[Neptune83]

Three years ago my therapist said she believed I either had DID or bipolar disorder, but she said she felt she was leaning more toward DID. Our sessions came to an end shortly after and a psychiatrist diagnosed bipolar and BPD. However, I think they may have it wrong. Is this common? To get it wrong?

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by Neptune83

Three years ago my therapist said she believed I either had DID or bipolar disorder, but she said she felt she was leaning more toward DID. Our sessions came to an end shortly after and a psychiatrist diagnosed bipolar and BPD. However, I think they may have it wrong. Is this common? To get it wrong?

your profile says you are in the UK so your location may have different standards for diagnosing DID and bipolar disorder than what we have here in the USA...

I have bipolar and a past diagnosis of DID (all my DID type alters have been integrated so I no longer am DID because of the diagnostic criteria states a person with DID must have at least two special type alters that take control many times. since my alters are now integrated theres no alters to take control any more in the sense of the diagnostic criteria)

I do still have mood switching/ alter ego's/ introject type alters which here where I live and work is different than having DID type alters but is very similar to having DID type alters but are from my having other mental health problems like my psychosis symptoms with my bipolar disorder.

if you dont agree with your diagnosis you can contact your psychiatrist. they can explain the reasoning/ why you did not meet the UK diagnostic criteria for DID but did meet the diagnostic criteria for having bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder, and why your symptoms match better with bipolar and borderline personality disorder(BPD).

[grace428]

Originally Posted by Neptune83

Three years ago my therapist said she believed I either had DID or bipolar disorder, but she said she felt she was leaning more toward DID. Our sessions came to an end shortly after and a psychiatrist diagnosed bipolar and BPD. However, I think they may have it wrong. Is this common? To get it wrong?

Interesting. I actually have in the past been diagnosed by masters level therapists with bpd and bipolar. When I finally started seeing a psychologist he said I was neither, that I am DID. I had been diagnosed and treated for MPD 25 years ago also. I can see the difference in treatment modalities for MPD and DID, and very much agree with the change to DID and it's treatment. I am doing much better now. A medical dr. suggested a med to even out my moods, which I take faithfully and at a low dose is very helpful.
Hang in there- it sometimes takes a long time to figure us out, we are all so complex and individual. God's peace to you!

If i remember correctly its common for people with DID to get misdiagnosed several times before they receive the correct DID diagnosis.
Many years ago a new psychiatrist i saw for a short time tried to tell me i was bipolar. I knew at the time she was wrong (i knew i had DID) but that was her diagnosis and she stuck to it. She tried to give me antipsychotic meds to make the voices go away. They didnt work, of course. She didnt understand why. I was like, its because i am not bipolar and because the voices are real... But she didnt get it. I didnt see her for very long.

[Neptune83]

Thank you for your replies.
I don't have a psychiatrist, back in 2010 I was under the crisis team here and attending a day unit, part of that was seeing a psychiatrist. I saw two, one who said my moods were pretty much level and meant nothing, and a second who didn't really say much but sent me his report and put on that a diagnosis of bipolar and BPD. He gave me no explanation. I've seen a couple of psychiatrists since, who came out to me because I was losing the plot. None of them want to discuss the diagnosis the other guy made and everyone I've seen seems to be the same. They'll offer me medication and say it'll help with anxiety which they think is my main problem. It is a problem, but I don't believe it's simply just anxiety and that's it. I have mood swings which are extremely disruptive and always have been, have found myself in situations I never thought I'd get myself into, done things that for the level headed 'me' are completely out of character. I've been told many times that I've turned into a completely different person, behave different, sound different etc but have little to no recollection apart from remembering an intense feeling of rage. I don't remember what I've said, I have images in my head of some things I've done but its like its not me who's done that. The world doesn't seem real and I don't feel real, detached from everything, from reality. I see things and hear voices that aren't there and will respond to them, which makes me look crackers. One minute I can be completely fine, then like someone's turned on a switch I'm not me any more. I don't even remember what others have said to me, apparently my husband has said stuff to me out of anger with how I've been and he's apologising for it and I'm asking why on earth he's saying sorry because he's not said anything. It's like a complete blank. I've said all this to someone yesterday and they sat there and said they didn't think it was DID because in the hour that they were with me, they hadn't witnessed a change in personality. I think that's ridiculous, she said if that were correct I'd have changed in that hour. I've read that it isn't as she explained. The therapist I saw I saw for months, she witnessed what I'm talking about which is when she said she thought it was DID rather than bipolar. I just want to get to the bottom of what's wrong so I can try to put it right.

[grace428]

Originally Posted by Neptune83

Thank you for your replies.
I don't have a psychiatrist, back in 2010 I was under the crisis team here and attending a day unit, part of that was seeing a psychiatrist. I saw two, one who said my moods were pretty much level and meant nothing, and a second who didn't really say much but sent me his report and put on that a diagnosis of bipolar and BPD. He gave me no explanation. I've seen a couple of psychiatrists since, who came out to me because I was losing the plot. None of them want to discuss the diagnosis the other guy made and everyone I've seen seems to be the same. They'll offer me medication and say it'll help with anxiety which they think is my main problem. It is a problem, but I don't believe it's simply just anxiety and that's it. I have mood swings which are extremely disruptive and always have been, have found myself in situations I never thought I'd get myself into, done things that for the level headed 'me' are completely out of character. I've been told many times that I've turned into a completely different person, behave different, sound different etc but have little to no recollection apart from remembering an intense feeling of rage. I don't remember what I've said, I have images in my head of some things I've done but its like its not me who's done that. The world doesn't seem real and I don't feel real, detached from everything, from reality. I see things and hear voices that aren't there and will respond to them, which makes me look crackers. One minute I can be completely fine, then like someone's turned on a switch I'm not me any more. I don't even remember what others have said to me, apparently my husband has said stuff to me out of anger with how I've been and he's apologising for it and I'm asking why on earth he's saying sorry because he's not said anything. It's like a complete blank. I've said all this to someone yesterday and they sat there and said they didn't think it was DID because in the hour that they were with me, they hadn't witnessed a change in personality. I think that's ridiculous, she said if that were correct I'd have changed in that hour. I've read that it isn't as she explained. The therapist I saw I saw for months, she witnessed what I'm talking about which is when she said she thought it was DID rather than bipolar. I just want to get to the bottom of what's wrong so I can try to put it right.

I don't blame you for wanting to know what's going on with you! With my current psych. D. he saw me for several weeks and said I wasn't MPD. I was overjoyed, but somehow "knew" better. It took a few more months for me to trust him enough to be who I really am, because I had been abandoned by a previous therapist after 3 intense years of therapy who developed emotions for me and quit suddenly. I think it's hard to trust in the first place anyone who holds so much power, in our eyes, anyway. Wishing you strength to keep looking until you find the one who's right for you. We are all individually and uniquely made.

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by Neptune83

Thank you for your replies.
I don't have a psychiatrist, back in 2010 I was under the crisis team here and attending a day unit, part of that was seeing a psychiatrist. I saw two, one who said my moods were pretty much level and meant nothing, and a second who didn't really say much but sent me his report and put on that a diagnosis of bipolar and BPD. He gave me no explanation. I've seen a couple of psychiatrists since, who came out to me because I was losing the plot. None of them want to discuss the diagnosis the other guy made and everyone I've seen seems to be the same. They'll offer me medication and say it'll help with anxiety which they think is my main problem. It is a problem, but I don't believe it's simply just anxiety and that's it. I have mood swings which are extremely disruptive and always have been, have found myself in situations I never thought I'd get myself into, done things that for the level headed 'me' are completely out of character. I've been told many times that I've turned into a completely different person, behave different, sound different etc but have little to no recollection apart from remembering an intense feeling of rage. I don't remember what I've said, I have images in my head of some things I've done but its like its not me who's done that. The world doesn't seem real and I don't feel real, detached from everything, from reality. I see things and hear voices that aren't there and will respond to them, which makes me look crackers. One minute I can be completely fine, then like someone's turned on a switch I'm not me any more. I don't even remember what others have said to me, apparently my husband has said stuff to me out of anger with how I've been and he's apologising for it and I'm asking why on earth he's saying sorry because he's not said anything. It's like a complete blank. I've said all this to someone yesterday and they sat there and said they didn't think it was DID because in the hour that they were with me, they hadn't witnessed a change in personality. I think that's ridiculous, she said if that were correct I'd have changed in that hour. I've read that it isn't as she explained. The therapist I saw I saw for months, she witnessed what I'm talking about which is when she said she thought it was DID rather than bipolar. I just want to get to the bottom of what's wrong so I can try to put it right.

just a note about how a person who sees many treatment providers can get many different diagnosis and the treatment providers not be willing to discuss with past treatment providers....

people change from day to day, week to week, month to month, day to day..

a person can have active symptoms of one mental disorder and then those symptoms subside/go away with treatment or by their selves. then when the person goes to the next treatment provider days, weeks, months or yrs later their symptoms are completely different or a bit different which changes the diagnosis and treatment options.

I went to one psychiatrist with anxiety symptoms. I was diagnosed with general anxiety disorder (GAD). major depressive disorder, bulimia nervosa (an eating disorder) obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).

my anxiety symptoms went away even though I did not have any of those problems the meds are commonly used for.

I go to the next psychiatrist and she diagnoses me with Schizo-affective disorder because I was not having any anxiety symptoms at that time. I had other symptoms that commonly come with schizo-affective disorder (depression, manic/obsessive thoughts/hearing voices/...) I get medicated with an antidepressant/anti psychotic.

I go to the next psychiatrist and am no longer showing depression, manic/obsessive thoughts but I still hear voices. and having new symptoms.. this psychiatrist diagnoses me with Schizophrenia. on comes another type of medication.

I go to another psychiatrist still hearing voices, depression and anxiety...I get diagnosed with seasonal depression, GAD and psychosis. heres yet another antidepressant/anti psychotic.

I go to another psychiatrist who tests me and with the symptoms I was presenting then I was diagnosed with PTSD. OCD with psychotic features.

this keeps up with my symptoms changing as I grow older and I get tested and my diagnosis are DID, borderline personality disorder, SAD (seasonal depression)

time has past, I have changed, my problem areas have changed and my symptoms have changed so my diagnosis has changed even from just a few months ago.. at the moment pregnancy is out because I gave birth to my children, DID is out now because my alters are all integrated,, the type of depression I have at the moment is not SAD or GAD its post natal depression, and manic symptoms so the bipolar is in, not having any anxiety at this time so last week that was not put on my records,.....

people change and so do their symptoms from day to day, week to week, month to month, yr to yr. so of course a persons diagnosis is going to change from one psychiatrist to another...

my present psychiatrist does not talk with my past psychiatrists because he is diagnosing and treating me based upon my present problems/symptoms that I present him with.

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by Neptune83

Thank you for your replies.
I don't have a psychiatrist, back in 2010 I was under the crisis team here and attending a day unit, part of that was seeing a psychiatrist. I saw two, one who said my moods were pretty much level and meant nothing, and a second who didn't really say much but sent me his report and put on that a diagnosis of bipolar and BPD. He gave me no explanation. I've seen a couple of psychiatrists since, who came out to me because I was losing the plot. None of them want to discuss the diagnosis the other guy made and everyone I've seen seems to be the same. They'll offer me medication and say it'll help with anxiety which they think is my main problem. It is a problem, but I don't believe it's simply just anxiety and that's it. I have mood swings which are extremely disruptive and always have been, have found myself in situations I never thought I'd get myself into, done things that for the level headed 'me' are completely out of character. I've been told many times that I've turned into a completely different person, behave different, sound different etc but have little to no recollection apart from remembering an intense feeling of rage. I don't remember what I've said, I have images in my head of some things I've done but its like its not me who's done that. The world doesn't seem real and I don't feel real, detached from everything, from reality. I see things and hear voices that aren't there and will respond to them, which makes me look crackers. One minute I can be completely fine, then like someone's turned on a switch I'm not me any more. I don't even remember what others have said to me, apparently my husband has said stuff to me out of anger with how I've been and he's apologising for it and I'm asking why on earth he's saying sorry because he's not said anything. It's like a complete blank. I've said all this to someone yesterday and they sat there and said they didn't think it was DID because in the hour that they were with me, they hadn't witnessed a change in personality. I think that's ridiculous, she said if that were correct I'd have changed in that hour. I've read that it isn't as she explained. The therapist I saw I saw for months, she witnessed what I'm talking about which is when she said she thought it was DID rather than bipolar. I just want to get to the bottom of what's wrong so I can try to put it right.

just a quick note on the other symptoms you mentioned...mood switching sometimes so quick like turning a switch, feeling different, having memory problems all these things can happen with bipolar disorder...see theres more to being DID than those things... example...

dissociation is a normal response to being triggered. which means the switching into alternate personalities are trigger related..

a persons mood normally switches and sometimes as the saying goes at the drop of a hat or like turning on and off a switch. a person can go from happy to say or happy to angry in a snap that's completely normal

a persons moods are much more erratic with bipolar disorder. I was with my wife and children last night..one second I was watching my babies and talking with my wife and was happy. the next second I was needing to get up walk around and leave me alone attitude, while trying to do this that and the other thing all at once. then my mood switched back to being very happy, then my mood switched to being very tired....

before my alters were integrated a switch into an alter was like sitting at the lake campsite talking with near by campers. someone lit a cigarette. I had a sense of extreme fear then the alter that had been burned with a cigarette took over and yelled at the person to put that out, no smoking here, get away from us....once the camper put out the triggering object I became aware again.

thats how things happen with DID switching the person gets triggered and an alter takes over control and deals with that triggering event.

DID isnt about mood switching. its about extreme trauma and dissociation (some people use the term Flight or Fight mode instead of the term dissociation)

[Neptune83]

Gosh that must have been tough on you, to see someone that long and suddenly not.
Trust is a major issue with me, I find that really difficult and don't trust any medical professionals. The therapist I saw I built trust with over some months, but there were only so many sessions available and she couldn't diagnose me she said. Not being a psychologist or whatever. But I think she knew me better than any other professional I saw.

[Neptune83]

I've found all the psychiatrists I've ever seen unhelpful mostly. They don't seem to listen and they seem to do one of two things, either say there's nothing wrong with me or its just anxiety. I KNOW it's not just anxiety on its own, although that does cause me trouble. And I know I'm not right, I've known there was something wrong since I was a kid.

[peaches100]

I have often wondered if I have co-conscious DID but because I am aware of my "parts," my t doesn't recognize it as a form of DID.

[Sabra]

I've said all this to someone yesterday and they sat there and said they didn't think it was DID because in the hour that they were with me, they hadn't witnessed a change in personality. I think that's ridiculous, she said if that were correct I'd have changed in that hour. I've read that it isn't as she explained. The therapist I saw I saw for months, she witnessed what I'm talking about which is when she said she thought it was DID rather than bipolar. I just want to get to the bottom of what's wrong so I can try to put it right.[/quote]

Hello,

One way you survive with DID is to hide. In my experience, alters don't come appear unless they fell safe. The person you spoke with yesterday isn't trustworthy and apparently doesn't know how to work with DID.

Is there a referal service in your area, call them. Look online for therapists who have worked with trauma. BTW, what happened to the therapist you were seeing before who saw alters?

Sabra

[innocentjoy]

Originally Posted by Neptune83

I've found all the psychiatrists I've ever seen unhelpful mostly. They don't seem to listen and they seem to do one of two things, either say there's nothing wrong with me or its just anxiety. I KNOW it's not just anxiety on its own, although that does cause me trouble. And I know I'm not right, I've known there was something wrong since I was a kid.

I've been misdiagnosed with issues since I was 9, so 20 years now. It's been everything from Seasonal affective disorder, to bipolar, to psychosis (which ended up being other parts speaking in my head), to anxiety and depression. The worst was Borderlind PD. As soon as I received that diagnosis, the medical system as a whole treated me differently. It was hard to be taken seriously, as it was seen as attention seeking. I had an 8 year old in me that had to go to the ER, and was treated like an oversensitive, hysteric adult who just wanted attention and sympathy.

It wasn't until I got involved with counseling for past s/abuse that things started changing. I'm now working with a psychologist (who also has an m.d.), a case worker, a counseling office, and they are all great, for the most part.

I would suggest trying to find someone who is known for working with trauma survivors, and understands the effects that trauma can have on someone. You can search online, or whatever. I was lucky, I got a name from my case worker of someone, and called him. He said he was full and would have to wait until there was an opening, but then I left him a message as the 8 year old, and he noticed the difference in my voice, etc right away. I hadn't even known I was switching ages before I saw him.

I hope you are able (or already have) someone who can understand the differences between trauma-related disorders, and others.

[lifelies]

Although it's not an official diagnosis, our father who's physician and used to be psychiatrist "diagnosed" us with Cyclothymia and BPD.
Thanksfully we didn't receive any medications since it's not a valid diagnosis
Lana
Lifelies

[Bloem]

I have over the years had different diagnoses, Also, bipolar disorder. Took medication and some but not all symptoms disappeared. There were several indications that I could have DID. But strangely enough, I rather had an Bipolar Disorder than DID. Both difficult diagnoses to have. But I thought if I had DID i would know it, Although the symptoms were clearly, for me it was bipolar. I still have a bipolar disorder, but the symptoms are reduced since I know I have DID. I take medication for bipolar but less than before and that works for me.

Bloem