

It is hard to tell what is going on here. Some of these are certainly ADHD/Autism related. The purpose of the labeling is to try to find a good treatment that may work. I would focus on telling your doctors what the main symptoms that are casuing you the most trouble. It is my experience with psychiatry that symptoms and severity of symptoms are what is most important.
Sorry, I couldn't be more helpful.

Yeah, which is why I actually take klonopin. But the thing is that, I think the concerta has something to do with the emotional overload. But the thing is that the concerta helps with the sensory sensitivities I have and I am more tolerant of things around me yet... it doesn't seem to be helping with my concentration or keep my concentration longer.