Quote:
Originally Posted by Bipolarchic14
@ fern46- I also found it interesting the comparison she made when they upped her meds as a way of communicating her degree of pain to the world. I sadly have been there with that form of thinking. I found commonality with how she ruminated about the symptoms and how every mood shift was something marked. I had a couple of therapists, one in a group setting and the other, one on one, in the past month mention even if you are misdiagnosed, you can psychologically develop the symptoms of that disorder. At times, I let my diagnoses define me and at times consume me, but I never questioned if it has manipulated me. Are my symptoms real? |
I found that interesting as well. It is such a struggle because we all need to be honest about what we feel, but sometimes we just need to work through it. Sometimes we need our doctors to realize more meds will just make a bad situation worse. I do not envy psychiatrists. It is really hard to know the right steps to take.
I think your therapists make an amazing point. I know exactly what you mean. I do not fit the typical presentation of bipolar disorder. At first, I molded my approach to living with it based on what I was told is the right approach for my disorder. Over time I realized I wasn't a match for a lot of the experience. Luckily my doctors recognize I am atypical and they wisely suggested that we treat real symptoms and not labels. I'm am trying not to fit into any mold anymore. I am trying to just allow things to evolve naturally without holding myself to the preconceived notions of bipolar disorder. I take what resonates and what I truly identify with and I leave the rest. I do not want to get into a self fulfilling prophecy if I can instead carve my own path. There's definitely something amiss with my brain and I accept that, but I am going to do all I can to be as healthy as I can and then see what happens.
ETA: I think it is unfortunate that there is such a stigma around questioning our diagnosis. Questioning a diagnosis of bipolar disorder is literally a symptom of bipolar disorder. What are we to do?