[LonesomeTonight]

I posted earlier about wondering if I had symptoms of hypomania. I talked about it for a bit in marriage counseling today. My marriage counselor (who has a PhD in psychology) asked why I felt I needed an actual diagnosis, why I needed the label. I said I thought it would help me understand myself more and also help my H understand me. Marriage counselor still seemed unsure about the need for a label (I'm already diagnosed with panic disorder, generalized anxiety, OCD, and recurrent major depressive episodes). I'll talk to my individual therapist a bit more about it tomorrow.

But I'm curious: How do you feel that having a bipolar diagnosis--a label--helped you? Or do you think it wasn't helpful? Thanks!

[xRavenx]

I found the Bipolar diagnosis label helpful, because it finally put a name to what I was experiencing and gave me hope about all the treatment options out there to help me with all the issues I have related to BP. I also find the label to be essential when it comes to finding which medications are more likely to help me based on all the studies out there.

It also helped me gain insight into why I feel the way I do at times, although I try to be careful not to assume that everything is related to BP. I know that I'm separate from my diagnosis, so I'm fine with a label if that's what it takes to identify some of my issues to work towards getting better.

[Row Jimmy]

I've found it incredibly helpful, especially considering 30 odd years of self destruction and self abuse that went unexplained. I spent years wondering what was wrong with me, thinking I was a natural asshole. My behavior got tiring and tiresome and I needed some answers.

Knowledge is power - once we know what's up, we can put together strategies to manage our challenges.

[pixiefey]

I was diagnosed at age 30. It was such a relief finally understanding my behavior and being told there were meds to help.

[~Christina]

I was diagnosed late age 43 . It did give me a direction in which way to dive in an educate myself and learn how to be my best advocate.

That said.... I hate to see anyone so wrapped up in the "label" where they just stall and walk themselves into a corner and that is when putting too much energy into a diagnosis.

Treatment in general is based off each person symptoms that are most disruptive, so to me it's about treating symptoms not just the label " Bipolar"

Hope that makes some kinda sense

[*Laurie*]

Like others have posted, having a diagnosis has helped target which meds I might try.

[Crazy Hitch]

It helps in terms of meds and also in terms of my own research and recognising my early warning signs when I'm entering an episode.

And ... of course it helps me know posting on the BP forum is indeed the right forum on PC for me

[fairydustgirl]

labels are useful many reasons: explaining our behavior, targeting medications and/or knowing which may not be appropriate, knowing what we are dealing with and so being able to research and learn more about what is making us tick...and then there are the legal reasons, such as qualifying for disability benefits, or accommodations in school/work per the ADA.

I used to hear people ask this same question when it came to my child (or any child) having adhd and learning disabilities...with out a label, he would not receive adequate or appropriate medical treatment or interventions from school, nor qualify for special education services. Did I want to label him? not really...but the argument is...regardless he would get a label, 'dummy', 'stupid', 'lazy'...which would you think is more disturbing?

[HALLIEBETH87]

It really only helps me because I can do research to better understand myself and how to cope.

[Bigmike727]

I've been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, BP I, OCD, depression so I question what is really wrong with me all the time. I stick with BP I and OCD though as it is more of what I relate to through my experiences. I got my BP I diagnosis in the hospital, for me it is helpful to know, so that I can really know what I am up against here. I know it sounds weird but it is somewhat comforting aswell idk why, maybe because it reaffirms that what is happening to me actually is happening to me, sounds a but crazy but I always used to doubt my sanity before the diagnosis.

[Unrigged64072835]

I think it was helpful because it covered a set of behaviors that unipolar depression didn't. It also helped getting me on the right meds. That being said, I don't run down the street screaming,"I'm bipolar!" to everybody. It's just another piece of my psyche.

A little of both

now i have to deal with the obvious stigma (which is never really, and is never fun), but I'm also sort of glad of it.. I mean, i'm not just the weird person with something wrong with her. it was important to me that I got given the name of it, because, mainly, I didn't want to feel like the crazy woman no one could diagnose- plus i can now read up about it and constantly learn about it

[zijax]

I've found it a bit confusing because I've been mis-dxed several times. I've moved a lot, hense, many different pdocs. Some say Bp1, Bp2, BPD, Anxiety, Panic, Dysthymia, Cyclothymia, ADHD, Major Depression. Sometimes I was given the wrong meds due to wrong dx. and wound up in hospital. The last dx was BP1 and Anxiety. I resonate with the BPD dx as well though I don't talk to pdoc about it much. The meds I'm on work for BP1, Anxiety and BPD and they're working great for me, so I guess they got the dx right. I don't really trust dx too much. It's kind of hit and miss.

[bioChE]

I'm with zijax on the idea of not trusting a single label. It's highly dependent on the doc as well as the particular set of symptoms you're presenting at any given time. I used to get all worked up about trying to pin a single label or set of labels on myself.

My favorite psychiatrist used to tell me it's less important which particular label is used than which meds work the best for you. A diagnosis/label can get you in the right ballpark, but after that it's all trial and error with the meds.

[OctobersBlackRose]

It helps be better understand myself, and my psychiatrist does tend to treat.the symptoms more.than the disorder itself, or so it seems to me.

[JustJace2u]

I go back and forth with this subject. Some days I think it's important to know I have a label/diagnosis and other days it's not so important. For me I think it really depends on my overall mood. It seems that when I'm most depressed is when I concentrate more on the diagnosis vs when I'm having a good day.

[pirilin]

Not important. Chances are they (shrinks) don't really know what we have.