[glowsinthedark]

I've been diagnosed BP by about 7 different doctors over the course of about 12 years. I've always been skeptical of the diagnosis because I don't feel I really fit the classic description of bipolar and I'm usually very high functioning. I also have episodes of debilitating anxiety/panic, which confuses things a lot.

Anyways, I started seeing a new therapist about a month ago and I recently sent him the majority of my medical records (all the ones I could find that included psych diagnoses). At our last appointment he basically told me I don't have BP and said all my previous docs were either just lazy or trying to pigeon-hole me. While I agree I don't neatly fit into the BP box, his reasoning seems flawed and almost too extreme in the opposite direction. For example, he says that if I experienced hypomania for more than 7 days then it wasn't hypomania because it would have escalated to mania. He also really downplayed certain episodes of delusional thinking, saying that all of that was just part of my health anxiety and was therefore grounded in reality. Finally, we discussed my experience with zoloft, which is that 75mg made me very elevated and 50mg made me suicidally depressed/rapid cycle. This led him to the conclusion that I had one anti-depressant induced mania but was in no way indicative of bipolarity.

It's not that I want to be bipolar, but now I'm having a hard time trusting him because I feel like he doesn't get me. He said if he had to diagnose me he'd go with MDD, which I don't agree with, as my problems have more to do with anxiety and lability/stability. I guess I'm just not really sure how to feel about all of this.

Thanks for reading

I'm very sorry you are confused. I think I would like your doctor and wish I could see them. I think I might just have anxiety, depression and PTSD .......a lot less stigma with those illnesses and I could still take the same medications which help me, minus the label. They say "if the shoe fits, wear it" ....well for me the shoe of bipolar seems to fit but symptoms can mimic so many things I don't think there is any certainty with mental illness.

So it sounds like 7 docs think you're bipolar and 1 doesn't? Are you willing to get a few more opinions? Might that settle things for you?

[~Christina]

I would find a new Therapist...

Noone wants to have Bipolar but his manner would send me running to a new T

Good luck

[Guiness187055]

Your T isn't a doctor. Time to find a new T

[UpDownAround]

I recently had an eight week hypomanic episode. By that t's definition, I guess that means I am curred...

[Wild Coyote]

By your description, I'd also have some misgivings about this therapist.

I do think many pdocs are more careful about labels and try to mindfully determine the accuracy of their first (provisional) diagnosis. In other words, some of the seven docs were careful/thoughtful about your diagnosis.

As Elsa has mentioned, it can be very unclear as to what is causing which symptoms/behaviors, etc. It isn't always clear.

Yet, I would give sufficient weight to the 7 previous pdocs, as well as giving some weight to my own gut reaction to this new therapist.

As I understand things, pdocs have the ultimate authority for determining diagnose, not therapists.

Have you talked about your own thoughts/reactions (to this therapist's opinion) with this therapist?

I think it's very, very important to pay attention to your own gut feelings and any insights in these circumstances.


WC

[Sunflower123]

You really might consider a new T. This one has a few red flags. Best wishes.

[Shazerac]

Like the others said. Your T is not a doctor.

NO hypomania does not automatically escalate to mania. I've been hypomanic many times and it did not turn into mania. And what if your hypomania last 6 days instead of 7. It's just an arbitrary cut off used for diagnostic purposes.

Also there is rapid cycling. I've experienced severe depression and hypomania with a 24 time span.

What he's saying about the antidepressant induced mania is flat out wrong. When a depressed person takes an antidepressant and they get mania. That's a bingo! It indicates that the depressed person is in fact bipolar, but spends a lot of time depressed.

I would give some serious thought to finding A new T or Pdoc. Of course you don't WANT to be bipolar. But if you are and don't receive adequate treatment it will lead to a great deal of suffering.

[*Laurie*]

I've been told by a bunch of pdocs and therapists that I'm bipolar. Several pdocs and therapists have told me that no, I am not bipolar. I no longer pay attention to diagnosis, just to what helps me or doesn't help me.

[scatterbrained04]

Personally, I'd be a little leary of that therapist.

[Nammu]

If yer sceptical about the bipolar diagnosises why are you so upset that this T said yer MMD?

[bioChE]

If a single therapist goes against 7 psychiatrists, it's time to get rid of the therapist.

[glowsinthedark]

Thanks for your thoughts, everyone. I'm supposed to see him again tomorrow and if I don't chicken out I might bring some of this up with him...

@Nammu, I didn't say I was "so upset," I just don't agree with the diagnosis of MDD. What was off-putting to me was not his skepticism of the bp diagnoses, but the reasoning behind it, which made me feel like either I'm not communicating by experience very well, or he just doesn't really get it

[1978dd]

BP 2 does not usually result in mania, but hypomania. Discuss with your T at your next session.

[1978dd]

Originally Posted by *Laurie*

I've been told by a bunch of pdocs and therapists that I'm bipolar. Several pdocs and therapists have told me that no, I am not bipolar. I no longer pay attention to diagnosis, just to what helps me or doesn't help me.

That's the best thing to do, use what works for you, but be open to new ideas. (((Hugs))).

[UpDownAround]

I often question my diagnosis, mostly because I have not had episodes that were really severe; no psychosis and no hospitalization. My social awkwardness and head fog bother me more than the hypomanic episodes. But nothing sucks worse than the depression. Like *Laurie*, I really don't care what they call it if they can treat all those things.

[*Laurie*]

Glows, you can bring it up tomorrow. Just start saying the words and the rest will come. Let us know how it goes.

[Wonderfalls]

The DSM-5 changed its mind with this volume and decided that mania brought on by an antidepressant does in fact merit a bipolar diagnosis. Your therapist sounds full of himself to me.

[glowsinthedark]

well, my therapist cancelled our app yesterday - go figure! but i've been giving things more thought and I think that i'm just going to use our therapy sessions for my family/interpersonal stuff - which is something i always felt was kind of brushed to the side or reduced to 'mood' with previous therapists. i do think he is being a bit arrogant (and clearly isn't schooled in the whole 'spectrum' idea), but whatever. i also feel like he has somewhat 'pigeon-holed' me into the 'tortured artist' / 'mad genius' stereotype. on the one hand it's a nice change of pace to not have every single emotion be interpreted as a symptom of some kind, but maybe he's a bit too extreme in the other direction. like, my 'artistry' would be just fine with about 90% less anxiety thank you very much. grass is always greener i guess.

anyways, i'm kind of rambling but all of your responses really helped me out. i'm just going to continue forward with what makes sense to ME - which is that I have an anxiety disorder + a mood disorder of some kind that certain types of meds help and other types make worse. i'm glad i finally worked up the courage to give lamictal a try before he cast this doubt in me!

[~Christina]

I hope he will focus on what YOU want out of therapy.

[bluemountains]

My past couple of t's have been skeptical at the beginning that I have a bp diagnosis because evidently in therapy circles the feeling is that we're overdiagnosed. In both cases, it didn't take long for me to make converts out of them! My latest t is amazed at how hard the cycles hit me, and how often they come.
Therapists aren't medical doctors. I would trust what the psychiatrists have told you.
Bluemountains

[Row Jimmy]

My p-doc always tells me to focus on the symptoms and not to get caught up in labels. I'm BP but who cares? They could call it something else like "polar bi" and I'd still be throwing my trashcans on the roof of my garage. I need to fix my behavior.

I've never been bi anything but it sounds interesting. Anyway.............

My mom had a variety of diagnoses in her chart that her social worker read off to me, and I was shocked by it. I asked a psychologist friend of mine the meaning of all that. She said there is overlap in symptoms, and not everyone fits into dsm categories. She said people like my mom get diagnosed based on what meds work.

So, a regime more for schizophrenia works? New diagnosis. OMG...

After hearing that, I think yeah--so, one's problems don't neatly fall into certain boxes. What treatment works is more important. Labels-whatever

[giddykitty]

Originally Posted by Shazerac

Like the others said. Your T is not a doctor.

NO hypomania does not automatically escalate to mania. I've been hypomanic many times and it did not turn into mania. And what if your hypomania last 6 days instead of 7. It's just an arbitrary cut off used for diagnostic purposes.

Also there is rapid cycling. I've experienced severe depression and hypomania with a 24 time span.

What he's saying about the antidepressant induced mania is flat out wrong. When a depressed person takes an antidepressant and they get mania. That's a bingo! It indicates that the depressed person is in fact bipolar, but spends a lot of time depressed.

I would give some serious thought to finding A new T or Pdoc. Of course you don't WANT to be bipolar. But if you are and don't receive adequate treatment it will lead to a great deal of suffering.

Originally Posted by Wonderfalls

The DSM-5 changed its mind with this volume and decided that mania brought on by an antidepressant does in fact merit a bipolar diagnosis. Your therapist sounds full of himself to me.

First of all, thanks for this thread. This is my current concern. I've been diagnosed with ADHD by my therapist but on antidepressants for anxiety. My mood has now escalated to, what I might consider, hypomania state for the last 3 or 4 days now. I'll watch it again tomorrow and then check in with my psychiatrist on Monday.

To the OP, you're taking something for bipolar, right? How are you feeling now?

[Zigy]

"it wasn't hypomania because it would have escalated to mania"

IMHO he simply doesn't know what he's talking about. He is unfamiliar with BP.