[TaubTaube]

I have had different psych professionals argue among themselves on whether or not I am bipolar. Most of my time is spent in the deep dark depressions, but one of the doctors in the group thinks that because I sometimes do a lot of pointless busy work that leads to nowhere and I can get very irritable sometimes, and that my father was SEVERELY bipolar it means that I'm bipolar.

The other people at the practice says that's not the case just because I only have those two symptoms other than the deep, nasty depression.

So I don't know. All I know is that I just want to function better.

Sorry you're struggling so much.

Have you tried any meds or therapy yet?

[Skeezyks]

Well... I've never received an actual diagnosis from any of the mental health professionals I've seen over the years. There must be something written down somewhere I presume for insurance purposes. I imagine it is probably just "depression". That's easy. The pdoc who treated me during my last hospitalization suggested there might be a Bipolar element to my condition. She put me on Abilify. But I didn't stay on it. It made everything I ate taste metallic. My personal opinion is that mental health diagnosis, like beauty, is in the eyes of the beholder.

[TaubTaube]

Originally Posted by bluebicycle

Sorry you're struggling so much.

Have you tried any meds or therapy yet?

Yeah. I think my current cocktail has sputtered out and it needs to be tweaked.

[Wander]

The important thing is getting the right treatment so you can function better. Irritability can be a part of bipolar but you need to meet the criteria for at least one hypomanic and or manic episode, although these can co-occur with depression leading to a mixed episode. Mixed episodes are notoriously difficult to treat. What kind of meds are you on? As you said it looks like they need tweaking or replacing. What is the most difficult thing you are struggling with right now?

[TaubTaube]

Originally Posted by bluebicycle

Sorry you're struggling so much.

Have you tried any meds or therapy yet?

Yes. I do have a therapist and I'm going through a med change.

[TaubTaube]

Originally Posted by Wander

The important thing is getting the right treatment so you can function better. Irritability can be a part of bipolar but you need to meet the criteria for at least one hypomanic and or manic episode, although these can co-occur with depression leading to a mixed episode. Mixed episodes are notoriously difficult to treat. What kind of meds are you on? As you said it looks like they need tweaking or replacing. What is the most difficult thing you are struggling with right now?

I'm not aware of any manic or hypomanic episode. Other than some pointless goal orientated behaviors and starting a lot of projects. But nothing too over the top.

I was on Celexa and prazosin. I've been taken off the Celexa and that's been replaced with Cymbalta.

[TaubTaube]

Originally Posted by Skeezyks

Well... I've never received an actual diagnosis from any of the mental health professionals I've seen over the years. There must be something written down somewhere I presume for insurance purposes. I imagine it is probably just "depression". That's easy. The pdoc who treated me during my last hospitalization suggested there might be a Bipolar element to my condition. She put me on Abilify. But I didn't stay on it. It made everything I ate taste metallic. My personal opinion is that mental health diagnosis, like beauty, is in the eyes of the beholder.

Abilify messed with my blood sugars and put me in a prediabetic state!

[misscath007]

I have the same diagnostic background. I have 2 doctors saying I am on the bipolar spectrum, probably bipolar 2, I spent most of my time in depression, but I have had a few short hypomanic episodes in the past. I have had problems with antidepressants in the past, not being able to tolerate them and I go through periods of dysphoria.

I have had hypomanic symptoms, hypersexuality, impulsiveness, chronic spending, but I don't stay awake for days and have grandiose thoughts.

I also have a diagnosis of ADD, which further muddies the water.

On the other hand, I have 2 doctors saying that I have chronic depression with anxiety and because all of the symptoms overlap it's hard to say if I am purely bipolar. I know I am not bipolar one, I have never had a full blown mania in my life.

The closest I came to a real diagnoses is that I have bipolar "traits" whatever the h*** that means. I don't go by the diagnosis, I go by whatever works.