Proper Discussion: When and How Were You Diagnosed

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Charlee on June 18, 2009 at 5:13pm

Speaking of whack attacks - I saw a different psychiatrist yesterday, who has slapped a bipolar diagnosis into my medical record once again. I wish these people would make up their minds!

This one was really rather strange though, and gave me a run down of the meds she was thinking of adding, and told me I could think about it and let her know which one I want to try - I mean I guess it's nice to allow me to take part in the decision, but alas, I am not a psychiatrist?

Permalink Reply by Tabs on June 15, 2011 at 10:49am

I find that Psychiatrists will allow you to take part in the decision if you're stable enough to do so.

 

Mine gave me a rundown of the drugs she could put me on for it, what each was about, and then gave me her recommendation and told me where I could do research on each one to see what I wanted. She gave me all the benefits and negatives of each.

 

Of course, I ended up following her recommendation after doing my own research, and I have not regretted it at all :)

Permalink Reply by C on August 18, 2009 at 6:50am

Oh I can so relate to your situation. I'm sorry it's been such a struggle for you, and even more sorry that it's such a common problem for bipolar people. We have a hard time getting diagnosed sometimes, and we have a harder time dealing with medications failing and fiinding the right one.

I was diagnosed in 2006, literally right after New Year's. I spent New Year's Eve in the hospital drunk off my ass and fighting anyone who came near me. I was blacked out and causing quite the scene.

I had been manic most of my life, but had severe depression bouts which I kept to myself but the docs did know about it. They were treating me from age 15 until 22 with various antidepressants that didn't do much and I was on welbutrin that whole time. Finally, it hit them that I was bipolar after that "manic episode" as they called it. It was quite a relief to be diagnosed, but like you it was hell finding the right meds.

Good luck to you.
"

Permalink Reply by Tabs on June 15, 2011 at 10:51am

I had the psychotic episodes and crazy anger attacks starting at childhood -- I was sent to a shrink at the age of 10 for trying to strangle my brother and then attempting suicide... Within three visits, because I didn't want to talk about it, the doc wrote me off as an attention seeker and recommended that such 'epsiodes' be ignored.

 

Thanks to her when things got crazy bad for me in my pre-teen years, my parents refused to believe me or get me help, so I went untreated until I was 19.

Permalink Reply by amanda peel on September 21, 2009 at 1:07am

I was diagnosed as Bipolar 2 when I 14, about 14 years ago. Over the years I have picked up PTSD, OCD, ADHD, borderline personality disorder and social anxiety. I'm currently taking lithium, adderall, paxil, buspar and zyprexa but I'm still having a lot of trouble with the anxiety. I've always had trouble working, I've been fired from every job I've had, including working for my parents. I have a huge anger issue and I tend to get myself into fights and arguments when people tell me what to do or don't agree with the way that I want to do things. This tends to be a huge problem with bosses. I'm currently trying to get disability because my parents fired me for the millionth time and said there was no way that I can work for them. I got into a physical fight with one of the people that I worked with in front of my parents clients. It didn't go over to well with anyone that was involved. I've taken almost every medication that they make. I can't take any benzo's so there really isn't anything I can take to calm me down because they make me flip out like crazy. I'm taking buspar for anxiety now but it doesn't work and it's pointless so I'm gonna stop taking it and try something else hopefully this week when I see my new doctor.

Permalink Reply by Oats on September 21, 2009 at 9:38am

Have you tried depakote for rage? It's supposed to help with that. It worked for me but I was having a reaction with the high dose lithium and high dose depakote; reaction = hallucinations. Apparently that's not normal.

Permalink Reply by Lauren Jean on February 23, 2010 at 4:38pm

Lately I've been having some anger issues. Not nearly as bad as you describe, but it certainly is frustrating.

Permalink Reply by Tabs on June 15, 2011 at 10:55am

I used to have crazy bad anger issues with my bipolar. I used to call it my 'blind rage'. I got in a lot of fights in high school, and people used to be terrified of me when I got angry. I even attempted to shove a guy three times my size in a fryer once because he was pissing me off... if it weren't for the three other employees that jumped me, I would have succeeded.

 

The meds that I'm on now have helped with that as they help me to keep calm longer and allow me to think clearly. I found the anger would start to trigger the minute my thoughts/perspective became cloudy.

Permalink Reply by Brianna McCarthy on October 16, 2009 at 11:19am

I was 19, it was my first year of uni. I had the worst sense judgment. I was in a really messed up relationship with a man 20 years my senior. That ended and the next person I "fell in love with" thought something was wrong with me. Beghged me to go to the campus psychologist. From there I went to a psychiatrist and he diagnosed me. I happened to be in the midst of my first manic episode.

I ended up on lithium and Paxil for 4 years. Prozac and Topamax didn't work for me. I'm currently unmedicated.

My triggers are usually relationship conflicts; family, partners, friends. I snap.

Permalink Reply by Lauren Jean on February 23, 2010 at 4:28pm

I have shown symptoms since I can remember, but I first started seeing a psychologist when I was 15 and depressed. I was given Zoloft and it helped a lot, then I got switched to Paxil due to insurance bullshit and attempted suicide within a month when I was 16. I was given the diagnosis of Severe Clinical Depression. When I was 17 I was officially diagnosed with Fibromyalgia Syndrome and put on just about every drug possible to try and combat it. Not until I was around 20 did I really start thinking and acting for myself in my medical treatment, and since I have been diagnosed with rapid cycling BP and several anxiety disorders. Now I'm in a manic cycle trying to find a good normal. I'm taking trazodone, cyclobenzaprine, saphris, and lyrica.

I had the same job from 16 to 23 and now work as a waitress after the business I worked for started loosing business with the economy falling.

Permalink Reply by Heather on March 12, 2010 at 2:31pm

Effexor is the worst drug I have ever taken.

I was originally diagnosed with PTSD after I was sexually abused by my stepfather in 2000. Now it has stemmed into bipolar but I don't have insurance to go to a doctor. I've tried probably every medication you can think of and just refuse to medicate because I don't personally think that I'm that bad... others might beg to differ.

Permalink Reply by Sara Costello on June 15, 2011 at 1:13am

I've had high anxiety for my entire life-- literally the stereotypical BP irritability/ anxiety is evident in childhood videos! I'm shocked it took until I was 21 to get to the heart of the matter. I've been on lamictal and cymbalta (off and on) for 3 years. 

 

Is it possible to ever wean off the drugs completely? I've never gotten a clear answer from my doc, except that, "if it's not broken, don't fix it..." I'd love to get off the drogas someday though. 

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