Deep down, do you believe your diagnosis?

I believe it. Every time I feel better I have doubts but then I look at the list of symptoms and I remember or I read my journals and remember. Yes, I have bipolar, no it is not just a way I think. It is a physical/chemical problem which is helped by meds, not cured by meds. Without my meds I would either be a lump in the middle of the bed or homeless because I spent all my money.

My T is quite convinced I am bipolar 2......I haven't gotten the diagnosis or meds from a pdoc, so I can't say that I'm officially diagnosed, I guess! I went through a period in my life about 10 years ago where I was convinced I was completely nuts.....then convinced myself it was really nothing more than depression. However, my dad and brother have both been diagnosed bipolar, my dad BP1.....and since my T has been bringing it up, I've been re-examining my life and my patterns, and yeah, it fits......not to mention that both anti-d's I've been put on brought out manic reactions, nasty anger. I thought I couldn't be bipolar because I've never been so manic I've spent too much money or done really wild partying, etc....thought I was mostly depressed anyway and I've certainly been severely depressed, no doubt. But.....I'm seeing that bipolar fits me, explains me and the emotional roller-coaster I've lived my life on.....on one hand I accept it, but then I still fight the thought of being labeled, too, and the hassle of dealing with meds.

For me, depression is not about how I think. It is more like a dark sack thrown over mye head, putting a brake on thoughts. mood and energy. Then, after 3-5 weeks it suddenly lifts.
Looks very physiolgic, a dysregulation, to me. And I have it.

If I was not, then why do the meds help? I went looking for a diagnosis... not an excuse but a reason for why I loose control of myself. Now when I am symptom free, I entertain the idea of being cured and then am zapped back to reality.

My brother went from bieng totaly against these medications... untill he saw the real difference that they can make. My disorder went from a thing he thought was a farse to as real as it gets. He now is a proponent of mental health treatment, and regrets ever beliving that our condition does indeed exist.

For me bieng labled is nothing new. I was diagnosed with dyslexia at 5 years old, so I have grown used to being separated out. I believe I am bipolar becasue the diagnosis fits the patterns in my life. My docs all are convinced... and my family agrees (after having the facts presented).

I went looking for a diagnosis too when my depression got worse. My first pdoc said I was suffering from depression but wanted me to try to overcome it without meds. A combination of a stressful job/work environment, my father's escalating alcoholism and being dumped sent me over the edge into a manic episode that lasted a few months. That's when I got another pdoc who diagnosed me with psychotic depression. He put me on an anti-depressant and an anti-psychotic and I recovered from the mania but went into depression instead. At this point I was more lucid and had a niggling feeling that I had something more than depression. So despite objections from my current pdoc and got a second opinion. I was diagnosed as bipolar 1 after just one consultation. I'm currently switching pdocs and soon to go off the current medications and get on Depakote. My new pdoc is much more thorough and supportive. It's only been two months since I've been diagnosed so I haven't really absorbed it yet, lot of self-blame and shame still. But that's because I know that this time the diagnosis is right, I've had manic episodes since my late teens but neither I nor anyone else knew what it was. My friends have always known me as occasionally "hyper", in fact I'd never even considered bipolar disorder until I took a self test online.

What I'm trying to say is, you need to listen to yourself. The brain is an organ like any other in our body and human beings just know when something is off. So if you feel that your diagnosis is incorrect, get a second opinion. Don't withhold information from your pdoc and things will work out fine. Good luck!

I have had many diagnoses over the years. I found them interesting, some more than others. What I believe is at times I have been very unwell. I needed help. Getting help was the important thing. I will leave the labels to those who have use for them.

I definately believe my dx. and thank God someone knew what was wrong with me and finally treated me!!!! My life became so different after good meds!!!
Hugs to ALL.................

I've finally come to terms with my dx. I spent 2 years believing I was fine and so I spent 2 years going off my meds constantly. I would become delirious and paranoid. Now that I've come to terms with it, I want to start therapy and I want to start taking my meds like I'm supposed to.