bipolar type 2 - value of validity

[keyofreason]

so long story short after years of displaying bipolar-like symptoms I saw a doctor who brought up bipolar and who referred me to a psychiatrist who assessed me. at the time I had thought the psych focusing on my gender but later was accidentally given a copy of his assessment and found that he had indeed been assessing me for bipolar and had found it very likely that I was ‘in the prodormal stages of a bipolar-like illness’. the symptoms have only increased over the year since then, with hypomanic episodes fairly uncommon at three-six proper ones a year seeming to be my standard, but that’s kind of irrelevant I think. I’m on medication for bipolar but due to an unhelpful accusatory doctor I don’t believe I’m at a therapeutic level yet.

without going into too much detail, I was stuck with a very unsupportive shrink for some time who insisted I was an unreliable attention seeker, and now I find myself in the adult world wondering if I’m even supposed to try and have professional validity in the form of actual diagnosis anymore. I feel a crushing need to be able to ‘prove’ what’s wrong with me, and to have the validity to fall back on rather than my current spiral of “nothing is wrong and you’re just being an idiot”. It seems to me that there is overwhelming evidence including a psychiatric assessment pointing to a valid diagnosis being possible but now I’m so turned around by the bad shrink that I just don’t know what to do. I can’t even feel comfortable referring to my hypomanic episodes as such even though that’s exactly what they are, simply because I feel like I need professional validation.

What are your takes on this? Is it even worth trying to get this confirmed? Most of the time I don’t even care cause I just feel like trash and expect nothing to matter, but other times I just burn with the need to be able to say “This is what’s causing these behaviours, and I can prove it,”.

[White_Rose]

Dear Keyofreason

Hello and welcome. I am sorry you have waited so long for a valid diagnosis. Also sorry you have been kept waiting for a reply here.

First can you look at the a thread in Staying Well/This bipolar life/Kazzl. This was started by someone who, like you, felt she had bipolar 2. This thread, or rather the first part, is about her journey and posts from others also on that road. You may find it helpful. Kazzl no longer writes on the forum but many other people find this thread helpful and it is still very much used.

Have you looked on the Black Dog Institute web site? They have a great deal of information about bipolar. You may already have read this but I put it in here as it may be useful to read. https://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/ There is a link when you click Clinical Resources.

I don't know your circumstances so I do not know if it is possible to change your GP. This may give you the opportunity to start with someone fresh and although it may be a long process to go through again you may well feel more comfortable.

How do you feel about the psychiatrist who gave the initial diagnosis? Is it possible to get a referral to him and take it from there? He has at least made a diagnosis and has not been a part of the conversation with your current GP and psychiatrist.

I do not know much about bipolar so I cannot comment on your symptoms etc. If you look at the thread I suggest you will see the difficulties other people have experienced and that may be useful. It always seems worse when you seem to be the only one with a particular problem.

Continue to write in here if you find it helpful or write on the This Bipolar Life thread. Either way I think it will be useful.

Mary

[white knight]

Hi, welcome

White Rose has provided a great response as usual.

What is important is that some symptoms of illnesses mirror others. In 2003 I was diagnosed falsely with ADHD in fact 6 years later I was diagnosed by another psychiatrist with bipolar2, depression, dysthymia and anxiety. The hypomanic events mirrored closely the ADHD hypo side. Your illnesses sometimes crossover so the boundaries can be blurred. In my case my mother has BPD so it wouldnt surprise me if I have a little of that. Pursuing the petfect diagnosis isnt so defined.

So, for 6 years I took the incorrect meds! Hence correct diagnosis is crucial as close to it as possible.

Bipolar is like living on a playground swing. One extreme is depression the other hypomanic times. In the middle is normal mood which, obviously doesnt hang around for long.

Proper meds often mood stabilisers are prescribed along with some other meds. If you find one that fits- bingo, they will reduce, slow that swing down to more acceptable levels with more time in the normal zone without eliminating any illness hence usually on meds for life.

So by all means pursue the right diagnosis at all costs. But be careful to allow for some flexibility for personality and individualism. Obsession doesnt help either.

I hope that helps.

TonyWK

[White_Rose]

Hello KOR

How are you going? Hope you are feeling a bit more settled.

I understand how useful it is to say "I have this illness" and not spend time worrying is it or isn't it. Also, if you need medication to help manage then it becomes even more frustrating. Have a chat with a new GP if you can or insist on getting a referral for the original psychiatrist. You do need to know what's going on for you.

Do you know why the unsatisfactory psych said you were an unreliable attention seeker? And why the GP is unhelpful and accusatory? Not that it matters because I suggest the relationship has broken down. It is uncomfortable for you. I do urge you to get another referral and find a new GP though if you are living in a small town there may not be many options.

Do you think the meds are working at all? Even taking a smaller dose I would think there must be improvement. If you go to the top of the page and look under Get Support/Find a professional you can search to find someone who has knowledge of bipolar. The drawback is that such a person may not be easily accessible. But have a go. There is a section for finding a psychiatrist and then entering what you want plus of course your postcode. You can also search for a GP. Look under National Health Services.

It is difficult to feel you cannot explain what is happening to you. I would have thought it reasonable even if the psych does not agree with you. However you have stopped seeing this psych and need help from someone. Please try to find another psych or return to the one you saw first.

Mary

[fred2018]

Sorry to hear of your shitty journey but I think you gotta get a second opinion but very much find out your family history as is the case in my family there is a strong history of bipolar, it runs in families. If your parents/grandparents had it that will give you some clarity, that you might have a bipolar illness or unipolar or a cross over with things like atypical symptoms, do you have hypersomia as opposed insomnia there are differences between bipolar/unipolar /unipolar with soft bipolar features which is a thing in itself.