How important is your BP diagnosis to you? Do you care about the label or do you only care about treating the symptoms?

Honestly, I kind of care about the label. It lets me describe what's wrong with me when doctors ask about my mental health history. But, I could live without it. As long as the symptoms are treated, I'm not too picky about the label. "Mood disorder" would suffice.

[franz kafka]

The diagnosis is important to me. I'm not even totally sure why... I guess I like having a box to check. Plus there's research that looks at people who have the same diagnosis, so when it comes to prescribing medications or therapy, it's evidence based. I suppose researchers could do the same with symptoms, and they probably do, but I know diagnoses come into play there.

[pirilin]

Beneficial.

[BipolaRNurse]

It's important, because it gives a name to a set of symptoms that puzzled me all of my life.

The diagnosis is only important as it influences correct medical treatment for my symptoms. Other than that, what is more important are the symptoms I am experiencing and the most effective way to deal with them. At this point in my life my bipolar diagnosis is really not a factor, and I don't plan to let the diagnosis run my life (I did for awhile and it was a mistake). The only person who really needs to keep my diagnosis in mind is my pdoc if he is treating my symptoms.

[JustJace2u]

I'm slowly coming to terms with it. I still need to get clarification from my pdoc about the diagnosis, as I've discussed in another thread. If he even tries to tell me it's not BP I may just have a few choice words for him. The diagnosis is more important because that way I can hopefully get to proper treatment in order to keep the symptoms at bay.

[OctobersBlackRose]

Like others have said it is important for giving me.a.reason for my symptoms, and a way to know.what the best treatment for me is, and insurance purposes as well as disability purposes (along with my vision impairment).

[xRavenx]

Originally Posted by bluebicycle

How important is your BP diagnosis to you? Do you care about the label or do you only care about treating the symptoms?

Honestly, I kind of care about the label. It lets me describe what's wrong with me when doctors ask about my mental health history. But, I could live without it. As long as the symptoms are treated, I'm not too picky about the label. "Mood disorder" would suffice.

I felt relief when the doctor affirmed what I suspected I've been struggling with for so long, so the Bipolar label does not bother me. The only time it bothers me is when I disclose it to people I trust since there's so much stigma and misconceptions.

For instance, so many people seem to think Bipolar means your an angry person one minute and a happy person the next minute; falsely thinking it has to do with character flaws, instead of understanding what "mania" is or anything else about episodes. I hope there is more awareness some day, but really I'm glad there's research to support what helps Bipolar. This way, I can deal with the label since it's the only way I can get the treatment I need....just like if I had Diabetes or anything else that required management.

[MBM17]

I'm so, so glad to have my diagnosis. I was misdiagnosed for 7 years and kept getting treatment for depression and anxiety, so I wasn't getting better. When I finally got the right label, I got the right treatment.

I felt so much relief when we finally found out about bipolar. As soon as I knew the diagnosis was correct, I've never looked back. I have felt so much peace about "bipolar ii" = me.

Not that my diagnosis IS me, but my bipolar affects every single aspect of my life, my brain, my very most fundamental way in interpreting the world. It's not ME but it is my life.