[blackwhitered]

Sorry for the rant, but I'm very angry now that I've come to believe that my mom got me misdiagnosed with bipolar 1. I came to this conclusion from reading this article: Is It Bipolar Disorder or ADHD? Symptoms and Treatment of Bipolar Disorder | ADDitude - Attention Deficit Information & Resources

When I was little, I was diagnosed with ADHD. My mom didn't like that diagnosis and tried to talk me, my dad, and doctors out of it a lot, until it got to the point that I didn't believe it either. However, I still had the reaction to ADHD meds that you would expect from a kid with ADHD (feeling like a zombie, reduced hyperactivity). They did NOT make me high like I should have been if I didn't have ADHD.

Recently (past year) at age 17 I was hospitalized for psychosis that had been going on for a few years. Because I was a minor, they involved my mom in my diagnosis.

When they first asked me if I had periods where I was more energetic, sociable, happy, etc. I told them no. I had no idea what they were talking about. I only felt more energetic in RESPONSE to things, like going to a party, doing something I liked, etc. I stayed up late some nights, but every teenager does that.

But my mom basically told the doctors that I had mania (not true at all... hypomania would have been more accurate, but I doubt it was even that). She told them I would "pace" and used that as evidence that I was manic. But I pace ALL THE TIME. When I'm on the phone, I pace. When I'm waiting for someone, I pace. Isn't that a symptom of ADHD? She claimed I would go to bed at 4 in the morning and not feel tired, which was again NOT TRUE. Some nights I went to bed after midnight and had to get up early, but I would sleep in class to compensate. It's not like I had endless energy.

At first I tried to tell the doctors that she was exaggerating, but they didn't listen to me. But because my mom kept telling me that I had bipolar, over and over, I started to believe her. I know I have been depressed before, but I am seriously doubting I've ever been even hypomanic.

My mom told me that I was manic as a child. If that were true, I would have had to be manic MY ENTIRE CHILDHOOD. That seems like a LONG time for a manic or hypomanic episode.

Only one doctor ever believed what I said and diagnosed me as schizoaffective (depressed type). At the time this happened, there was another girl in the hospital who ACTUALLY had bipolar and we talked. I knew my experience was very different from hers.

[wildflowerchild25]

I don't know how old you are, but honestly, you have a right to question your diagnosis. If you're old enough now, you can find a new pdoc and exclude your mother from the sessions. As an adult you have to sign a release (at least in the US) before they are allowed to talk to anyone about your case. If you refuse to sign one for your mom they can't talk to her and she can't throw her two cents in. As an adult I have been asked if I wanted to include my mother but I have declined. I have also declined to include my husband at times. No one can force you to do that. That way you can give your history as YOU see it and let the doc decide what it all means.

Honestly what I've found is that as a teenager you're assumed to be a liar who doesn't know how they feel. I clearly remember my many hospitalizations and the fact that they always believed my mom over me. Once thy said they wanted me to go to residential because I wouldn't follow my mom's rules if I went home....hilarious because she HAD no rules, literally, but had pretended she did and I broke them To make herself look better

Btw you can tell your mom that mania is RARELY diagnosed in children. Bipolar generally doesn't come on till teens or later. I highly doubt you were "manic" as a child.

Seriously, question question question. It's the only way you can be sure of anything.

[Beepee]

I think my pdoc diagnosed me as bp1, but I don't get totally out of control, just energetic and happy. I will ask next next appt. I think bp2 is more accurate.

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[blackwhitered]

Originally Posted by wildflowerchild25

I don't know how old you are, but honestly, you have a right to question your diagnosis. If you're old enough now, you can find a new pdoc and exclude your mother from the sessions. As an adult you have to sign a release (at least in the US) before they are allowed to talk to anyone about your case. If you refuse to sign one for your mom they can't talk to her and she can't throw her two cents in. As an adult I have been asked if I wanted to include my mother but I have declined. I have also declined to include my husband at times. No one can force you to do that. That way you can give your history as YOU see it and let the doc decide what it all means.

Honestly what I've found is that as a teenager you're assumed to be a liar who doesn't know how they feel. I clearly remember my many hospitalizations and the fact that they always believed my mom over me. Once thy said they wanted me to go to residential because I wouldn't follow my mom's rules if I went home....hilarious because she HAD no rules, literally, but had pretended she did and I broke them To make herself look better

Btw you can tell your mom that mania is RARELY diagnosed in children. Bipolar generally doesn't come on till teens or later. I highly doubt you were "manic" as a child.

Seriously, question question question. It's the only way you can be sure of anything.

I just turned 18 this week and I have already told her that I don't want her involved in my treatment anymore.

Like, my "current" docs (I'm getting new ones in a few days because I refused to talk to the old ones) came to the conclusion that my first hospitalization for psychosis was the result of mania... When at the time of the hospitalization, the inpatient doctors thought I was depressed. ??? In truth, I was neither, but they saw it as depression because I had negative symptoms of schizophrenia...

Seriously pissed that they chose to listen to my mom's bs over my own words...

[Victoria'smom]

I have a son who has pdd, mood disorder and ADHD. The pacing comes with the ADHD. He doesn't get the normal hyper he has just the distracted kind. At 11 years old he still needs step by step instructions for getting dressed. His major sleep issue along with his picking and socialization issues come from pdd. His depression, lack of sleep, and emotional issues come from his mood disorder. We seriously went through all the ADHD meds before switching to dealing with his mood disorder. After his mood disorder was under control we dealt with his pdd after that his ADHD. I guess what I'm trying to say is that you can have both and there are over lapping symptoms. So it's very hard to untangle.

What I would suggest is as soon as you can get into a partial hospitalization program and move out of your parents house treat it like you are even going to college but getting off campus housing. You can even tell people that you're in college. Try to get your partial hospitalization team to let you detox from all meds. This way they can evaluate you unmedicated in a safe less restricted environment.

At 17 I think it's horrible that you have little say in your treatment. Even my 11 year old has most of the power in his medical issues.