How do you know you have bipolar and not some other disorder?

I believe I was unfairly diagnosed with schizophrenia, and that the inpatient doctor who made the diagnosis was too quick to judge. My current doctor has stuck with this diagnosis.

I have done research and my symptoms definitely fall in both bipolar and schizophrenia, but I have not had psychotic symptoms outside a mood episode.

What gives you confidence in your diagnosis?

I don't hear voices outside my head. My docs have used that as a major differentiation.

I would say 99% of the time my auditory hallucinations were in my head. I had a few that sounded external.

How does your current doctor respond when you question your diagnosis? What are they seeing to come to that conclusion? It might be that you need a third opinion. Also, just FYI, people have been diagnosed with both before at the same time.

She believes the medication is why I am having no psychotic symptoms now. Regarding bipolar, she said she looks for decreased need for sleep and reckless behavior, but the appointment was too quick for me to describe myself in depth.

I believe I was depressed when the psychotic symptoms came, but I have not told them. The only other thing I can think of would be apparent negative symptoms, like avolition, in addition to positive symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions.

Possibly.

I was diagnosed bipolar 1 a while back, so I know this. The problem is I don't know if I get true mixed episodes or manic episodes. EDIT. I asked if my symptoms sounded like mania on another forum, and it was suggested that I could be confusing emotional reactions to my delusions for overall mood, and that I do have schizophrenia. I ask how intense is mania? I thought I have been there...I was hospitalized once for it.

I hope you can straighten out what your correct diagnosis is. I question mine. My depressions are severe (been diagnosed with bipolar 2) so when I come out of them of course I'm happy. Hypomanic? I don't think I've ever had that. I wonder often if Major Depressive Disorder isn't the more accurate diagnosis. Some of my family members question this diagnosis as well.

I don't really try to have confidence in the diagnosis; I just try and focus on the fact that my brain performs as it should when on a mood stabilizer and mild dose of an AP.

Is your SZ diag causing some difficulty somewhere?

My main concern besides not being on the same page as my doctors is that I will be given inappropriate medication, that I have a dormant mood disorder that'll explode one day, and my doctors won't be up to speed. I'm still wrestling suicidal impulses and I'm on an antidepressant that seems to have me rapid cycling.

I have met someone with schizophrenia and he said a lot of his symptoms are like bipolar but there is differences too. I think doing more research on
schizophrenia could help you when you talk yo your pdoc.

According to my doctor I have schizoeffective and it's like bipolar and schizophrenia had a baby. I'm now finally pretty convince I have proper diagnosis (schizoeffective and PTSD) and it seems to explain my life so perfectly. When manic I often get the good type where I'm the life of the party, social butterfly, talk a mile a minute, one good idea after the next, need for sleep is greatly reduced or completely eliminated, feel famous, self esteem skyrockets and I feel connected to everyone and everything. It's such a stark contrast to my normal so it's apparent after it's over I was in a mood episode and bipolar fits like a glove. My depressions are obvious and my delusions are obvious after the fact. I used to question my DX frequently but I think that is all over now. We shall see.

I hope you get the answers you need and find some useful tips on how to cope. This last episode I had/have really hit me like a ton of bricks and opened my eyes wide. (((Hugs to you)))

I believe I have SzA not bipolar 1 w. psychosis. I'm not actually sure I have mood swings. I know I get paranoid but highs and lows I'm not sure of. I just trust the pdoc.

MY Pdoc uses the base symptom of having hallucinations of any kind between true Bipolar episodes which need to be at least 2 weeks min.

Thats how he really would "look" at Sza.

If you question your diagnose then be your own best advocate and ask for explaination and keep a daily chart on how your feeling and if anything MI wise pops up

Good luck

My pdoc and I work very closely together and have done so for many years. He is also my T. It would be hard for him to be wrong about Dx.

If you feel you have the wrong Dx, talk it over with your pdoc. S/he ought to be able to help to clarify with you.


WC

My last pdoc said I had sza because I'd hallucinate outside of a mood episode. Nothing has changed, but my current pdoc says I have for sure bipolar 1 even with the hallucinations. So I just roll with it.

As long as the meds are addressing the symptoms and you get coping skills to help with living skills it doesn't really matter what they call it.

I second this comment. Pick a doctor you like and trust, give their diagnosis and treatment a shot, and worry about the label later. It can always change. Any way you cut it, MI is MI. Only anxiety and depression are socially acceptable. The rest of us are nut jobs.

I was diagnosed with MDD for many years. It was when the ADs stopped working that I got the Bipolar 1 diagnosis. My pdoc was more concerned about treating the symptoms than what the diagnosis was. I have felt I was bipolar for a while, but it took discussion and changing meds to do so.

I've had four different MH professionals diagnose me with bipolar 1. I guess I ought to believe it. LOL

I'm already second guessing my diagnosis again. Now I keep thinking I've been gaslighted my whole life to look like I'm crazy when I'm not. This mental health stuff would be funny if it wasn't so darned serious.

Your concerns certainly may be well-founded.

I personally have no experience with anti-depressants' effects, but in my research of my own illness(es), I did find that a professor of psychiatry at Yale School of Medicine cited studies that showed one in twelve inpatient psychiatric patients experienced antidepressant-induced psychosis or mania--when said patient had a family history of bipolar or psychosis. (The article went on to include stimulants and sleep medications as possible culprits, as well.) Perhaps a similar article/study compelled you to be wary of an incorrect diagnosis and subsequent medication.

With symptoms as severe as you've described, perhaps there is an urgency to "do something--even if it's wrong." In any event, being one's own advocate is difficult when symptoms rage. Where does it leave us when even the experts admit the MH field is in its infancy?

You are in my thoughts that whatever is ultimately decided will leave you with a sense of acceptance and with therapies (meds and/or otherwise) that give the greatest symptom relief.

Elsa: You are so right--this could all be so comical, if it weren't so tragic. That's why I allow myself to laugh whenever I can--even if it's through tears. I have to say that your SZ & BP having a baby comment was priceless in that regard. Unfortunately, I too am convinced my diagnosis of SZA is correct.