Quote:
Originally Posted by Shayatanica
Well, it's good to hear you're off the drugs & alcohol! Those kind of exacerbate the initial problem.  And it's also good that she's still planning on keeping therapy with you after the dx. Most people won't bother or they'll act all ****ing victimised for no reason! So... I'd definitely stick with her. She sounds decent.
As for getting a dx? Hasn't been formally recorded, thankfully. But it was strange vs. surprising to be even informally categorized as such. Made sense the more I analysed it though. I've been dx'd as conduct disorder when I was a child & had some disconcerting behaviour but it never really occured to me that it was an issue. Everyone just finds me "quirky" & pragmatic/blunt/abrasive, so no one's ever brought anything to my attention.
It has not a great deal of impact on my existence unless I'm in a manic spell, where it goes haywire & starts to cause significant difficulties/impairment. Usually I am able to run on an autopilot-like setting where I am able to keep myself pacified & out of trouble. So it wasn't really until my Bipolar surfaced that it made any difference in my life whatsoever... Never really considered it beforehand. I was just operating under the impression that I was a very reasonable individual. It's still silly to me that not acting like everyone else is means for a diagnosis, but whatever. Hahah!
</end coffee-induced rambling> |
Many thanks for the response, Shayatanica! It's interesting to note that we both have the manic issues. My manic spells tend to manifest in more aggression/irritability, so it's also more problematic for me to my daily life than the depressive phase (though I absolutely hate the depressive phase because I don't FEEL like doing ANYTHING and have serious problems making decisions - something I'm usually very good about).
Things definitely became more clear for me after I became sober. I did a whole bunch of things I'm actually somewhat embarrassed by while under the influence. Somewhat unfortunately, I no longer had an excuse for my behavior. So... enter the personality "disorder" diagnosis. I never received any therapy or diagnosis as a child, but in hindsight, I definitely wasn't a "normal" child. Add to that, my folks always treated me as if I was perfect & justified in all that I did. Not that I blame them (I feel I was justified, too).
P.S. - I also LOVE the coffee... Manic, depressive, or otherwise... I just can't get enough caffeine.