[muffinhead]

My psychiatrist is convinced I don't have bipolar disorder. Are there any other mental illnesses that feature cyclical hypomania-like and depression-like periods of time?

[BBB2]

I can't directly answer your question.
However, I notice that you have Asperger's. It seems quite common for one to be misdiagnosed with the other. Just by typing in "Asperger's Bipolar" together into Google will bring up a long list of results. I couldn't say why this is, but is it worth looking into?
Maybe this will interest you: https://aspergersgirls.wordpress.com...-or-aspergers/
I'm sorry if this is of no help.

[Imah]

For me, the diagnosis of bipolar (I have bipolar 1) diagnosis was immediate. Well, the first time in the early 80's when I was a teen it took longer. But each time I have seen people, even when I didn't tell them I had been diagnosed previously, they diagnosed me with bipolar. Sometimes within the first hour. (I have been diagnosed repeatedly due to not seeing the same therapist continuously until this past 6/7 years. If the Dr is CONVINCED (your word) that you don't have it, I would guess they were right. But they also should have an explanation to your questions.

To answer your question, Borderline Personality Disorder has similar symptoms. I don't know of other diagnosis. I suppose people that have anxiety, paranoia, OCD or have depression, might have some similar rapidly changing emotions. I don't know. The thing about bipolar is, emotions change with no trigger. Otherwise, something has to set a person off. A reason, be it medical or otherwise.

If you cannot trust your therapist, I would suggest seeing another one. If 2 or 3 all say the same thing, then the mistrust might be coming from you. Eventually, we have to give in to the facts. For me, I denied or played down and ignored my diagnosis for decades before one too many job changes forced me to accept and learn how my illness has affected (and still affects) my life.

I have read people say this, and I think its somewhat true - worry less about the title of your diagnosis, and focus on what symptoms cause extreme behaviors and work on recognition and re-direction of extremes.

For me personally, the title of my illnesses are very important and help me to feel more in control of my progress.

Best of luck to us all.

[muffinhead]

The main reason I want to get the label is because I am currently not taking any medication specifically for depression, which rather concerns me.

[A Red Panda]

Well, psychiatrists are often unwilling to prescribe anti-depressants for people who have bipolar as it can send us (hypo)manic.

I've also heard that sometimes PTSD can be mistaken for bipolar disorder as well.

[muffinhead]

Originally Posted by A Red Panda

Well, psychiatrists are often unwilling to prescribe anti-depressants for people who have bipolar as it can send us (hypo)manic.

I've also heard that sometimes PTSD can be mistaken for bipolar disorder as well.

Ok perhaps not antidepressants, but a mood stabilizer such as lithium would be what I'm looking for. My psychiatrist mentioned that SSRI's and the such are contraindicated for Bipolar disorder, and has said that my taking of Paxil made whatever I have worse. The mere fact that he's saying that makes me believe that he is convinced I have something similar to bipolar disorder.

[Mountainbard]

Thyroid problems and nutritional deficiencies can also cause symptoms similar to bipolar. The thing about the antidepressants is, if you do have bipolar, you'll need to take a mood stabilizer with them, or they can indeed send you into mania or hypomania.

[muffinhead]

Originally Posted by Mountainbard

Thyroid problems and nutritional deficiencies can also cause symptoms similar to bipolar. The thing about the antidepressants is, if you do have bipolar, you'll need to take a mood stabilizer with them, or they can indeed send you into mania or hypomania.

I had a preliminary thyroid hormone blood test done before paxil was prescribed, so that rules out that problem. Also, I eat a very well balanced diet. I am currently taking (as shown below) haloperidol to stop my racing thoughts, but it also addresses my hypomania to a certain extent. In all, I've received the impression that my psychiatrist is skirting the real issue for me, which is the depression, by not giving me either A) an antidepressant in the case that I don't have BP or B) a mood stabilizer in the case that I do

And also, the paxil did send me into hypomania, which makes it even more likely that I have something along the lines of Bipolar disorder

[Tucson]

Originally Posted by muffinhead

Ok perhaps not antidepressants, but a mood stabilizer such as lithium would be what I'm looking for. My psychiatrist mentioned that SSRI's and the such are contraindicated for Bipolar disorder, and has said that my taking of Paxil made whatever I have worse. The mere fact that he's saying that makes me believe that he is convinced I have something similar to bipolar disorder.

Bipolar is a spectrum disorder. So you also may indeed have something like BP without technically needing to meet the criteria for BP I or II.

[A Red Panda]

Have you actually asked for a mood stabilizer?

The two most common are lithium and lamotrigine (lamictal). Lithium can have a lot of side effects and I don't think many psychiatrists would prescribe it to someone who does not have bipolar. Lamictal is milder but has a chance of Steven Johnson syndrome which shows as a rash and could be lethal. It's a really small chance. Lamictal is also commonly prescribed for epilepsy.

[muffinhead]

Originally Posted by A Red Panda

Have you actually asked for a mood stabilizer?

The two most common are lithium and lamotrigine (lamictal). Lithium can have a lot of side effects and I don't think many psychiatrists would prescribe it to someone who does not have bipolar. Lamictal is milder but has a chance of Steven Johnson syndrome which shows as a rash and could be lethal. It's a really small chance. Lamictal is also commonly prescribed for epilepsy.

I'll keep that in mind, thanks