[raspberrytorte]

I know. Another denial thread. Blah blah blah.

But seriously, how can you be sure about your diagnosis?

And if you're not sure about your diagnosis, what could you have instead?

I know sometimes it's easy to tell. I mean, obviously a person who has episodes of cloud nine and does everything mania related and also has episodes of depression, is bipolar.

But what if your symptoms aren't as clear cut?

What if they present themselves in a different way?

(Sorry. This thread is because I was re-diagnosed as schizoaffective disorder bipolar type, and I'm still kind of coming to terms with that and what it means and blah, and I'm pretty sure I was psychotic for two months and both of the delusions I had were broken away by geodon, and it's just scary when you have delusions that you didn't even know were delusions, so I feel like I did when I got out of the hospital in January because of a mixed/mania psychotic break, and I'm just PISSED. I'm so angry! I have the rage! I think every time I have some sort of psychotic related break situation I'm going to be pissed off about it afterwards. I have gone on drives and just screamed. I'm so mad!!! And I'm not in a *****ing episode right now. I've felt fine for awhile now. The last two months I felt fine! This is shytty.)

[raspberrytorte]

Oh, and I plan on arguing with my pdoc about this diagnosis at my next appointment. It just feels good to argue about it for some reason, even if it's a waste of *****ing time because the lady isn't going to change her mind!!!!!!!

I came to the realization after I went off my meds earlier this year and had a mixed episode.

[raspberrytorte]

I had a horrific what I guess was a mixed/psychotic episode while ON meds (at least, that's what the inpatient doctor told me). I hope to never have an experience like that again.

But what if it was something else?

I mean, can you have one episode like that and NOT be bipolar? Like it's just some weird one time event?

[WibblyWobbly]

Hm I've wondered that myself. But I think it's your mind doubting that what happened actually happened. If the meds are working now and you are clear you might feel like it was a fluke. If you were to have another psychotic break it might convince you but it would really hurt you. It wouldn't hurt to talk to your pdoc about your dx though, and you could always get a second opinion if it would put your mind at ease.

[~Christina]

I think right now your going to walk yourself in a circle and also to a small corner and fall over ( been there done that and bought the Tshirt)

Your questioning a "Label".... Think about just finding what allieviates the symptoms that are causing you to have to seek out a Doctor of any sort to help find a way to have a more workable content life. You have a loving husband that doesn't care that you "have" Bipolar, you have a beautiful child .. You have what really matters in life. I know so many neurotypicals that have neither and probably wont because they have a shytty outlook on life and there life is a bloody mess.

My Bipolar doesn't present like the DSM guidelines show, My Bipolar is it's own "zebra"

Getting mad , screaming, breaking stuff can help blow off some of the frustrations of dealing with an illness that can flip and flop in many directions often whenever it damn well pleases.

Sure you can go argue about a "label" but I personally would focus more on finding a medication(s) and therapy etc that doesn't cause you to eat non stop and other lousey side effects and just work toward removing the symptoms.. Once you have some stability you can revisit the label and decide if it does fit or if you were just outta wack at being unstable for a long time that it might have fit then , But now? Maybe not so much.

Anywho, just my 2.3 cents

Ps: the few months you had to wait to get in to see this new Pdoc you were going through lots of ups and down , paranoia and times you really needed to go IP... It was just a short while ago...

[Christopher1990]

I was also diagnosed shcizoaffective after my last hospital stint. I don't agree with it either and have asked my therapists, and they just tell me it basically doesn't mean anything, they don't know what to call it. It was bipolar 1 for like 10 years. But, I guess I was having delusions when I was having somewhat stability? Idk. I don't agree I thought I was manic the whole time.

I don't have hallucinations, or hear voices.. So how am I schitzoaffective?
Yes, I had some delusions whilst manic, but isn't that part of the symptoms of mania?

It doesn't matter really.. It's not like the world has to know what over the hell they label you. It's treated the same as bipolar.

It is frustrating though saying your bipolar doesn't sound as crazy as saying your schitzoaffective. When people hear schitzo they automatically think insane


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

So, you have some disorder. And you have had an episode. And you have meds. And you have felt fine for a few months.

So?

That is all good stuff. You are doing well, right?

[raspberrytorte]

Originally Posted by ~Christina

I think right now your going to walk yourself in a circle and also to a small corner and fall over ( been there done that and bought the Tshirt)

Your questioning a "Label".... Think about just finding what allieviates the symptoms that are causing you to have to seek out a Doctor of any sort to help find a way to have a more workable content life. You have a loving husband that doesn't care that you "have" Bipolar, you have a beautiful child .. You have what really matters in life. I know so many neurotypicals that have neither and probably wont because they have a shytty outlook on life and there life is a bloody mess.

My Bipolar doesn't present like the DSM guidelines show, My Bipolar is it's own "zebra"

Getting mad , screaming, breaking stuff can help blow off some of the frustrations of dealing with an illness that can flip and flop in many directions often whenever it damn well pleases.

Sure you can go argue about a "label" but I personally would focus more on finding a medication(s) and therapy etc that doesn't cause you to eat non stop and other lousey side effects and just work toward removing the symptoms.. Once you have some stability you can revisit the label and decide if it does fit or if you were just outta wack at being unstable for a long time that it might have fit then , But now? Maybe not so much.

Anywho, just my 2.3 cents

Ps: the few months you had to wait to get in to see this new Pdoc you were going through lots of ups and down , paranoia and times you really needed to go IP... It was just a short while ago...

Thanks Christina. I'd actually forgotten about my unstable situation while I was in between doctors. I have a tendency of forgetting how it feels to be in a certain mood when I'm not in that mood, and to think that when I'm in a certain mood I've never felt any differently. My husband pointed that out to me last night. And then we talked, and he pointed out various up periods that I've had that I'd forgotten about. And then I went on an angry drive and scream. Lol!

Anyway, thanks again. I do believe that during my unstable period, while I was in between doctors, I said that the only thing wrong with my life was me because I do have a loving husband and cute kid, great job for my MI situation, and my creativity, etc. There's nothing wrong with my life. I think that's why I have trouble keeping therapists. I never feel like I have anything to talk about.

[raspberrytorte]

Originally Posted by ValentinaVVV

So, you have some disorder. And you have had an episode. And you have meds. And you have felt fine for a few months.

So?

That is all good stuff. You are doing well, right?

Yes I am. Thanks.

I finally feel like I'm getting back to my old self (energetic, motivated, not paranoid, etc.).

Just the anger... whew. It's been a bit overwhelming.

[CopperStar]

I have a lot of comorbid symptom trees, I guess. Several BPD traits, PTSD symptoms, OCD symptoms (and not even the cleaning kind), anxiety problems and then also psychosis episodes. It could be that I have combinations of 2+ issues that together present like BP. Sometimes I think schizoaffective is more fitting.

Best I can really do is armchair-psych for myself with the DSM and articles online, as well as analyze how I respond to treatments. This atypical I am on clears up a lot of certain stuff for me that makes me conclude there is a psychosis problem. When I tried EMDR, I had an extremely severe aggressive panic attack and almost assaulted the therapist, makes me believe there is indeed some touchy trauma stuff in my head.

In the end though I just try to be goal-oriented. I want to be functional and at peace. I'm always looking for / trying methods to achieve that goal.

[yanks7]

I have been wondering a lot about this lately. It is like part of me wants it to be bipolar so that it is nobody's fault. Another part wants it to be borderline so that my parents have to take some responsibility for me and I can go off meds. I think for me and this echos several other post if the meds work (and they do for me) take them. If talk therapy works (and it does for me) then do it. My BP dx gives me access to programs and services I need So if you want to label me cuckoo type I fine just help me to get better that is all that I ask/want from being dx

[venusss]

I personaly do not care about labels that much.

Yeah, I am pretty sure I am bipolar, but what does it matter?

It is important to know how I feel and what helps. Since my path is pretty unique and I don't depend on the MH system, personally I don't fret on labels.

[Ripose]

According to the tests on this site I qualify for every disorder from every test, so I would have a very long string of disorders which is ridiculous. My main label is BP I and all that does is give the doctors a guideline about what to prescribe. I just want to feel better the label is meaningless to me.

[yanks7]

Originally Posted by venusss

Yeah, I am pretty sure I am bipolar, but what does it matter?

What does it matter!!!!! I could be on the wrong support forum pretending to be bipolar Just kidding bad joke about an older thread I read. I agree it really shouldn't matter

I undestand completely. For myself, stability always feels weird. It makes me kind of uncomfortable.

[raspberrytorte]

Originally Posted by yanks7

What does it matter!!!!! I could be on the wrong support forum pretending to be bipolar Just kidding bad joke about an older thread I read. I agree it really shouldn't matter

I'm still so confused about that other thread. lol

[tipper1492]

To argue with your psychiatrist could have bad results. Example, he may tell you he/she no longer wishes to treat you, and believes you need to make arrangements with another psychiatrist. In other words, you may be the one who has no other choice but to go else where. I do not know about where you are, or what kind of insurance you have, but where I am, there are limited psychiatrist to go see. On the other side, I went to a male psychiatrist for at lease 5 years, and my wife never liked him, and believed he was not working for me. In order to avoid a possible divorce, I agreed to see another female psychiatrist she knew about. It turned out much better because her medications worked great from the start, and I truly like her. I also recently got a psychologist which I can spend more time with talking. The concerning part is this, and this information came on-line from PSYCHIATRY. 69% of Bipolar people are misdiagnosed or misdiagnosed initially, and more than 1/3 remain misdiagnosed. Therefore it can be confusing, but I say if it doesn't work, medications and psychiatrist, maybe a change is in order.

[wiretwister]

my pdoc has yelled at me before and we have argued several times , ... as far as a dx mine has changed several times as I have demanded he prove to me why I need this or that , ... I have had severe depression and only one "episode" as he calls it , causing ip , ... although I will admit most of my younger days I did used to fly pretty high , ... my motto was " like a ping pong ball in a hurricane ", currently he says "I am on the bp spectrum" , ... I am always trying to lower my dosages as I " really do not need that " , ... but usually run back as things go wrong , ... I think if I really believed I had bp I would be less likely to do that , ... so sorry your meds are causing so much pain , ... I truely hope and pray you can find a combo that will work for you , not against you ...

[raspberrytorte]

What do all the misdiagnosed people have instead?

[Tsunamisurfer]

Originally Posted by raspberrytorte

What do all the misdiagnosed people have instead?

I was treated for depression for 30 years before the light switch went on for a Pdoc I saw. I suspect there are many people who only ever seek help when they are depressed, but fly under the radar when they are hypomanic.

[Ripose]

I just read in Bipolar For Dummies that most people are un/mis diagnosed for an avarage of 10 years before a doctor figures out it is bipolar. For me it was about 20 years.

[SillyKitty]

I was diagnosed bipolar which got changed to Schizoaffective when I heard a voice and saw crazy **** outside of an episode and my newish pdoc actually looked at my history and caught it. I am happily diagnosed since it explains what's going on in my brain better.plus I'm on different meds, so it's better controlled.