[hopealwayz]

This past week, I took a test in regards to Bipolar to see what it would say, and my results said that I scored a 11 out of 13 and it said that those items were indicative of Bipolar. I saved the results but I don’t know whether I should show them to my T. I’m worried that he may not take that seriously. However, if he would pay more attention to my family history, he would remember that I have a close cousin with Bipolar so it’s not impossible that I could have it. I really hope not but I’m scared that if I do have Bipolar and have a medication problem, then it would be more challenging and I wouldn’t want something like that to cause a hospitalization.

Or maybe I don’t have it and when I don’t take my ADHD meds, I can be very hyperactive and all over the place because I have ADHD Combined type that includes my very hyper behavior.

[susannahsays]

If you mean some sort of online test, I wouldn't take those results seriously.

[zoiecat]

I agree with Susanna. Therapists, especially Pdocs have extensive training in order to diagnose clients. They will not take much value from an online questioner. You seem to be making progress Hope. Please try to concentrate on improving your symptoms regardless of what diagnosis they are from. Just like with the BPD, the diagnosis is not important. Treating the symptoms is what matters. In my opinion, it is just a waste of valuable and expensive time continuing to discuss a diagnosis. You are lucky to be seeing a Pdoc for therapy. If there is a problem with your meds he will be able to assist with that.

You have been making great strides; keep focusing on your treatment plan and trust your Pdoc.

Originally Posted by zoiecat

I agree with Susanna. Therapists, especially Pdocs have extensive training in order to diagnose clients. They will not take much value from an online questioner. You seem to be making progress Hope. Please try to concentrate on improving your symptoms regardless of what diagnosis they are from. Just like with the BPD, the diagnosis is not important. Treating the symptoms is what matters. In my opinion, it is just a waste of valuable and expensive time continuing to discuss a diagnosis. You are lucky to be seeing a Pdoc for therapy. If there is a problem with your meds he will be able to assist with that.

You have been making great strides; keep focusing on your treatment plan and trust your Pdoc.

I don't mean to start an argument or anything. But, psychologists also have very extensive training and experience with diagnoses. I have had several psychiatrists make mistakes on my diagnosis, and the psychologists I have seen were right. I know that these experiences are anecdotal. But, I have also worked with psychiatrists in a former career, and have seen them make huge mistakes in diagnoses.

Being a physician doesn't make you an expert at everything.

I agree with zoie - find a psychologist or psychiatrist to treat symptoms- your choice who to see and trust. In my experience both are usually capable, but are human just the same.

[junkDNA]

Honestly , you could go to 10 different clinicians and potentially get 10 different diagnoses

It's all theoretical, and seems to be quite arbitrary , in my opinion

[sophiebunny]

Looking for an alternate diagnosis isn't going to change the symptoms you are suffering from. In fact you may be treated with the wrong meds and get the inaccurate treatment. Only a psychiatrist should diagnose serious mental illnesses like bipolar 1 disorder or bipolar 2 disorder.

[coolibrarian]

You could mention your fears of being bipolar in general terms, and not mention the test at all.

As a former Physician Assistant, I've known psychologists that have diagnosed people with bipolar among other diagnoses, and they were correct.

[sophiebunny]

Originally Posted by Going Ballistic

As a former Physician Assistant, I've known psychologists that have diagnosed people with bipolar among other diagnoses, and they were correct.

I had a PhD psychologist diagnose me with schizophrenia. It ended up in my permanent medical record. Was transferred electronically. Every time I went to see a physician in that health system they asked me about my schizophrenia. When I told them I'm not schizophrenic, I got patronizing looks. When my psychiatrist found out she had diagnosed me with schizophrenia he was very unhappy. I actually have bipolar 1 disorder with psychosis. He had to go through the insurance company and try and straighten it out. That health system still hasn't changed their records. I will NEVER let anyone but a psychiatrist diagnose me.

Not all clinicians are good. You have good psychologists and bad ones too. Same goes for any provider. I have had a very bad experience with one psychologist too. But, still psychologists get a lot of training in diagnoses.

Originally Posted by sheltiemom2007

Looking for an alternate diagnosis isn't going to change the symptoms you are suffering from. In fact you may be treated with the wrong meds and get the inaccurate treatment. Only a psychiatrist should diagnose serious mental illnesses like bipolar 1 disorder or bipolar 2 disorder.

Although, I agree bipolar is a mental illness with potentially serious symptoms, please do not assume anyone who lives with bipolar suffers in the same way. If you are uncomfortable with taking medication from a stranger, I would absolutely talk with a psychologist. A clinical psychologist will recommend you go to a psychiatrist for medication if that is his or her professional opinion. But ultimately, I believe it is your choice whether you want to utilize prescription meds to help determine your diagnosis and learn one path to living a healthy life with your diagnosis.

@Sheltiemom, in my state, there are tons of psychologists working in state run mental health clinics. In order for a patient to be seen in one of these clinics, they have to have a severe mental illness. So, the psychiatrists would be providing meds and the psychologists would be doing talk therapy. And both providers do diagnoses at these clinics were SEVERELY mentally ill patients are seen.

As a PA, I've worked at one of these clinics for a little while.

[Hummingbird1950]

This is quite true. My psych doc of 30 years refused to dx me with BiPolar and yet one week with a new psych doc and he was determined I had BPll and now that is on my insurance chart.


Same with my neurological symptoms. My neurologist feels my symptoms are a seizure disorder whereas the trauma clinic I went to dx'd me as a dissociative disorder.


I am finding there is no exact science to diagnose, it's whomever you feel comfortable with and trust to go forward with and that is rare to find.

Birdie

Originally Posted by junkDNA

Honestly , you could go to 10 different clinicians and potentially get 10 different diagnoses

It's all theoretical, and seems to be quite arbitrary , in my opinion

[hopealwayz]

A psychiatrist that I saw for 9 months in 2017 thought that I had Bipolar and he was trying to put me on Bipolar medicine but I didn’t want to believe him so I told him that I wasn’t coming back there.