[FluffyPuppy]

I would like to know if anyone else feels as though they have been wrongfully diagnosed with bipolar and how the label of it has affected there life?

In my personal experience no matter if I'm warranted to be upset, sad or anger and even sometimes happy at things that anyone would feel the conclusion and explanation people seem to have is oh you're bipolar.

I have a number of examples I would like to share. I am a long time survivor of domestic abuse, family abuse, physically, verbally and even sexually. I have never been given an opportunity to speak much about things. I also have been officially diagnosed with Social Anxiety, Generalized Anxiety, Agoraphobia & Panic Disorder. I am currently seeking input and diagnoses for PTSD because i have daily flashbacks of childhood abuse and even more current situations. I am also seeking diagnosis for autism spectrum, I have taking various quizzes along side even ordering physical books that resonate with me and describe me.

What I have noticed with the bipolar label being thrown on me is that anytime I feel anyway whether there is validity or a reason it gets unacknowledged and chalked up as I'm bipolar. this hurts my feelings because I've grown up in an environment that abuse is also chalked up and I'm told I'm only at fault and no one else is.

My family has hurt me a lot through out my life, My grandfather was very violent towards me through childhood and even adulthood, I have specific memories of being backed into closets getting the snot beat out of me, as a teen he pulled a knife on me and threatened to kill me on my 16th birthday and I have never celebrated a birthday since then. as an adult he has also threatened me and over 2 years ago i have made a decision that for majority of anything that I don't want to be involved with family if they are unwilling to see they are a problem and chalk me up as an issue. i sometimes have to visit my grandfather when i see my grandma who is sick and old and i love her very much.

despite these situations if i am angry, sad or hurt i am told i am bipolar and the validity of my pain is discredited.

I've dealt with various physical abuse from multiple family members. As well as people being verbally abuse, I've been told to kill myself by my own family. I'm adopted and this hurts my feelings because i feel that both of my family's don't love me. Despite this I am told i am bipolar.

I have dealt with sexual abuse as a kid from family members and i have vivid memories of watching extreme rape porn and have also been involved with incest. This has ruined sex and relationships with me and i legit self harmed and wanted to commit suicide when losing my virginity as a teen. If i am ever hurt about these things and how i cannot connect in adult relationships with women or i am angry i am labeled bipolar.

My family also refuses to understand my anxiety disorders, somedays i am not talkative and they treat me as if i am purposely being malicious towards them and do not consider my 4 diagnosed anxiety disorders. they become violent towards me but i am made to seem like i am the aggressor. For the past 2 years or so i have had no contact with majority of my family, i sometimes visit my sick grandmother. Despite a pandemic and my issues noone has called to say they love me or ask how i am or contact me. If i am upset, frustrated or angry I am labelled bipolar.

Sometimes it can be difficult to express myself and i know a lot of people not just me can be better at expressing there hurt. Personally i feel as a male that i am not acknowledged and it is also difficult to talk about sexual abuse without judgment. When i was a teen i was forced to go out in public and wear women's clothing and that is what started social anxiety for me and another time i died inside. I feel that people don't want to hear these things because it makes them uncomfortable but if i become sad, frustrated or angry i am labeled bipolar. I feel that as a male i am often conditioned to only express myself through anger but if i say how i really feel its often completely ignored.

I also deal with quite a few medical issues that don't get taken into consideration and i don't have a support system or people that have my back.

I'm curious if anyone else feels like a label hinders or invalidates their experiences and if people are unwilling to see anything else as a problem and just make them out to be wrong. I am so sorry for anyone who has been diagnosed with bipolar whether they actually do have it or not. I'm sorry that people can be nasty towards you but if you become angry, sad, frustrated its made to be your fault. I feel just as defenseless as i was as a kid that if i stand up for myself things only get worse.

[wildflowerchild25]

Yes, my late husband used to invalidate me a lot. He used to downplay my feelings or blame me for them. He would say, “how can you do this to me” in regards to depression. Like if I started getting depressed, he would tell me I better not because I couldn’t put my family through that, like it was somehow my fault or I was doing it intentionally. Brought me right back to childhood when my mom would tell me I can’t be depressed because she can’t handle it anymore.

I’m sorry you suffered such abuse. That sounds horrific. Thankfully, I never experienced anything that bad. I just experienced extreme emotional neglect, even physical neglect. I always had enough to eat but my mom didn’t pay attention enough to have me do simple things like shower. I had to learn that on my own after I got made fun of in school. I also didn’t have much clothing, and what I did have was old and ratty, though we could afford at least off brand stuff. She just never went out to buy it. But oh, you could be sure she bought things for herself. She’s a hoarder. She got herself into serious dent.

Anyway this isn’t about me.

FluffyPuppy, welcome to PC's bipolar forum! What you describe that you've gone through sounds absolutely horrible! I admire that you are able to recognize fully what you've been through and question your diagnosis, if you feel it is incorrect. I assume you've discussed all of this with a therapist and/or psychiatrist? If you feel that they are not hearing you sufficiently, I hope you will consider getting second opinions. It is crucial that we receive the right treatment for the right mental health issues.

I can't say that my family blames my bipolar disorder for my behavior that justifiably falls within understandable and reasonable ranges. I do feel free to express myself. However, I don't have the familial abuse history that you state you have. Actually, when it comes to my bipolar behavior, my family is less likely to recognize some bipolar symptoms as abnormal. But you are definitely not alone in your experience. I have read posts from several other people who state what you mention about bipolar disorder blamed for normal range emotional expressions.

Since I do not know your family, I can't know what motivates them in what they say or do. But I can't help but think blaming bipolar disorder isn't just another means they use to restrict you in some way.

I don't know how old you are, but it may benefit you to step away from those abusive people. Free yourself. The steps to do that, literally or figuratively would be something to discuss with a therapist that seems to listen to you carefully.

[FluffyPuppy]

Originally Posted by BirdDancer

FluffyPuppy, welcome to PC's bipolar forum! What you describe that you've gone through sounds absolutely horrible! I admire that you are able to recognize fully what you've been through and question your diagnosis, if you feel it is incorrect. I assume you've discussed all of this with a therapist and/or psychiatrist? If you feel that they are not hearing you sufficiently, I hope you will consider getting second opinions. It is crucial that we receive the right treatment for the right mental health issues.

I can't say that my family blames my bipolar disorder for my behavior that justifiably falls within understandable and reasonable ranges. I do feel free to express myself. However, I don't have the familial abuse history that you state you have. Actually, when it comes to my bipolar behavior, my family is less likely to recognize some bipolar symptoms as abnormal. But you are definitely not alone in your experience. I have read posts from several other people who state what you mention about bipolar disorder blamed for normal range emotional expressions.

Since I do not know your family, I can't know what motivates them in what they say or do. But I can't help but think blaming bipolar disorder isn't just another means they use to restrict you in some way.

I don't know how old you are, but it may benefit you to step away from those abusive people. Free yourself. The steps to do that, literally or figuratively would be something to discuss with a therapist that seems to listen to you carefully.

I have tried expressing these things throughout my life but part of my anxiety disorders makes talking in general hard. I have thought about using speak assistance tools because it is that difficult for me a lot of the time. I think i have lost a lot of faith in the mental health industry as a whole and with docs in general. I was actually just creating a list of all the medications i have been on through out my life because im filing for disability again.

I've been on over 20+ psych meds alone and the only ones that help with my multiple anxiety disorders alone is klonpin, ativan and my blood pressure medication. I have taken, anti depressants, antipsychotics, anti anxiety as well as off label, antihistamines and the beta blockers, herbal supplements.

Since i've had the bipolar label thrown on me i have even had psychiatrists be abusive towards me and my warranted frustration about things is chalked up as bipolar. Even if i become frustrated at a doctors opinion i am labeled bipolor.

I feel like i am forced not to be able to express how i feel because thats fuel to use against me to hurt or punish me with hospitalizations. it makes the whole hospitalization experience a lot worse for me when i feel its a tool for punishment when people refuse to understand my anxiety and frustration or want to acknowledge my trauma in my past. I feel that acknowledging my past would wipe the label off my slate because it gives validity to my emotions when others act like it never happened but in that would mean accountability of others and they're not willing.

I do have a woman I've been talking to in another state and she loves me dearly and says she wants to help and take me away. change is very hard for me, could be due to the anxietys or suspected autism spectrum. environmental changes are hard and lots of things scare me like loud noises sensitivity to lighting, people and i also have a hard time walking due to medical concerns. It can be very frustrating with so many things going on.

FluffyPuppy, I know that trust issues are very difficult issues. I have had some major ones in my life, too. I do want to say that there ARE people out there that are trustworthy. There are. It's a shame that it can sometimes take a while to either find them and/or allow yourself to trust them. I can see how discouraging it's been for you with therapists and psychiatrists. Please don't totally give up on those professions. Often we must keep looking for good fits. Even if it takes many searches.