[Ascension]

Let me start off by saying I am not trying to discredit anyone's diagnosis (I am not a professional just someone who has spent years trying to understand the human mind and to better educate myself on how to be better balanced) but challenging those of us with mental health concerns to be honest in our process and keep our care providers and ourselves honest and engaged.

When did the diagnosis of bi-polar become the psychiatric communities broad label of "I don't know what you suffer from so it must be bi-polar."? It is not fair to all those people who get the bi-polar diagnosis after 2 visits or a patients initial explanation of what they suffer from. It took me YEARS of hospitalizations, off and on therapy and medication process to come to this diagnosis and so many people get told they suffer from this daunting illness so quickly anymore. How are people to address their concerns if they don't know what their real issues are. Bi-polar disorder gets labeled as hopeless by many and the poor persons who suffer from it and even worse, the people who are told that they do and really just suffer from improperly managed anxiety, post traumatic stress disorder or clinical depression etc, feel overwhelmed and hopeless. Many people who are told they suffer from bi-polar disorder don't know what it really is. Yes dramatic mood swings are a part of bi-polar disorder but everyone struggles with mood swings, memory impairment, stress induced rapid thoughts, depression and a feeling of a lack of need or ability to sleep. Depression can cause most of the above as a result of the psyche trying to wage a subconscious battle of the self trying to stay balanced and depression making it hard to do so, so it results in over compensation. That over compensation can look like this. "I am happy la la la la", but then you start to think about (consciously or even subconsciously) all the weight that life carries so you start to get sad/frustrated, which causes us to get irritable so we get short and angry with people and our work and obligations so we feel guilty which makes us feel depressed. Then you get caught up in a a cycle of under and over compensation and no wonder you can't sleep at night. But is this bi-polar disorder? Not necessarily. Read what it truly is to be b-polar. I KNOW I am. The events in my life leave little doubt in my mind not just from my behavior but to the very close examination and culmination of multiple doctors study and probing and more importantly for me medication response that brought me to a place of confidence in it.

What am I getting at here? Don't let a doctor diagnose you with any illness without extensive treatment and examination. You wouldn't let a doctor give you chemotherapy for a cold after a short and inconclusive physical. Don't let a mental health care provider diagnose you bi-polar or anything else for that matter unless you and your treatment team have done your research. Be educated because that is the one true way to balance and happiness. We can't get better unless we know the truths about ourselves and the doctors can't fix us without the truth. Good luck in finding your balance.

[Moreta]

It took 3 years for me to be diagnosed with Bipolar II, OCD, & ADHD. Those 3 years were complete hell, after the doctors tried anit-depressant after anti-depressant. Apparently, the doctor didn't understand that when you're bipolar anti-depressants tend to make you manic....weeeeee....after a year of mania, I finally crashed and decided I should go to an actual psychiatrist (since I was over 18 finally). The worst part is that bipolar comes from BOTH sides of my family, but nobody wants to accept mental illness for what it really is.

I finally found a therapist that I really like, and with working with them, I've come a long way.

I started having problems in my early 20's. I was 42 when I was finally diagnosed. It was a long time coming.

[perpetuallysad]

I have a hard time not getting a little upset by your post. I'm sure you don't mean it, but it sounds really insulting. I've noticed you made some comments similar to this in someone else's post about not liking being bipolar. You come off sounding like YOU are the only one who experiences genuine bipolar symptoms and most everyone else is just using it to sound cooler? or something. You come off to me as very arrogant and insulting. I don't understand how you can judge anyone without really knowing them.

[Ascension]

I am sorry you were offended by my post(s) perpetuallysad. I know I am not the only one with bi-polar. I am not judging anyone. I am a little concerned that you read that much into my post(s). I don't know how to respond to your post at this point. I could read alot into your interpretation of your post but I try not to do that. I won't tell you how or what you feel because I don't know you. I do know that I have never gone into any post with me in mind. I come to this site because trying to offer support to others is the only way for me to distract from my concerns long enough to work with them I struggle with being emotionally disadvantaged like most others here and I didn't get the treatment I should have because sweeping assessments by my peers and teachers/doctors in school it took years to get to the right diagnosis. I don't wish that for anyone. So I challenge people to be as honest with the process as others. i am not judging the patients but the system. If you took it as a personal assault on some level I apologize but it's the system failing the client because they are over worked and mental health is hard to get a hold of, but just because it is hard doesn't mean that people should diagnose any illness on a whim.

And what other posts have I made that were anything near this tone? I don't remember ever challenging anyone else in the past about this topic anywhere else.

[Ascension]

And I am sorry people think being bi-polar is bad. It's a part of who I am and I accept myself and wish other people weren't so scared of the diagnosis. I am a musician, a writer and artist in general. Many successful artists were/are bi-polar. Being bi-polar no longer sucks to me, life no longer sucks to me and I should be entitled to say that. My signature says it all as far as I feel about bi-polar disorder. It's my home. It's where I live and I find peace here.

[BNLsMOM]

I am one of those people who was diagnosed quickly upon my very first appointment. With that said, it doesn't mean I suffered any less than anyone else with this diagnosis.

As far as I can see I have had bipolar behavior since at least adolescense if not childhood. I have gone my entire adult life either up high in the clouds over the next great idea, or down in the gutter when my brain chemistry gives out and goes the other way. I have left more than 50 jobs, been divorced, was a single mother, moved more times than I can count, never had a lasting adult friendship aside from one friend who I have known since middle school, gotten remarried and almost divorced again...the list goes on.

My first p-nurse frightened me with such a quick diagnosis, and frankly, I didn't believe her, so I tossed the meds she gave me in a drawer and went on with my destruction. I went to a new therapist who I shared this info with and he said that it would be worth exploring, so I got a p-doc. He wasn't adequate. I went to the hospital inpatient twice and a partial program in between. Now I have a new p-doc. The point I am trying to make is that just because my first p-nurse got it right doesn't mean she diagnosed me with the latest psych fad. As of now, I have, between the first p-nurse and everyone else I have seen this year, 8 opinions that all agree that I have bipolar.

Now, I am still trying to find the right treatment for myself, and we are still trying to find out if there are other conditions along with bipolar, but between my life history, and my family history, there is no question that I have bipolar at the very least.

I understand that you may be frustrated with how slowly the diagnosis came for you. Everyone presents differently. Also if you went seeking help long ago, there were strict criteria in which you had to fit in order to be diagnosed. Now, psych professionals are beginning to discover that there is a bipolar spectrum and not everyone fits the classic bipolar patterns and criteria. This may account for some of the quick diagnoses out there lately. Of course all this info could change again and some of the people diagnosed on the spectrum may have their diagnoses yanked out from under them and sent back to square one in finding out what is wrong.

I am sorry your journey has been so difficult, but please, don't assume that everyone hasn't suffered as greatly as you have. If they haven't suffered greatly before their diagnoses, we should be happy that modern psychiatry is catching up to what the human mind is capable of.

We should all hope that fewer people will suffer in the future.

*steps off soap box*

ETA: I just read your response to PS's post. It makes sense and clarifies your first post on this thread. Thank you for being clear. I hope I didn't come across as judgemental toward you. I didn't mean to be. I just had a knee-jerk reaction to the tone you put across in your first post. Still, I feel my points are important.

[Ascension]

I guess my meaning came off wrong... I guess no matter how clear I tried to make either my being manic from current events in my life or others perceptions of what I was saying is getting crossed. I should have never assumed that the point that my post was about the system and that we ultimately have to be accountable for our own care would be seen through all my mania.... Sorry I challenged in the way I did. I should just remove the post because it wasn't about me calling the patients out but the institution and I guess I am not as good at communicating as my delusional and grandiosity thought I was. I guess I am going to take a break from the forums because I am in no place to be of use to anyone at this point. My apologies to anyone who felt I was attacking them or their diagnosis. It's about the process not the clients... bye for now.

[BNLsMOM]

Originally Posted by Ascension

I guess my meaning came off wrong... I guess no matter how clear I tried to make either my being manic from current events in my life or others perceptions of what I was saying is getting crossed. I should have never assumed that the point that my post was about the system and that we ultimately have to be accountable for our own care would be seen through all my mania.... Sorry I challenged in the way I did. I should just remove the post because it wasn't about me calling the patients out but the institution and I guess I am not as good at communicating as my delusional and grandiosity thought I was. I guess I am going to take a break from the forums because I am in no place to be of use to anyone at this point. My apologies to anyone who felt I was attacking them or their diagnosis. It's about the process not the clients... bye for now.

Hey, no worries. We all have manic writings at times that come off wrong. You've clarified and we get it, but you did open a pretty cool discussion point.

Don't feel like you have to leave the boards. We all have our manic stuff. If anyone understands, we do. On the other end of the spectrum, we all feel sensitive and personally attacked from time to time. Again, if anyone understands it is us.

I hope you stay around.

[Ascension]

I'm in no danger, and I am not taking a break because I have been wounded but because I don't want to risk being a trigger for someone else. I honestly do have others well being in mind but sometimes I get carried away. I would rather take a break and wait for me to settle down because I know what it is like to be in a fragile place and I don't want to do or say something to push someone somewhere they shouldn't be. I am sorry perpetuallysad, I truly am. My mania sometimes pushes me towards not remembering the other sides of what I am saying.

[rcsweep]

i think BNLsMOM is right it is a cool thread.
And i agree, diagnostics are not what they should be. my bipolar literally can twist my body out of shape, i get so tense my muscles don't relax and pull joints out of place. my neck was so tense for so long my cervical spine was straight. point is i went to at least 9 docs none of which spent any time and made quick diagnoses. they wrote script and sent me on my way. well long story shorter i went to pdoc and told the whole truth about not just the physical but what was going on in my head. i went in knowing it was probably bipolar and he somewhat agreed, so we went with it as a working diagnoses. after a couple years now and a severe manic episode and some nasty depression lots of drugs i now am mostly stable and sure of the diagnoses.
it just took the right doc and a little truth from me.

[Rebound]

I'm going to speak up here and say I understand exactly what you intended, Ascension, and I found nothing offensive about it. In each of the first 2 times I received a diagnosis, depression and then bipolar II, the doctor immediately ceased to probe further even though it is common for people to suffer from more than one condition. The third, from someone I began seeing recently, very quickly came to ADHD.

I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings, but I think the idea at the heart of the post was a good one: it is a good idea to educate yourself about mental heath issues. I saw nothing in the post suggesting you were in any way comparing your diagnosis with that of anyone who might read this post. Quite the opposite. I think it encourages readers to better understand their illness.

I think it was a good OP.

[BNLsMOM]

I'll admit, I did miss the point the first time around... I've got it now.

[Liberada]

Originally Posted by Rebound

I'm going to speak up here and say I understand exactly what you intended, Ascension, and I found nothing offensive about it. In each of the first 2 times I received a diagnosis, depression and then bipolar II, the doctor immediately ceased to probe further even though it is common for people to suffer from more than one condition. The third, from someone I began seeing recently, very quickly came to ADHD.

I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings, but I think the idea at the heart of the post was a good one: it is a good idea to educate yourself about mental heath issues. I saw nothing in the post suggesting you were in any way comparing your diagnosis with that of anyone who might read this post. Quite the opposite. I think it encourages readers to better understand their illness.

I think it was a good OP.

I completely agree

[daisychic]

When I first read your post I thought to myself this is exactly what Ive been dealing with most recently. I know bipolar doesnt come in this neat little package and not all people with bp look the same. At my sons school recently I was told "We have lots of other bipolar kids here at this school, we know just how to handle them" Hmmmmm. At first I thought great all will be good at this school. Not so. After having several meetings with the teachers that teach there and hearing how the other kids act in class from my son, I came to the conclusion these teachers have not really seen bipolar and these kids cant be all bipolar. But to have so many diagnosed with bp. It made me just think of how these diagnosis were just being put on these kids and have the parents not been educated on what is really the problem.

I know some people are lucky in that they learn earlier than others whats going on with them and are able to start working on treatment options. But I also think more recently the diagnosis of bipolar is being just giving too quickly to those who might actually have other issues.

[Goldylocks]

I just wanted to say, I liked your posts and I was not offended in any way. You make some good points. Bi-polar is still a wonderful life. Like you, it is part of who I am and I like myself.

[lynn P.]

Ascension - that was a darn good post and I agree with you that people shouldn't be too quick to accept labels, until a comprehensive evaluation has been done. I've also noticed lately there's been alot of people(young people) thinking they're bipolar. Remember years ago when a kid in school misbehaves and teachers were quick to label them ADD. I think a similar thing is happening with 'bipolar disorder'. I answer questions in the Q&A section and there are so many questions asking "I'm moody I think I'm bipolar'. There's a whole list of criteria that goes along with a bipolat diagnosis not just moodiness. My brother was manic depressive - so his moods would go in cycles of extreme lows for a few weeks, then extreme highs. It wasn't like the daily high and low moods average people go through. Yes all patients should be active participants in their diagnosis and treatment. Also the opposite happens sometimes where a person is bipolar, but goes years without being diagnosed properly.

[Vampi]

I do understand what you're saying. Medical establishments are using the term 'bipolar disorder' far too loosely and too easily these days instead of doing more indepth counselling with the patient.

[Ascension]

I am glad many of you understand my post. I still feel bad for those I may have offended. I think growth comes from challenging ourselves and sometimes that is good and sometimes it is bad. I really should have been a little more diplomatic, but I felt the topic was one that needed to be addressed to promote people taking charge of their process instead of letting others tell us what we have and how to go about fixing ourselves. I think I need help at times but that it is my place to decide my owns truths and do my own work with the help of responsible assistance from responsible people.

[lonegael]

I think it is also a problem that the diagnostic labels, while helping to organize treatment and patient education about self care, etc, leads many, including profesions to assume that they thus know more about the disorder than they do. ALL psychiatric illnesses vary greatly based on the underlying personality of the sufferer, and ALL diagnostic criteria are descriptions of symptoms, not the roots causes. Although studies indicate that autism, for example, might actually be caused by very different mechanisms in different children, we still diagnose mainly on symptoms, not brain scans, inflammatory bodies in the spinal fluid, possible seizure activity, or even genetics. Does the kid rock and not talk, or echo and self stim? Autism! Oh, yeah, and he might just be hearing impaired so you might want to check that on the way to psychiatrist (as was the case with my oldest).
Labels fool us into thinking we actually know more about the problem than we really do. Huggs all , good post, hoping you're OK PS.

[birdcrazy]

I was told I was bipolar first time I saw someone... then it became Major Depression with psychosis, then Psychosis NOS then Schizoaffective Bipolar type, then they added OCD to that...

Anyway, I am not typical bipolar in any sense, my mood swings are so rapid that it's literally crazy. LOL

Whatever is wrong with me, it involves extremely rapidly changing moods and psychosis. I hate OCD however! I'm gonna challenge that.

[lonegael]

Go gett'm Birdcrazy! Nothing's carved in stone.