I'm aware that BP2 in USA are treated with mood stabilizers. What I am saying is that someone who is on the lower end of BP2 in USA will NOT have a diagnosis of bipolar where I am, they will have one of depression. And it does sometimes lead to crazy things, like my friend who was seen as depressed and really bipolar undressed in public (on SSRIs only).... It's like you have to PROVE yourself to be bipolar here.

You also have to have more hypomania or mania to live up to BP in ICD compared to DSM. I am not BP2 in ICD but I am in DSM because my too short hypomanias. Get it?

Luckily I am near enough the cusp that I actually do not need stabilizers, I do well on just an antidepressant.

Also over here bipolar isn't seen as ground for psychosis. They simply don't believe that when your mind speeds up you can experience crazy things. They want that to be schizophrenia. Almost all psychotic episodes are seen as schizo here. Now I should say I am NOT in the same country as Axiom, but I believe we share a bit of diagnostic culture.

I don't know how it is where Axiom lives but over here you can get sick leave (long term) for BP but not for depression. The rule here is longer sick leave is only for diagnoses that are always life long. I do not know if they have the same crap over there but would explain a few things. At least he says he needs a proper DX for the sick leave. Docs here would fight that because they are told not to give people time off "too easily" and perhaps it is the case there too, which could influence what diagnoses they want to make. Make one, he gets sick leave, make another he does not. Then it is about politics not medicine. Schizophrenia would probably give him sick leave but then his further treatment would be based on a lie. Not so good....

I have also been tossed between doctors who have not agreed on diagnoses. It is incredibly frustrating, especially when you feel in your heart they finally found the right one and then someone wants to take it away.

Sigh.