I have often been classified as a Bipolar II, but what bothers me is that those who areproposnents of this have a way of trivializing the mixed episods when they come up and ditto with the psychotic features (hallucinations, mainly, paranoia in some cases). Now, if the classification is there to help understand me, and my problems and to treat me appropriately, why should this be happening? I often get the response that I function too well on too few meds .
My point is that I all toó often fear that diagnosis and prejudice (ei tried and true exprerience) blend as freely in practice and in the application of the guidlines as do the boundaries between I and II in the wonderfull world of Beepers. I happen to have a lot of support, training, and just raw luck in dealing with my disorder. Untreated, I am a natural disaster of biblical proportions like any other untreated chronically mentally ill person with violent mood swings. Pardon my humor. All too often professionals think they have seen it all and can call it from a five minute conversation and a quick check in the DSM. Oh, man, have we all hmade that mistake... huggs all.