[Numbed]

Hey

So, thinking about Bipolar recently, and that I may indeed suffer from one of the types of it.

Mental health has never really been discussed amongst my family, only OCD barely (which I initiated conversations about, and the brief ADHD and ASD I brought up) and when my mother's auntie had Dementia.

My mother has mentioned things about her mother in brief slip up to her children (my grandmother),
one being that she has put her head in the oven and wanted to die and suicidal etc. (i've just clicked today, what this could mean)
I know my grandmother is on a LOT of medications, but I don't know which.

I'm unable to find out, because I've ceased communication with my mothers side of my family a while ago in the process of dealing with my CPTSD.

Does the oven thing sound like something which could happen in mania/depression?
(I'm new to understanding Bipolar)

I know that my grandmother actually has been to the same mental health clinic that I go to, so when I see my Psychiatrist tomorrow, and mention my recent thoughts about Bipolar and medication, I'm going to to mention my grandmother, obviously they aren't going to be able to speak to me about her, would they at least be able to tell me though if she does actually suffer with Bipolar? (because it would be part of my understanding and acceptance?)
(I really don't want to get in an argument with my pdoc, cause he is a top guy, but I can get defensive and aggressive when I feel I have been wronged or treated unfairly due to my childhood emotional abuse)

My father's side of my family, no doubt have a lot of issues themselves, but i've never really known my father's side.

[gb13114]

Numbed, good for you, wanting to dig into what makes you tick so you can do better.

I can relate. I am distant from all of my biological family members, and am seeking a psychiatrist who I want to work with.

My family rarely mentioned mental health, though I have documentation that my grandfather attempted suicide a few times. When I have talked with counselors and therapists, I have recalled bipolar-type behavior in both of my parents (screaming fits sometimes, sitting alone in the dark for days other times). That is something that I must work on, regardless of whether anyone ever diagnosed them. I am seeking a therapist who will support me through this; the one who I've been working with will only look forward with me, not back.

I hope that you get to see your GP soon, if that is a person who you have found to be helpful.

I also know what it's like to have to wait for a psychiatrist appointment. I have spent months trying to find one who accepts my insurance AND new patients. Mine stopped accepting my health insurance, and charges a LOT! I finally have an appointment for mid May.

I know the feeling of missing appointments that mean a lot to me. I tend to think that I did so because subconsciously I didn't want to go, but I'm learning that my bipolar brain sometimes needs extra help to keep track of things that are usually simple. So, I must always put extra safeguards in place. My smart phone helps a lot with that.

Hoping for the best for you...

[Victoria'smom]

Some people have no bipolar in their family and get diognosed. I would try not to stress what your family has.

[Numbed]

Originally Posted by Miguel'smom

Some people have no bipolar in their family and get diognosed. I would try not to stress what your family has.

Would family history not be part of a diagnosis then? (still learning)

[BeyondtheRainbow]

Family history is helpful if you have it but not something they really need. I was able to just say that my father wasn't diagnosed but had a history of psychosis (I think they had me give examples) and other symptoms, that my grandmother and whoever had been treated for depression and that I had another grandmother with a history of significant psych issues who I never met because she abandoned her kids and left many years ago. That was plenty for them to know.

The dr won't be able to tell you anything about your grandmother as it would violate confidentiality. On the other hand the dr can never tell your grandmother about you. He can't even admit to knowing her.

I hope your appointment goes well. It sounds like you feel pretty anxious about it. It really is just a lot of questions and answers and should be fairly painless. But being nervous is normal. Just know you don't have to have an answer for everything; they'll respect that.

[~Christina]

I have Zero family history of Bipolar or any MI , yet I have it and my Daughter too, No hint of BP on her fathers side either. so .....

Yeah Family history can be good to know , but the reality is.. if there is or isn't ....your finding a good treatment and managing it really is the goal.

Unless your willling to open up communications in the family and sometimes thats a can of worms that best be left in the back of the cupboard.

I understand your wanting to know , I would just tread lightly, think before you leap

[Crazy Hitch]

I've always said if you shake my family tree hard enough all of the nuts will come flying out as I am quite certain there are heaps in my family who may not actually have a diagnosis but are certainly the acorn.

I've just never personally, for me, been bothered nor cared to shake the tree.

I let sleeping dogs lie.

My circumstances around me making this personal decision would be different to yours, though.

[UCMATH]

The oven thing can definitely happen during depression (see: Sylvia Plath).

Technically, the clinic is not even allowed to tell you that your grandmother was/is a patient there.

A comprehensive family history of mental illnesses would be a good thing to know about, but it's not really a requirement. I was diagnosed with BP I before I found out that it runs rampant in my family. The diagnosis probably would have been made earlier if my pdoc had known, but my manic episode made it pretty obvious. By that point, the family history doesn't matter very much.

[Nevvy]

I would say that if you can't find out if anyone in your family, I would just leave it. It is only a small part of the diagnosis as it isn't even really confirmed if BP can be passed through family members.

I know that my mother and sister both have it, and it didn't make a difference really...my Pdoc just said that it contributes to the chance that I had BP but it was far from what defined what I have, this was mostly due to my symptoms, history, etc. I was also privileged to have my T at the time in direct contact with my Pdoc, and was able to talk to him about things that I can't talk about and what she was thinking about my situation.

A good Pdoc won't jump to a diagnosis after hearing your family history, and diagnose you based on what is going on with you, and not your family. Every little bit helps I guess, but it's not a requirement.

In short: It won't make much of a difference if you find out something or not, as it shouldn't make the diagnosis.

Oh, and about finding out, I don't have good connections with my direct family at all, so I knew it based on what I learned when I was growing up (I was around when they both were diagnosed) so I didn't have to dig.....if I was in a situation where I had to dig, I wouldn't do it because I broke communication for a reason and it would have only caused me more problems if I started that discussion.