DH made me go to the GP because my ED was getting bad. My GP dx me with depression. After a med change I got serverly suicidal and stopped all medication. A couple months later I had to change GP and he asked If I was still taking my depression meds. I told him I didn't need them, as I was bouncing in my chair. He dx. me bipolar 2 and sent me to a pdoc. Pdoc dx. me w/ mood disorder NOS & ED NOS. We moved new Pdoc. current Dx. Bipolar 1 w/ manic psychoses and ED NOS. It was rather uneventful. I was younger then 8 when I got on this roller coaster.

As for medicating children. My son had his first true suicide attempt at age 7. We had try cognitive therapy, karate, and home schooling for less stress. He continued picking at his skin. When we moved the GP talked directly to him. Then referred us to an ADHD specialist. Though he was already 'unofficially' dx as Aspergers, no reason to officially dx him due to home schooling. ADHD meds don't help and with bp running rampant in both sides we are going to get him re-evaluated. He has always and will always be a large part of his medical team, as long as he is safe and open. When Dx, with ADHD he tried medications for a long period but felt that they did not work well. We agreed that it wasn't working.

DH was always depressed and never could really keep life demands afloat. He was told he had MDD and was on medication. He had retained a job and worked well until a shift change. It sent him into hypo mania. He needed a Dr. excuses to go back to work but was Dx. Bipolar 2 and put on a yr. leave. His work gave him 6 months but by the time he received a letter saying return in 2 weeks or it's viewed a voluntary termination. We received that letter a week late.

Bipolar or not it's about what helps not labels.