Were u diagnosed w/something else before bipolar?

BipolaRNurse · Oct 28, 2016 at 06:56 PM

I was diagnosed with depression in 2001, then bipolar NOS in 2012. I got my BP 1 diagnosis in 2014 and have since been dx'd with the same thing three more times by three different providers. Guess I ought to start believing it. LOL

Altarian · Oct 28, 2016 at 07:09 PM

I was not diagnosed with anything prior to 1998 when i was diagnosed with bipolar. I grew up in a family who "there is no such thing as mental illness." That was until i was diagnosed and one of my mother's cousins hung himself with no prior indication that something was going on.

still_crazy · Oct 28, 2016 at 07:13 PM

when I was severely manic, I was diagnosed with Bipolar I and some sort of "mild schizophrenia." I suppose the idea was that I was "mildly Schizophrenic" all the time and the Bipolar only kicked in now and then? I don't know what "mild schizophrenia" is, or why I would be diagnosed with both, but...yeah.

Now the diagnosis is simply Bipolar I w/ a psychotic component. For me, its all about the psychotic depression. Fortunately, that's treatable.

Spaceyspace · Oct 28, 2016 at 09:11 PM

This idiot the my parents had me going to told my parents I was depressed and needed antidepressants. Went to a pdoc, had a comprehensive intake and he determined I had bipolar, along with every other professional I've dealt with

fairydustgirl · Oct 28, 2016 at 10:36 PM

adhd 2001, depression/anxiety 2004, bipolar/gad/social anxiety/ adhd 2006. probably had adhd since 1st grade, some depression as a 5th and 6th grader but got no diagnoses until I was 38. the final diagnoses were made when I was 43. actually 10 years ago this month.

Pikku Myy · Oct 28, 2016 at 11:31 PM

I also went thru half of my life with other conditions until I hit a period in my life where I could not cope. Started with panic attacks, Anxiety, Depression, Mdd, came out of this in mixed mania, and psychosis. At this point in my life add OCD and PTSD. I really had a rough three years there. I was told all this with the suicidal thoughts added to BP1. It's not like one symptom but all of these combined.

Really wish you well and know there is hope of feeling better. I will battle this for the rest of my life. Hugs

Wander · Oct 29, 2016 at 02:15 AM

Diagnosed with major depression at age 20, PTSD added age 22 and I kept both until age 34 when I was also diagnosed with Borderline PD. I held all three diagnosis's until I was 37 and my psychiatrist observed me having a minor manic episode. Then he dropped Major depression and Borderline PD and added Bipolar.

So now I'm back to two diagnosis PTSD and Bipolar. Looking back it is clear I have had hypomanic and possibly major manic episodes since I was in my teens. Pdoc sees it as BP1 but T says BP2. Doesn't matter which one to me as long as I get right treatment.

Oct 29, 2016 at 11:10 AM

Over the years I was diagnosed with psychosis NOS, depression, bipolar, undifferentiated schizophrenia, and generalized anxiety.
Right now I'm dx'd with PTSD and schizoaffective but I think I just have bipolar not schizoaffective

OctobersBlackRose · Oct 29, 2016 at 07:56 PM

I was dx'ed MDD at age 12 then ptsd at age 13, and MDD again at age 13 (BP was ruled out for some.reason) and finally bipolar in 2012 at age 21, and confirmed last year in a PHP program. So it's now BP 1 and PTSD.

franz kafka · Oct 29, 2016 at 10:29 PM

My first diagnosis was bipolar (not sure what variety) at age 16. Then I ditched psychiatry for over a decade. When I came back I was diagnosed with OCD, then bipolar soon after (type 2 briefly then type 1).

Nate7907 · Oct 30, 2016 at 01:15 AM

Anxiety, panic disorder, ADHD, and depression. Finally diagnosed with bipolar 1.

ComfortablyNumb5 · Oct 30, 2016 at 01:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sw1mfast

Hi guys,
I'm having a really hard time here. Found this site looking up info on bipolar because I was just diagnosed with bipolar 2 and started lithium this week. I'd had 5 serious depressions, hospitalized twice, and felt like I was doing a great job staying educated and working hard with maintenance treatment for depression, only to have this abrupt change. Did this happen to anyone? I would consider getting a second opinion, except that all the signs and symptoms of hypomania were there (and in hindsight I'd had this on a smaller scale a couple times before). I had hardly slept for 13-15 days, and now I'm literally typing this in bed, called in sick for work--feel like a freight train hit me. I have the exhaustion that goes along with the flu, when just yesterday after 2hrs sleep I had SO much energy--ran 8 miles, did all my work like a pro, etc etc. I feel like someone took my batteries out. Were you diagnosed with bipolar early on, or did you think you had some other biological problem like me for a long time?
Thanks for all your posts. I'm going to fall asleep again.
-sw1mfast

I was diagnosed with insomnia and major depression at 16 and finally BP at 18. And about two years ago I had PTSD and anxiety added. I'm 29 now. I understand what you're feeling. Honestly when I was that young my DX didn't really sink in for awhile. The pdoc gave me meds and that was that. But those meds were a disaster lol. I'll never forget my first med cocktail of seroquel during the DAY! It was awful. I would be falling asleep throughout the day and I was so out of it I couldn't drive. And all these years later I still take seroquel but at night and I moved way up to 450mg. Yea years of being on the same med, you get a wicked tolerance. Good luck to you and remember to take care of yourself. One piece of advice I live by as far as BP goes is to get enough rest.

Kuras · Oct 30, 2016 at 05:17 AM

Major Depression at 12 years old.
Psychotic Depression at 23.
Bipolar I w/ Psychotic Features at 24.
Bipolar-Type Schizoaffective at 26.

scatterbrained04 · Oct 30, 2016 at 08:57 AM

Though symptoms started when I was 13-14, I didn't seek help until I was 26.

I was diagnosed BP2 and GAD my first visit. Kind of surprised me. I was expecting to be diagnosed MDD. But BP2 definitely fits my symptoms.

RomanJames2014 · Oct 31, 2016 at 05:31 PM

Looking back when I was 17, I was clearly bipolar but i didn't want to tell the psych ward that i had hyper sexuality and the crazy-er side of it. So I was diagnosed with major Depression, General Anxiety Disorder, and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

Flash forward to twenty-five year old me and I met my new psychiatrist and with in twenty minutes he proclaimed, "Well theirs no doubt that you're bipolar and clearly more manic right now!"

Since there is no test and the moods sing, I get it now.

JustJace2u · Oct 31, 2016 at 05:36 PM

I was initially diagnosed in my teens with SAD. I spent a few years in therapy and taking meds. I decided I was all better and no longer needed the pills or the therapy. About 2 years ago I started falling into a deep depression that I just couldn't seem to pull myself out of. Finally I decided in February that enough was enough and I wanted answers. This lead me to seek help and eventually was diagnosed with MDD and BP2 in May.

Oct 31, 2016 at 06:16 PM

I had a bad psychiatrist and therapist for years. I was diagnosed with unipolar depression.

Looking back I had all the symptoms so clearly. It really pisses me off. I hated myself until correctly diagnosed a few years ago.
I didn't know why my sex drive was so high. Why I had the urge to binge drink. Why I had such a bad temper. Why I wasted so much money.

My diagnosis has been an explanation for things I saw as a major weakness in myself.

Victoria'smom · Oct 31, 2016 at 07:02 PM

I was shortly dx depression but mainly I get placed in Mood disorder nos.

Gabyunbound · Nov 01, 2016 at 01:55 PM

Depression and anxiety for many years; my pdoc at the time didn't want to dx me as BP because he said "people are finding BP under ever rock these days." Nonetheless, he eventually diagnosed me with BPII. This was some 11 years ago. Then, after a manic episode, I was diagnosed BPI about 6 years ago.

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Altarian Account Suspended Member Since Apr 2013 Location: Middle of no where Posts: 1,159 11 32 hugs given	Oct 28, 2016 at 07:09 PM #22 I was not diagnosed with anything prior to 1998 when i was diagnosed with bipolar. I grew up in a family who "there is no such thing as mental illness." That was until i was diagnosed and one of my mother's cousins hung himself with no prior indication that something was going on.
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Spaceyspace Member Member Since Nov 2015 Location: Usa Posts: 172 8 7 hugs given	Oct 28, 2016 at 09:11 PM #24 This idiot the my parents had me going to told my parents I was depressed and needed antidepressants. Went to a pdoc, had a comprehensive intake and he determined I had bipolar, along with every other professional I've dealt with
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fairydustgirl Member Member Since Aug 2014 Location: usa Posts: 355 9 36 hugs given	Oct 28, 2016 at 10:36 PM #25 adhd 2001, depression/anxiety 2004, bipolar/gad/social anxiety/ adhd 2006. probably had adhd since 1st grade, some depression as a 5th and 6th grader but got no diagnoses until I was 38. the final diagnoses were made when I was 43. actually 10 years ago this month.
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Anonymous52845 Guest Posts: n/a	Oct 29, 2016 at 11:10 AM #28 Over the years I was diagnosed with psychosis NOS, depression, bipolar, undifferentiated schizophrenia, and generalized anxiety. Right now I'm dx'd with PTSD and schizoaffective but I think I just have bipolar not schizoaffective
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OctobersBlackRose Magnate Member Since Jun 2012 Location: Michigan Posts: 2,484 11 4,797 hugs given	Oct 29, 2016 at 07:56 PM #29 I was dx'ed MDD at age 12 then ptsd at age 13, and MDD again at age 13 (BP was ruled out for some.reason) and finally bipolar in 2012 at age 21, and confirmed last year in a PHP program. So it's now BP 1 and PTSD. __________________ Wir sind was wir sind English We are what we are MDD w/psychotic features, BPD
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franz kafka Poohbah Member Since Apr 2016 Location: NY Posts: 1,168 8 68 hugs given	Oct 29, 2016 at 10:29 PM #30 My first diagnosis was bipolar (not sure what variety) at age 16. Then I ditched psychiatry for over a decade. When I came back I was diagnosed with OCD, then bipolar soon after (type 2 briefly then type 1). __________________ dx: schizoaffective bipolar type; OCD; GAD rx: clozapine, clonazepam PRN
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Nate7907 Member Member Since Oct 2016 Location: Georgia Posts: 133 7 29 hugs given	Oct 30, 2016 at 01:15 AM #31 Anxiety, panic disorder, ADHD, and depression. Finally diagnosed with bipolar 1.
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Kuras Member Member Since Aug 2016 Location: CA Posts: 176 7	Oct 30, 2016 at 05:17 AM #33 Major Depression at 12 years old. Psychotic Depression at 23. Bipolar I w/ Psychotic Features at 24. Bipolar-Type Schizoaffective at 26. __________________ Bipolar-type Schizoaffective
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scatterbrained04 Magnate Member Since Feb 2015 Location: Ohio Posts: 2,868 9	Oct 30, 2016 at 08:57 AM #34 Though symptoms started when I was 13-14, I didn't seek help until I was 26. I was diagnosed BP2 and GAD my first visit. Kind of surprised me. I was expecting to be diagnosed MDD. But BP2 definitely fits my symptoms.
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Victoria'smom Legendary Member Since Apr 2012 Location: Earth Posts: 14,908 (SuperPoster!) 12 5,445 hugs given	Oct 31, 2016 at 07:02 PM #38 I was shortly dx depression but mainly I get placed in Mood disorder nos. __________________ Dx: Me- SzA Husband- Bipolar 1 Daughter- mood disorder+ Comfortable broken and happy "So I don't know why I'm tongue tied At the wrong time when I need this."- P!nk My blog
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Gabyunbound Grand Member Member Since May 2016 Location: U.S. Posts: 944 7 932 hugs given	Nov 01, 2016 at 01:55 PM #39 Depression and anxiety for many years; my pdoc at the time didn't want to dx me as BP because he said "people are finding BP under ever rock these days." Nonetheless, he eventually diagnosed me with BPII. This was some 11 years ago. Then, after a manic episode, I was diagnosed BPI about 6 years ago.
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