[Bipolarchic14]

I asked her today if she thought I am bipolar because I have been working with her for a month now. She said she's not sure if I'm bipolar she said I meet more of the criteria for cyclothimia due to rapid mood shifts. She said they don't seem severe enough. Then she added why does it matter. I said it matters because I am on 300 mg of lamictal and 40 mg of Latuda. She talked to me about uping my latuda to 60 and I was like b!tch we are headed the wrong way if you think I am misdiagnosed. If I am not bipolar I don't want the Meds that go with it.

If it is true and I am only cyclothimic do I still need medicine or do I hsve hopes of getting off of it someday and being okay.

[MusicLover82]

I don't know much about cyclothymia, but good luck!

[Bipolarchic14]

The other thing I was thinking is my swings aren't as severe because I am on 300 ml of lamictal and 40 of latuda. I have looked into it more. It's bipolar. My trends down are too low to not be major depression.

I would love to get off my Meds but they have helped. It would be awesome if I was not given a diagnosis that suggests i'm screwed the rest of my life.

[MusicLover82]

Originally Posted by Bipolarchic14

The other thing I was thinking is my swings aren't as severe because I am on 300 ml of lamictal and 40 of latuda. I have looked into it more. It's bipolar. My trends down are too low to not be major depression.

I would love to get off my Meds but they have helped. It would be awesome if I was not given a diagnosis that suggests i'm screwed the rest of my life.

I wouldn't say we're screwed for the rest of our lives, but I get your point. Bipolar is kind of a terrible thing to be diagnosed with. But there is beauty to be found in everything, I think. I connect more deeply with other people because of my depth of emotion and my openheartedness. I don't know. Sometimes I feel screwed, other times I feel grateful. I try to lean toward the grateful side.

[MusicLover82]

P.S. How old are you (approximately) and how long have you been treated for bipolar symptoms? I'm just curious. I think you will change your outlook after being treated for a while and you get older. I was diagnosed in 2003, and I'm in my early 30's.

[Bipolarchic14]

In my 30s. I was diagnosed 8 yrs ago after coming off of a pretty intense high that lasted for about a month. It left me with this strange obsession with my boss which caused me to do some illegal stuff I won't spell out. Anyway I ended up crashing. After my mom died I started having these vicious mood swings where I am on top of the world and within an hr I can be Bauling my eyes out holding a box knife trying to get up the courage to get it over with. this started almost four years ago.

[seoultous]

Originally Posted by Bipolarchic14

In my 30s. I was diagnosed 8 yrs ago after coming off of a pretty intense high that lasted for about a month. It left me with this strange obsession with my boss which caused me to do some illegal stuff I won't spell out. Anyway I ended up crashing. After my mom died I started having these vicious mood swings where I am on top of the world and within an hr I can be Bauling my eyes out holding a box knife trying to get up the courage to get it over with. this started almost four years ago.

Sounds like a manic episode, hence the BP diagnosis. I know my BP was diagnosed after a hypomanic state induced by a huge stressor in my life. Were you diagnosed then by the same doctor you have now?

[CobolCapsule]

If your meds are helping you, than i wouldn't give it too much thought. Cyclothymia is just a milder form of bipolar that gets worse with age turning into bipolar.

If your meds are working, than i don't know how a doctor can give you a new diagnosis based on how you feel on meds.

[Bipolarchic14]

Originally Posted by seoultous

Sounds like a manic episode, hence the BP diagnosis. I know my BP was diagnosed after a hypomanic state induced by a huge stressor in my life. Were you diagnosed then by the same doctor you have now?

No I just started see this one. She is wrong though. I meet the criteria for bipolar 2. My moods started fluctuating after I started on lamictal. They dismissed but I am revisiting with the new dr next month.

[Bipolarchic14]

Originally Posted by CobolCapsule

If your meds are helping you, than i wouldn't give it too much thought. Cyclothymia is just a milder form of bipolar that gets worse with age turning into bipolar.

If your meds are working, than i don't know how a doctor can give you a new diagnosis based on how you feel on meds.

Though I understand that some don't care about labels but she is diagnosing me off a side effect from another med which means I am not necessarily taking the right Meds.

[reader1587]

Originally Posted by CobolCapsule

If your meds are helping you, than i wouldn't give it too much thought. Cyclothymia is just a milder form of bipolar that gets worse with age turning into bipolar.

If your meds are working, than i don't know how a doctor can give you a new diagnosis based on how you feel on meds.

Cyclothymia does *not* automatically turn into bipolar, you shouldn't say things like that.

[Asteya]

You know lamictal is an anti seizure med right?? Does the meds matter if they work???

[*Laurie*]

I wouldn't pay so much attention to the label because it can change on a a dime. Cyclothymia can suddenly because a bipolar episode. Go with which med, at whatever dose, works at this time.

[Shazerac]

Cyclothymia is under the bipolar umbrella. It’s a mood disorder. It is treated with the same Meds as bipolar type 1, 2, or NOS. Your inceased mood swings could be caused by your Meds or it could be a phase of your illness.

[~Christina]

I love old 2017 threads that come to life again

[Shazerac]

Originally Posted by ~Christina

I love old 2017 threads that come to life again

well sometimes the new threads get boring so we need to dredge up the old classics.

If I went to a new psychiatrist and didn't tell him/her anything about my past history, they wouldn't think I had much wrong with me at all. They'd tell me to get some good sleep, eat my veggies, and have a good time. A doctor shouldn't just diagnose you solely on what they've seen or not seen. A person's history is important.

If you believe your depression symptoms were severe at any time in the past, describe them to your current psychiatrist in detail. Ditto for any manic or hypomanic symptoms.

Just because a person is not currently mentally unwell doesn't necessarily take away a mental health diagnosis.

As for Cyclothymia, that is a serious mental health disorder. If it wasn't, it wouldn't be in the DSM-5. Prolonged minor to moderate mood episodes are not "nothing". If one qualifies for that diagnosis, medications are often necessary.