Quote:
Originally Posted by Prism Bunny
I am unsure why they would say you cannot be diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder while in your teens. Bipolar Disorder usually develops from ages of fifteen to thirty years old, though it can even develop in young children. Maybe they cannot diagnose it for insurance reasons? I am unsure about how the UK treats mental illness for teens and young adults.
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I agree, but some doctors are hesitant about diagnosing a young adult with bipolar disorder because they know that young adults can be hormonal. (Basically, they're not competent enough to differentiate between hormones and mental illness.) It happens here in the US too. The only way to circumvent this problem is to find a really good psychiatrist who has experience in treating adolescents. Most psychiatrists can't tell between hormones and mental illness in adolescents.
I would recommend Guess7131 to seek out another psychiatrist for a second opinion -- specifically one who specializes in young adult psychiatry.
My friend in high school was diagnosed as bipolar when he was 13. He was closely monitored by a therapist and a psychiatrist, and it was found that his mood swings were not purely hormonal.