Q:  Sadness-Normal Teen or BP?

Dear Dr. Phelp,

I am taking Lithium and Adderall and Zoloft yet I am very sad and I wnat to die I would do anything If somebody would just shoot me but I am not suicidal I wcould never do that! So do you think this sadness is from my bipolar or just normal teen sadness I have been sad since end of July 2001 I sleep a lot I don't really eat that much . But do you alos think I should go talk to my therapist again???

Dear Ms. C'

That's wise of you to wonder if it's "bipolar" or being a "normal teen", as some of the states associated with each are pretty similar!  However, yes, you definitely should tell somebody, soon.  There's help for what you feel.  Somebody thinks you have bipolar or something like it (based on the lithium), and if that's true, then you might be one of those people where antidepressants can induce rapid cycling and actually, in an odd way of thinking, "cause" depression.  Read more about that here.  So you should ask your doctor about that part.  Good luck, good question. 

Dr. Phelps