[confusednangry]

Hi
I am new here, and I think I'm bipolar. People have told me I am, my boyfriend says I am. I looked it up for days and I still am searching it. I've took numerous tests online (I know they are not I diagnose) and they've all said the same thing. I'm to the point to where i want to get help whether its bipolar or not. But I was just wondering how long it takes?

[ladyjrnlist]

A good pdoc can tell you in one initial visit.

[Merlin]

Not necessarily. I think I would give them three.

The books will tell you that the majority of people with bipolar disorder go around 10 years before being properly diagnosed. (Just thought I'd tell you what you'll find in the reading.)

Once you get in with a specialist who knows what they are looking for, the diagnosis could come quickly if your symptoms are very clear and follow a pretty predictable pattern. But if your symptoms are more subtle, follow less of a clear pattern, look a lot like something else (depression for instance), the possibility of being misdiagnosed or the diagnosis being delayed for awhile so the doctor can further observe you becomes higher.

I presented as depressed for many years. It wasn't until around 5 years ago that my pdoc felt comfortable calling what I was going through bipolar disorder. He had treated me for over 2 years at that point. He was very careful to observe me over time before he came to that point. But I still present as mostly depressed but go into mixed states several times a year. I present mostly like bipolar 2, except for the mixed states which require at this point that my diagnosis be bipolar 1. It can be complicated. We all present a bit differently so unless you present like a textbook case, it might take some time.

[hamster-bamster]

I was dx'd as Bipolar II in 2006 and only correctly dx'd as Bipolar I in 2009 after a sui attempt. It pays to get a correct diagnosis earlier, and without such dramatic circumstances. I think the critical thing is a good doctor and your openness. Best!

[BipolaRNurse]

Diagnosed at first pdoc visit with BP-NOS, which was a provisional dx, meaning he was going to re-evaluate me as treatment progressed. Now it's becoming more clear to both of us that NOS was a good working dx in the beginning---I've got all the hallmarks of BP II, but unfortunately also have mixed episodes, which may yet push me into the BP I category (although I certainly hope not!).

It does take time to get the correct diagnosis, and a lot of us are misdiagnosed with depression for years before we come to the attention of the mental-health system in one way or another. Whatever the designation.......bipolar sucks rocks, but it can be managed. All the best to you.

[ruby.vroom]

I was diagnosed as a teenager over the phone in under five minutes. Needless to say, I consider it a misdiagnosis, long ago discarded.

[ChristySpirals]

I was dx after 3 pdoc appts. I sort of knew too before I went in but I kept it to myself out of fear that I wouldn't get an unbiased dx. You won't know for sure until you get in to see a pdoc because like you said it could be something different...best bet is to get in there and put the question to rest. Best of luck.

[cocoabeans]

I was diagnosed after about an hour when I was 19 or 20. Rejected it and the ever so sweet offer to lock myself up in a psych ward haha! Got a depression diagnosis. Went crazy on antidepressants. Attempted suicide. Rejected medications. Then oh, 5 or 6 years later, saw a different doctor and just so happened to fail to talk much about bipolar possibilities, got a depression diagnosis. Went crazy on antidepressants. Psychotic really. Quit medications. Got a bipolar diagnosis some months later. Quit medications. Nearly commited suicide. Accepted that that is what I experience some 7 years after the first diagnosis, or at least I accept to take some of my medication, sometimes.

[camping7768]

[quote=confusednangry;2382048]Hi
I am new here, and I think I'm bipolar.

Please get yourself to a pdoc so that you can get diagnosed. It kills me to know there's so many out there suffering with BP. The tests you took online - do they all point to BP? I'll keep you in my prayers that you'll be able to get the help you need. I have an adult son with BP and am just now understanding (I think) what he goes through and how difficult life has been for him. Please come back and let us know how your doing and if you went for help or not. We care and will always be here for you!!!!

[lostmyway21]

My therapist knew after about a week, and spent the next six months trying to convince pdoc I was BP. Finally he changed my primary dx to BP after I went through a horrid mixed stated that only responded to BP meds.

[Trippin2.0]

I got dxd on my 1st visit. The pdoc was very thorough, we went thru my history quite extensively, and apparantly it was quite obvious guess what helped alot is my hightened sense of self-awareness, vivid memory and ability to articulate my experiences effectively. I was relieved when he 'named' it, I just thought I was on a 1 way flight to batshit crazy land...

[faerie_moon_x]

Well, if I count from age 11 when I first saw a child psychologist do to "unusual behavior," I would say it took me 22 years to get my diagnosis. I count that far back because, I was already exhibiting signs, but especially in my teens I think I was cycling depression and mania, now that I look back at it. I knew I was depressed by then. I just didn't know what mania was.

But I think back then they didn't consider that kids might have bipolar.

[Red_Cyclops]

I was originally diagnosed as major depression in 2003 and put on antidepressants by a primary care doc. I only really noticed the lows my entire life, not the highs, and finally decided to see someone about it. I then spent 4 years with continued mood swings between depression and hypomania. Finally in 2007 I sought help from a pdoc and was diagnosed within an hour as BP II.

As Trippin says, it is important to be self-aware and to articulate your feelings so the doc can help you. For me, he said it was very obvious with what I told him and how I responded to questionnaires - I never even considered the highs as an issue until we talked about them. Turns out the AD's were making me manic and mixed. See a good pdoc and get a proper diagnosis and always be honest. Best of luck!