went ot my phsychiatrist (new one)

[brainwarp]

finally feel like i got somewhere with someone. Im worried though. Ive been through so many meds and its a NOT fun time everytime i switch. no changes are going to be made right now because my current one is only a week old but he told me something no one has before and with all my symptoms i didnt even think about it. He thinks im bipolar. This scares me.
this is forever right? Theyve always told me the anxiety and depression with menospause and premenopause goes away after 10 or so years ( yes a long time but not FOREVER) I cried all the way home. Reality hit that i am really mentally ill. Not just a problem at times but actually really ill. i know alcoholism is a disease but that has only been one of many of my addictions so i knew it was something different but i really thought one day id control it.
well one day i will after i go through hell finding a drug for a condition they werent treating before. He is telling me to stay on my paxil and i will add others as time goes by OTHERS? what happened to the days when i was fit and strong and wouldnt even take an aspirin because it was toxic for my body. now i feel like im under their control. I am going to the library today to research it. maybe diet wil help but i know with ocd diet helped but didnt take it away. i guess im feeling sorry for my kid more than anything. how will i feel if she gets this? im a mess today. talk to you later
Kim

[51anna]

Hi Brainwarp,

I'm glad you found out this information from your psychiatrist and I think you can deal with this. The good thing with bipolar is that it is treatable. A lot of people are bipolar and function extremely well. I do understand what you mean about the good old days, when we didn't have to think about medication and stuff. I was diagnosed with depression about five years ago and will take meds forever. That part I don't like, but I love that I have my life back again. I don't like that people don't understand mental illness, but I still know the importance of the med I take in my life.

If you want to be really inspired you might read a book called "Call Me Anna" by Patty Duke. She tells of her ordeal with bipolar, how very difficult it was to get it properly diagnosed. It's an amazing story!

Hang in there and see what your dr suggests.

Love, Anna

[Paulie]

I agree with Anna, lots of people deal with this everyday. Of course you are upset by the news you just heard, it is alot to take in. Do your research, maybe even get a second opinion. See how this medication works that you have only been on for a week.

I have not read the book, but I saw the movie....great story and a very inspiring woman.

Pray and ask HP to help you through this. We are here, we will listen.

[GettingFree]

Hi Brainwarp,

If you indeed have BP, what's been said is true. Definitely manageable, not a life sentence, but my heart goes out 'cause it's a big piece of news to digest and absorb.

That said, I have a few questions. It seems BP is becoming a diagnosis 'du jour' and you may want to make sure you're getting good and sound advice from this doctor.

A few things to consider:

How often do you see the psyhciatrist? How well does he know you? Do you see him for ongoing weekly therapy or is it intermittent or limited to presribing medication?

How well do you know him? i.e. Do you trust him? Did you do research on him? Do you know of others who have benefited from treatment/therapy with him?

What did he base his diagnosis on? What symptoms did he describe that you're having that are consistent with BP? Can he explain why he thinks it's BP rather than anything else? (that the symptoms you're having could only best be explained by BP)

Now here's a big question:

I'd be very cautious trusting a diagnosis of this magnitude while someone is still using substances. If you were a friend of mine, I'd be holding up big caution signs.

It sounds from your recent posts that you're still struggling with sobriety -- and i have no judgment by saying that at all. I'm only trying to lay out facts that may help you discern where the truth lies.

It doesn't make a lot of sense to me that one can successfully diagnose the function of the brain when it's being signficantly altered by sources from the outside. You're still introducing the toxic effects of alcohol into your body -- it's a major depressant (even though we use it to relieve depression). And I'm a bit on the alert to physicians/psychiatrists who tend to diagnose/prescribe -- even incorrectly -- because they feel they're being effective.

Again, if you were a close friend of mine, I'd be doing everything I could to get her completely substance-free by seeking ongoing therapy/treatment before accepting a diagnosis of systemic dysfunction of the brain or an over-arching mood disorder.

This forum is great as support but it is not a subsitute for therapy. That said, we're all here.

gf

[wastedtime4me]

I have to agree with gf here...Before you let yourself get all upset...PLEASE do your homework BEFORE just accepting what has been said to you.I feel ADD and bipolar seems to be thrown around an awful lot these past few years!!PLease dont let yourself get upset!!
Even if it does turn out to be completely true..at least your on the right path to getting help !!
{{{{{{{{{{{bighugs}}}}}}}}}}}}