When I was in a physical rehab recently, a psychologist interviewed me. When I told her I was bipolar 2, she immediately asked me about what psychoses had been diagnosed. I was blank, didn't know what she was talking about.

When I saw my psychiatrist next I asked him, and he said she was referring to my delusions and dissociating. He had never spoken of them in terms of psychoses because he doesn't consider most bipolar2s as being strictly psychotic because most were like mine--a way of dealing with the reality I was in, something that I felt threatened me and I either remove myself to somewhere else by dissociating or changing threats (e.g., shadows moving around me, a sense of someone being in the next room) into something friendly (shadows are animals who've passed on but linger to support me., people in other rooms also passed on but always within reach if I need their wisdom and strength. I have in fact rid myself of the negatives in my immediate space.

Now, if we were eyeball to eyeball and you asked me did I truly believe my dog was laying on my feet last night or were my grandfathers in the next room, sending me support and helping me explore my options--in that case, I would say no, I don't think these beliefs are reality. I know I'm manipulating what my senses experience into something my brain can use or at least not worry about.

Thank you for your question, coldwut. It's something I've wondered about but never put into words before. I hope a lot of people respond to this so we call all learn more about it. Take care of you.

roads