[DelusionsDaily]

Hi all, Bipolar disorder is still a pretty new dx and I'm struggling right now with hypomania. I see my therapist Tuesday...but her and my psychiatrist are on different pages. Pdoc says I am bipolar and therapist honestly doesn't believe it...I don't get it. Anyway, that disagreement makes it hard to go in and be honest with my therapist. I feel like if I go in and tell her the symptoms she will dismiss them as she has before. Honestly, I've thought about stopping seeing her, or I might cancel my appt with her this week on tuesday. I don't know what to do I'm taking med's as doc told me when I get like this but not doing much. Is there anything I can do?...trying to relax but nothing seems to be working.

[blueoctober]

Originally Posted by MELISSSAD81

Hi all, Bipolar disorder is still a pretty new dx and I'm struggling right now with hypomania. I see my therapist Tuesday...but her and my psychiatrist are on different pages. Pdoc says I am bipolar and therapist honestly doesn't believe it...I don't get it. Anyway, that disagreement makes it hard to go in and be honest with my therapist. I feel like if I go in and tell her the symptoms she will dismiss them as she has before. Honestly, I've thought about stopping seeing her, or I might cancel my appt with her this week on tuesday. I don't know what to do I'm taking med's as doc told me when I get like this but not doing much. Is there anything I can do?...trying to relax but nothing seems to be working.

I was diagnosed by my Psychiatrist. I see my therapist to help with coping skills, talking about issues that come up etc. I think it's okay to question the diagnosis, but if you feel that it fits for you and you feel that the symptoms you bring up to your therapist are "dismissed" it may be wise to see another therapist. Perhaps you could find a therapist that specializes with mood disorders? You could even ask your P-doc for a referral.

As far as helping with the hypomania, avoiding caffeine helps me, exercising helps, I usually can't do yoga when I'm hypomanic because I want to yell HURRY UP in the class and that's frowned on LOL! Try to think of something that normally calms you. Being around my horse does that for me. Meds are about 60% of managing the illness for me the other 40% is therapy, eating well, exercising,etc.

[mommasuesue]

I was also dx by my pdoc and I had a therapist that said the same thing ! Needless to say the doctor was correct in his diagnosis, The doctors know whats going on. The therapist isnt really trained for bipolar disorders . I agree with blueoctober get a referral or switch therapists because they are there to listen to us not diagnose us !

[mommasuesue]

Originally Posted by blueoctober

I was diagnosed by my Psychiatrist. I see my therapist to help with coping skills, talking about issues that come up etc. I think it's okay to question the diagnosis, but if you feel that it fits for you and you feel that the symptoms you bring up to your therapist are "dismissed" it may be wise to see another therapist. Perhaps you could find a therapist that specializes with mood disorders? You could even ask your P-doc for a referral.

As far as helping with the hypomania, avoiding caffeine helps me, exercising helps, I usually can't do yoga when I'm hypomanic because I want to yell HURRY UP in the class and that's frowned on LOL! Try to think of something that normally calms you. Being around my horse does that for me. Meds are about 60% of managing the illness for me the other 40% is therapy, eating well, exercising,etc.

I just had to let you know you made me laugh about telling everyone to hurry up in yoga class !!! very funny I feel ya

My pdoc and therapist don't see completely eye to eye on my bipolar diagnosis either, but it hasn't been a problem and I don't feel dismissed by my therapist at all.

[DelusionsDaily]

Originally Posted by farmergirl

My pdoc and therapist don't see completely eye to eye on my bipolar diagnosis either, but it hasn't been a problem and I don't feel dismissed by my therapist at all.

Thanks. It's generally not a conflict if I just say that I am ok when she asks how I've been. It's just difficult to believe I'm getting anything valuable out of therapy when I can't be totally honest with her without feeling completely dismissed. Although I love that she is getting me through an issue that has been long standing but after that I might switch therapists. My only conflict with her is that I don't feel I can be completely honest with her about how I've been feeling during the time between appointments. I want her help with this bipolar stuff but that's not going to happen it she so dismissive of my episodes and the dx. Oh well, I guess I just need to let it go and move on with what we are doing.

[sugahorse1]

For me personally, I wanted a pdoc and T that see eye to eye. One may pick up on something that they need to discuss with the other.
You need to be comfortable with your T, else I really feel you'd be wasting your time, as you just cannot be open and honest.

Regarding the hypomania - it can also drive me insane. The short burst of energy are great, but the irritability and racing thoughts are a nightmare.
Speak to your pdoc about it, as he may feel a med tweak is in order.

I hope things start looking up for you soon!

[DelusionsDaily]

Originally Posted by sugahorse

For me personally, I wanted a pdoc and T that see eye to eye. One may pick up on something that they need to discuss with the other.
You need to be comfortable with your T, else I really feel you'd be wasting your time, as you just cannot be open and honest.

Regarding the hypomania - it can also drive me insane. The short burst of energy are great, but the irritability and racing thoughts are a nightmare.
Speak to your pdoc about it, as he may feel a med tweak is in order.

I hope things start looking up for you soon!

That's what I was hoping for that the pdoc and therapist would see eye to eye. I would switch therapist but we are in the middle of working through a particular issue and I really need to do this. So when we are done I will revisit the issue of not seeing eye to eye on dx and if it hasn't changed then I will switch. Saw pdoc last week and she did tweak meds for manic/hypomanic symptoms if I start to have an episode.

[sugahorse1]

Hang in there Mel
When you see your T, remember they work for you! Be honest with your T in order to get the most out of it.

[DelusionsDaily]

Originally Posted by sugahorse

Hang in there Mel
When you see your T, remember they work for you! Be honest with your T in order to get the most out of it.

Well, good news. Today T asked about appt with Pdoc last week and asked how I have been feeling depressed, stable, manic. Maybe she is starting to see that Pdoc may be right. I'm really happy with how appt went today. Yay!!!!

[sugahorse1]

Yay - glad things are looking better!

[BlackPup]

Therapists are hard to get a good fit, they need to be able to understand what you mean when you say stuff, you need to feel comfortable telling the truth to them even about tough stuff... hope it gets better.