Bipolar NOS??

Hello all. I hope everyone's having a good day/night. In the depression thread, I spoke about my psychiatrist and therapist being hesitant to tell me what my diagnosis was after seeing them for almost 3 years. My psychiatrist just said, "Sounds like chronic depression" in our 2nd session together but very recently he said, "You definitely have a mood disorder". So he went from being specific to being broad. My therapist said, "Diagnosing can be so difficult" when I asked her what she thought my diagnosis might be (she implied that she thought it was Depression NOS). I've always been very aware of myself and I could feel as if I didn't really have/just have depression, but they wouldn't listen to me. My therapist said my instability in moods wasn't really instability but "it's you going from stable moments to moments of instability". That's exactly what she said, which sounds like instability to me. I told her about the spending money when I get happy and getting very irritable, especially when my depression hits, about the trouble concentrating and sleeping and my racing thoughts, about how I get very talkative when I'm in a good mood and it's hard for me to be quiet. She seemed to think all of that was situational.

I asked my psychiatrist a while ago if I might be bipolar. He said, "Are you manic?" I said, "I'm pretty sure I'm not MANIC, per say." He said, "Then you don't have bipolar."

Today was different. I didn't let down and I told him basically everything what I said up above and more, and he actually listened and he seemed genuinely confused. He said, "That sounds like hypomania." And I said, "Based on what you know now and what you've known about me, what would your diagnosis be?" And he said, "It would be Bipolar NOS but we need to look into it more."

So after seeing my psychiatrist for almost 3 years he FINALLY gave me some screening tests and told me to fill them out and we'll discuss the answers when we meet up again.

I just got my Masters in mental health counseling so with my background I had a feeling I might have been on the bipolar spectrum (cyclothymia, specifically), but I wanted a professional opinion. My instability in moods has been going on for far too long, since I was 13 (I'm 25 now). And I'd like some relief.

But at the same time I'm like, "Huh, so he actually agrees with me...This is new territory for me."

This was very long and rambling and I'm sorry but my thoughts are all over the place. I feel validated and better because I'm getting some answers but a bit afraid at the same time.

For anyone who was originally diagnosed as Bipolar NOS, how did that turn out?Did that diagnosis stay or was it narrowed down to something more specific?

Thank you for reading. I appreciate it.

I had a diagnoses of BPII, then NOS, then​ back to BPII. Ultimately, treatment for NOS, BPI, and BPII is all pretty much the same. I hope you get the answers you seek. Big hugs!

I was BP NOS too for a short while. I think I had that Dx for 1 month?

My pdoc didn't believe me at all when I described my symptoms to him, but he wrote down BP NOS as a tentative Dx. Then, since he didn't believe me, he gave me an antidepressant w/o a mood stabilizer, and I totally went nuts! He says I became manic, but I think it was just hypomania. Whatever. As long as I got the bipolar Dx, that's all I cared about. I just wanted the right treatment. I thought he was a d1ck for not believing me, though.

Just wanted to say Hi and welcome to the BP forum!

Your post is just fine, it's not "all over the place." You did a great job of explaining your current situation.

Congrats on your Masters degree!


WC

Hi starryprince, I have never got a formal diagnose of bipolar/cyclothymia either. My problem is that when I become happy (if I go to a party or something else without drinking alcohol) my mood becomes happier and happier (but never manic) the next days. I will have problems with sleep. If I become sad, I will become more and more sad ... I will have a lot of repeating thoughts (feelings) going around in my head in both states. It is burdensome!

I'm considered by the professionals to be chronic depressed, without any explanation ("because diagnosing is difficult").

I felt that my good and caring therapist could not help me with the problems related to these "ups and downs", so I made my own plan (when I went to therapy earlier). I am on an SSRI. That is helpful to some degree, but doesn't cure the swings. It has some side effects, but since it helps too, I prefer the side effects rather than the "naked symptoms". (I use meds for physical illnesses as well and have found out that to combine them with Tegretol or other meds of that type may not be good for me, so I have never asked for it).

I bought "The Cyclothymia Workbook: Learn How to Manage Your Mood Swings and Lead a Balanced Life" by Prentiss Prince.

Extra forms may be found here:
The Cyclothymia Workbook

By reading it I found that I did not qualify for that exact diagnose (one is not to have had any form of deep depression on that diagnose. Just one deep depression and that diagnose is out of question). Still it helped me to read that book. I give it a high recommendation to everybody who has some sort of moodswings that the professionals will not diagnose! It comes with forms to fill in and it puts a high value of living a stable life. One has to work regularly on the book to be helped in some way or other. The daily registration on "ups/downs" with some comments about the situation might be of help to recognize a personal pattern and then to plan how to react to prevent future episodes. One has to learn to recognize "red flags" (triggers). The more talented one becomes in recognizing triggers, the more control over the symptoms one gets.

I try to live a regularly life and eat regular meals. If I know that I am going out at an evening (which will normally give me an "up-time"), I make a written plan and place it on the table where I can easily see it when I come home. The plan holds exact messages on how I have to behave step by step to calm down.

I have noticed an amount of possible triggers (red flags for situations or inner feelings). Step by step I have made plans for each of them on how to prevent. It works when I remember to use those plans. ("What problem is this and how have I decided to prevent or stop it")? I have written down all the solutions in a book and read through it from time to time so I don't forget.

A lot of work, but the reward is better control and not being a helpless victim of this "disorder" whatever it's name may be.

All in all this seems to be a lifelong disorder. So to be able to find a way to not be completely dominated by it, is a big release.

I wish you good luck!
Hope you find your own personal ways to attack your symptoms!

I'm glad you're finally getting somewhere with getting the right diagnosis. Taking those tests you mentioned may bring even more clarity. I hope you get diagnosed and get the appropriate treatment.

I've been trying to do the reverse. I've been diagnosed with BP II and GAD but I honestly think I have MDD. The pdoc keeps pointing out that a mood stabilizer is helping me. Yes, it does....to sleep at night. I had insomnia with my depression so that helped me out. I see him next week and think I'll bring it up again.

Congratulations on obtaining your masters!!! Best wishes.

I used to have dx of mood disorder NOS but now that same dr says bipolar 1 with psychotic features

I started out with a BP-NOS diagnosis. It stayed that way for two years, until I was hospitalized for suicidal ideation and then the hospital pdoc diagnosed me with bipolar 1. I've since been seen by three more mental health professionals, all of whom agreed with that dx.

NOS really only means "we think you have thus-and-such, we just haven't figured out what flavor it is". Sometimes it takes literally years for the pros to put together a full explanation of one's symptoms. Regardless, the treatment for all types of bipolar is pretty much the same, and NOS can be just as big a problem as the others. Labels are basically used so insurance companies will pay for treatment, anyway.

I'm still at a sort of NOS. Excuse me if I'm crossing a line, but trauma can go a long way in mood shifts. PTSD alone can cause drastic mood swings, both up and down.

To be honest, as much as even I hate it, don't get too hung up on the diagnoses. Focus more on the treatment. It's the only way I'm getting through my list of diagnoses.

I agree with that! To fulfill a diagnose, if it as an example says; 4 out of 6 symptoms in the DSM system and one has 3 symptoms only, one will not get the diagnose. But these 3 symptoms are there and need treatment as well. In that case we are all in the same boat. Whatever diagnose we have got, it is our personal symptoms that need treatment! We are all humans that need to be treated with respect and dignity regardless of what diagnoses we have or have not!

By the way, almost all diagnoses involve not medication only, but also an understanding of that we must work to try to stay as well as possible with our personal burdens (regular meals, vitamins, physical activity, try to create a regular sleep pattern if we manage to do so, meditation or relaxation exercises).

With regard to the last, it is not meant as a moral "pointing finger", but more like: "There is hope! May be there will come days when you are not able to do your exercises or make healthy meals, but such times will pass!" The best after such a period is to forgive oneself and try to take environmental control as soon as one can. There is always some kind of hope!

Thanks a lot for this! This was very helpful! I'm going to look into that cyclothymia workbook. I saw some of the worksheets on the website and they definitely look helpful. My therapist seems genuinely confused as to how to help me right now. It was easier for her in the beginning but I can tell she's at a loss now.

Thanks a lot for your help! This was great!

You're definitely not crossing a line. I was wondering the same thing too. My therapist seems to think my emotional abuse as opposed to my sexual abuse played more a huge role in how I am today, and I agree with her.

The reason I'm a bit hung up on the diagnosis is because the treatment isn't helping at all. So I figured that if they knew what I actually had, they would be able to better help me with regards to treatment. I've been going to that counseling center for almost 3 years and I'm not sure if I'm getting better or worse. My low points in my depression has definitely gotten worse, and so far the medications for me haven't been much help, and the ones that were helpful had harmful side effects, like seizures. So that's why I'm now concerned about the diagnosis. I think after going there for almost 3 years, I deserve to know what it is I truly have so they can treat me effectively, you know?

Yes, I know the requirements to fulfill a diagnosis. I learned it while I was in school, and I had issues with some mental illnesses and their diagnosing criteria. Diagnosing can be tricky, especially when it comes to insurance policies. And I know treatment isn't medication only, but right now my therapy isn't working as well as it used to. I'm not in that good of a period in my life right now for reasons I haven't stated, so doing those things are difficult, but I'd like to think I try my best...I exercise, I eat, I practice good hygiene because that's extremely important to me, I try to communicate with people as much as I can, that sort of thing. And when I don't do one or some of those things then I try to forgive myself. So it's not like I'm only taking the medication and that's it. But right now the medication isn't working, and I've been in therapy for almost 3 years, so I'd like something to work, the medication, therapy, something at least.

I try to meditate because I'm spiritual, but I meditate better in the morning. At night time, I'm too anxious, and my anxiety prevents me from sleeping. So it's like a cycle. I think taking environmental control is easier said than done, especially with my surrounding environment. It's gotten better but I don't have the freedom to be myself. That's why I'm trying to find a job so I can move out. But my anxiety around this job search is becoming unbearable and stressing me out even more.

Thanks for the encouragement. I appreciate it.

Thanks to everyone who commented, and for the congratulations. I appreciate the fact that you took the time to read this.

I was once diagnosed as mood disorder NOS but because of insurance reasons, whatevr that means. I'm not sure it'd make a huge difference if the NOS was specified; treatments for bipolar are pretty similar across the spectrum. Maybe the only change might be intensity of treatment.