Do you believe everything your therapist says about you? Most of it. He's pretty perceptive. But not everything. I have no problem challenging him if I think he's off base.

Do you agree with the type of treatment and medications your therapist wants for you? My therapist does not handle my medications; that is my pdoc's job. I am pretty satisfied with my medication management at the moment. Unfortunately, if history repeats itself, something will eventually stop working and I'll be in for another adjustment. That's not the pdoc's fault; it is just the way I tend to respond over time. As far as treatment goes, I have no problem with my T's approach to working with me.

Do you believe you have a mental illness or a chemical imbalance in your brain? I do believe I have a mental illness -- bipolar disorder. It is managed pretty well through medications, although it all has to be tweaked from time to time. They haven't isolated the specific causes of bipolar disorder. Probably a good portion of the issue is genetic, and from what I understand they are getting closer to isolating that issue. I suspect we'll know in time.

Do you think your therapist knows more than you about your diagnosis? He is pretty knowledgeable. He has some understandings that I don't get, but he doesn't understand how to "live" it. I guess between us we are pretty knowledgeable as a team.

Do you just let your therapist do their job by helping you and ignore thinking for yourselves? Heck no. I suppose there are people who do this? I'm not one of them though. Totally out of my character.