Bipolar and getting diagnosed

For the last couple of years I have been thinking I have bipolar. I recently started looking into and a lot of the symptoms fit me to a 't'. Although I have never had suicidal thoughts and I don't drink. My mom has it and I read that I am more prone to having it. I really want to get help. My anger gets pretty bad sometimes and my poor DD gets the brunt of it most the time. It makes me feel like the WORST mommy ever. I love her to death and I hate it. So I have a few questions.
1. Who or what kind of Dr. do I go to and hopefully get diagnosed and some help?
2. How long did it take to get diagnosed?
3. How fast do the meds start helping?
My only concerne or worry is that I am currently on Medicaid. When I get off of Medicaid who can I go to and how do I get help for meds when I don't have insurance anymore?
Please can someone help me? Get me started in the right direction. Please do not be rude that's not what I am here for. I just want help and advice.

I am bipolar. You will probably see a psychiatrist, who will do an assessment and figure out what degree of bipolar you are. They will look at your past history and determine if it is the proper diagnosis. It may take a week or two for them to figure you out. My medications take about a month to really start helping.

Try and find a therapist and a psychiatrist, check and see if there's a mental health center in your area that has both on staff.

It may take a while to get a diagnosis, and to find the right combination of meds for you, whether you are bipolar or not... it is going to be very expensive for therapy and medications without insurance.

Mental Health Assocication and National Institute of Mental Health do a lot of advocacy and assist with finding the help you need if you're having trouble, MHA especially I think, look up your local branch.

<3

I got diagnosed when I was 13. I went to my local mental health clinic. You have to go to a therapist. It took 3 visits to get them to tell me. An the meds depend on your body and how it reacts. When I'm on the right ones it takes about 2 weeks to be in full effect. I was on Medicaid and when I lost it the clinic went off income and my visits are only $2. But I have to pay full price for the meds.

1. Who or what kind of Dr. do I go to and hopefully get diagnosed and some help?
I went to a psychologist first and was diagnosed. Right now I'm seeing a psychiatrist and a counselor and the psychiatrist re-diagnosed me.

2. How long did it take to get diagnosed?
Both times I was diagnosed by the second visit.

3. How fast do the meds start helping?
My Abilify kicked in within a week but Zoloft took about a month.

Thank you ladies for all your help! I am going to call my locla mental health clinic. I'm kind of terrified to call them. What do I say to them?