Why do I have problems with breath when I lay down?

What problems may I be experiencing?

• You may have seen me before.. Sorry... I'm very a very anxious person, and I like to get different opinions and answers. I have been sent to a psychologist, and she suggested bipolar disorder (or manic depression), but she would leave it to the mental health service I'm seeing next week. My parents have said no, you're not bipolar. My mania isn't extreme, I don't think. But yeah, maybe hypomania. I'll explain a little of how I feel. I've always been she and anxious, it's gotten worse since I started high school, I constantly worry about silly things like my parents dying, being taken from me, my family getting sick because of me, plane's crashing into my house, anything really. I am scared of social situations, I panic and freeze up, shake, and can't breath. I am scared of talking. I have a few close friends I can talk to, that's about all. This has been happening about 2 years. People have suggested social anxiety, and/or GAD. I experience months or so at a time, where I'm, basically, depressed. I don't like using it as a descriptive word because so many people throw it around, but yeah. I feel worthless, I can't sleep properly, I lay awake for hours, telling myself how stupid, ugly, fat, and worthless I am. I avoid school when I can, I generally feel down, My self esteem is zero, I hardly eat, and yeah. I self harm, I get angry really easy. I don't know why, but I get angry over the tiniest little things, and I get REALY angry. But I could never hurt anyone else, I care so much for everyone else, still when I'm like this, and I don't care for myself. I seriously think about taking my life, and have tried this several times. I often am thinking about how it's not even worth me being here, I just muck things up. I thought I might have depression and anxiety, but then I had periods of mania. It happened once, I didn't notice it was happening until afterwards, but it happened again A month or so ago. I didn't sleep for two weeks, I was up all night buzzing, singing, dancing ect. If I got any sleep, it was for 2-3 hours, but I didn't need the sleep, I had endless energy, my friends complained about how fast I talked, and how I repeated myself on everything, was really jumpy and excited.. I don't have a job, but I really felt like going out and buying lot's of pointless things, like tooth brushes, but lot's of them. When I was like this I felt powerful, confident, and crazy. After this episode I crashed, really. I am down in a phase, I can't concentrate at school, I can't do work, my teachers ask me why I'm looking so down, if I want to talk to the school counciler. I'm doing really bad at school right now, I literally can't work. I'm so stressed every day, about everything, and ahh, I'm just worried about what everyone is thinking, and everything. I'm consistently worrying. I'm throwing up all my food, and counting calories, I feel so fat and horrible. Also something worrying me, I feep wanting to wash my hands and brush my teeth. I don't realize it at the time, but I go to the bathroom and wash my hands, then brush my teeth, it must be about 15 times a day. There's no history of OCD in my family, so it's probably just nothing, but yeah, additional details. I have been really curious about drugs also, I'm considering trying it, but I know it's bad, I just want things to make me feel better, but I know if I use alcohol and get drunk, I'll cover my body in cut's and burns. Anyway, sorry so long. I Guess it helped just writing it all out. - If it helps, there is a history of depressive and mood disorders in my family, them being Depression, Anxiety Disorders, and Social Anxiety Disorders. Oh and anger managment problems, if they count...

• Answer:

  I can tell that you're neurotic and manic just from the long description you wrote. People that are depressed typically don't have the energy to write like that. If you're experiencing highs and lows, your doctor will figure it out. They'll have you complete several questionnaires to assess your mood and personality. Just leave it to them to help you because they went to school for 8 to 10 years to study psychology/psychiatry. There's no reason to doubt their expertise. In the meantime, reflect on your thoughts and moods. Notice anytime you start feeling really sad or manic and tell yourself that I have control over this. Even if you don't, you can exert some control over the situation by telling yourself that you recognize what's going on. How you think about these situations is very important.