[starrina]

I have a question for someone please
I would like to know if someone
can be bi-polar and doctors not see it
for whatever reason I am seriously beginning to
question everything about me and my life and
diagnosis I have been given my daughter
and a few other people tell me I am well my
daughter calls me a mental retard ( please excuse that word)
some have threatened to have me
sectioned and they are people on the internet
do they see something others do not see
yes I know that they cannot really do that
but it makes me seriously wonder what do they see
that others ( doctors) do not see and do they see
it because I talk a little more freely on the net or at home
ugh any advice please I just can't find the
answers to the questions that keep going on in my
mind and its driving me mad

[suze999]

Dusty, you say in your profile that your primary concern is DID. Are you saying that you definitely have DID, but are concerned you are also bipolar? And when others are saying "mental retard," are they just calling you names or do you have an intellectual disability (no judgment here, I have a son with Down syndrome)? I just want to make sure I understand your question.

[Slothrop]

Has anyone told you WHY they think you are bipolar?

Are they seeing mood swings or other erratic changes in you?

They may be confused over what bipolar disorder is...

As for the "mental retard" comment, I have certainly heard children say worse things to their parents...

Any mental diagnosis is subject to change, in my opinion! Don't be worried about questioning yours.

[Rebound]

Bipolar disorder is notoriously hard to diagnose. I believe my own case is typical. When I was in a manic state, it never occurred to seek help. I was either feeling great or generally pissed off at the world and either way wasn't interested in seeing a doctor. I only went whenever I was too depressed to function so I was treated for depression and once that happened it was tough to shake the idea that I was depressed and not bipolar. That continued for years until it became obvious that meds for depression just wouldn't work for me.

I finally found info online, here in particular, that lead me to believe I was bipolar so I went to my doctor and sort of lead him to ask the right questions so it wouldn't be a case of me self-diagnosing. But that was only after about 5 years of being treated for depression. In my opinion, your best bet is to see a doctor and be completely forthcoming about your feelings.

[nicedd]

You definitly need to see a psychitrist. My regular dr. treated me for depression for 8 years with Prozac and Xanax. Which from what I understand Prozac is the worst thing to take when you are Bipolar.which is also why I never got any better. The first thing my psych dr. did was take me off of the Prozac and put me on Lexapro worked for awhile then the depression got even worse. Now I am on Lexapro and Lamictal but I am noticing a change in my moods again so I may have to ask for a change of medicine. For the most part having a diagnoses for how I feel is great the down side is I have been taking Ambien for 2 years ang can not seem to give it up and I use Xanax every time I feel the slightest bit of anxiety and I use it in addition to the Ambien in order to sleep at night. I hope you find an answer to our questions. Write down how you feel not how others tell you and then find a dr. and tell him whats going on. remember you are not alone. I wish you the best of luck an dhope you feel better soon