Bipolar

[ddandb]

So after thirty years of depression they finally diagnose me.
This is not what I wanted to here. I guess this makes me officially crazy.

[lxskllr]

There's worse things. I think it's pretty treatable with meds.

[Starcadia]

There's worse things. I think it's pretty treatable with meds.

The symptoms are somewhat treatable, not the cause. I was diagnosed bi-polar some years ago, but most psychologists and psychiatrists are like art critics - full of shit - so I ignored it and fixed myself. Eat well, exercise, get enough sleep and don't feel guilty for taking naps, don't **** yourself with chemicals, pet an animal regularly, have a creative outlet, and maybe meditate once in a while. That's a prescription.

[ctimb2002]

There's worse things. I think it's pretty treatable with meds.

The symptoms are somewhat treatable, not the cause. I was diagnosed bi-polar some years ago, but most psychologists and psychiatrists are like art critics - full of shit - so I ignored it and fixed myself. Eat well, exercise, get enough sleep and don't feel guilty for taking naps, don't **** yourself with chemicals, pet an animal regularly, have a creative outlet, and maybe meditate once in a while. That's a prescription.

Wow...I for once completely agree with starcadia I was diagnosed as Bi-Polar a year and half ago. I just went off the deep end called myself crazy, divorced my wife and realized that the reason i was as crazy as I was was because I wasn't taking enough time for myself. A few months of being on mine own and having to "tough" it out for myself really turned things around for me. I'm back with my exwife and things are much better. Some people truly are bipolar but I doubt I was. I think I am just a moody person who suffers from asburgers...slightly nuts but functional

[pangloss]

I am assuming they gave you Type II? What was the official diagnosis? Did they say you have episodes on mania/hypomania?

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And Here Begins my Rant...

1) You are the same person you always were. This isn't a death sentence imposed by a judge where you were previously considered innocent/sane to all of a sudden being guilty as charged/insane.

2) "Crazy" is nothing more than a colloquial waste basket term. Bipolar is episodes of depression mixed with periods of mania or hypomania. I hate the word "crazy". It is the WORST descriptive term on the planet, could mean a million different things almost all of which are negative. Don't call yourself this and definitely don't let other people call you this. It's bullshit and it definitely doesn't do anything positive.

3) The psychiatrist/physician. I hate to say this but: Doctor's don't always listen to you. (Ct you know what I'm talking about). Especially in the field of psychiatry they meet with you for the first time and in observing your behavior, tone of voice, etc. they immediately group you into a DSM Axis category: Depressed/Anxious/etc.

From that point on, their biased viewpoint is like a fogged lens that they see all your experience from. this is ironic b/c psychiatry is supposed to be the one field where it is their job to be objective and listen to you. Yes they do listen, but like I said they have made their own judgments based on what they have read, their previous experience and their preconceptions about you.

Remember that they only see you once or twice a week, for 1 hr sessions. The misconception that they can listen to your life story and completely understand you (better than you do yourself) in the span of a 50 minute outpatient session is bullshit.

4) Everyone who sees a psychiatrist is given a diagnosis.

Ex. 1: A study was conducted (don't remember the name or the authors sorry) where a group of "normal" people checked themselves in for inpatient treatment. They kept a journal where they recorded notes on their stay and did not have any psychiatric disorder/ or acted as though they had a psychiatric disorder.

Findings: The healthcare staff --> nurses/psychiatrists etc. treated them and assumed as though they were "crazy". This was a landmark study b/c when it came out people said: "Oh shit, someone went undercover they were completely "normal" and we misdiagnosed them and treated them as "crazy" people."

5) The field of psychiatry

Psychiatry is the least developed field of all the medical subspecialties. It's hard, they can't just run a blood test and then say you have x-microbe and y-disease. Take these pills or go for surgery and we'll fix you up.

All they have is the DSM (diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders). And its like a freakin' road map and little better than a crystal ball.

It has a laundry list of symptoms for each disorder where if you meet or are precieved to meet 4 of the 10 symptoms or whatever, you are given a diagnosis of z disease.

Ex. 2: The diagnosis of depression
Symptoms include:
-Increased appetite
-Decreased appetite
-Sleeping more than normal
-Sleeping less than normal
-Increased response to emotional stimuli
-Decreased response to emotional stimuli

The brain is a very difficult organ to study. And when you get into the biochemistry of the brain coupled with psychosocial experience it is damn near impossible to figure out what is going on. Too many variables at play and not enough research to make definitive assertions.

6) Treatment regimens
They practically give anti-depressants (SSRIs) with the water in these offices.

they don't really know how it works, but when they give it to people vs. people who do not have it, it seems to improve outcomes.

If they can't fix it they sedate you with benzodiazapenes or something similar. Its not fixing the situation, but they don't have any better treatment to offer so they alleviate the symptoms. Its little better than a bandaid, where they just treat the symptoms, b/c it is causing the patient discomfort and they don't have an immediate fix for the problem.

Mood stabilizers (indicated for treatment of Bi-Polar). Same situation, they don't really know anything about it just that it is helpful.

----------------------------------------------------

7) Finally, medical students going into psychiatry

Note: I mean no offense here for those that are in the field of mental health...


Psychiatrists are at the bottom of the totem pole in medicine.

The most psychiatrists and family physicians come from the from the lowest quartile of the medical school class.

These are also two of the lowest paid specialties in medicine.

Yes medical school is hard as f***, but the smartest ones go into neurosurgery or orthopedics (where they will end up making 3-4 times what psychiatrists make).

Doctors aren't God, even though some act like it...

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Hope this rant shed some light on your situation.

~Pangloss

[outsidelinebacker20]

Join the club. "Normal" people are the minority.

Kevin

[jamesstew]

There's worse things. I think it's pretty treatable with meds.

The symptoms are somewhat treatable, not the cause. I was diagnosed bi-polar some years ago, but most psychologists and psychiatrists are like art critics - full of shit - so I ignored it and fixed myself. Eat well, exercise, get enough sleep and don't feel guilty for taking naps, don't **** yourself with chemicals, pet an animal regularly, have a creative outlet, and maybe meditate once in a while. That's a prescription.

Wow...I for once completely agree with starcadia I was diagnosed as Bi-Polar a year and half ago. I just went off the deep end called myself crazy, divorced my wife and realized that the reason i was as crazy as I was was because I wasn't taking enough time for myself. A few months of being on mine own and having to "tough" it out for myself really turned things around for me. I'm back with my exwife and things are much better. Some people truly are bipolar but I doubt I was. I think I am just a moody person who suffers from asburgers...slightly nuts but functional

Assburgers :P

[jamesstew]

It's asperger's numb-nuts. Although me likes your spelling more.

[HK11]

I have been diagnosed for chronic depression and went through a lot of anti-depression medication with the doctor trying to figure out how to fix it. It was effecting every facet of my life and I was miserable for years.

I finally jumped off the train.

For me to get better, it took 3 things:

Diet: I stopped eating foods that continually spike my blood sugar such as refined flour and soft drinks. I try to stick to a natural diet. As a side effect I have lost weight.

Exercise: Hitting the gym is the best thing I have ever done. I also teach karate now and wrestle.

Becoming an "asshole": this one may be the main reason I feel better. I can get a lot of pent up anger and hold my tongue. I tell people how I feel and it's not as bad as I thought. I thought people might dislike me if I spoke my mind but I just had to say **** em and I've suffered no ill effects socially.

In effect I changed my body chemistry and attitude to a point that I no longer feel depressed. If I stray away from any of these for too long I can feel myself slipping and beginning to isolate myself but fortunatly my wife has gotten wise and puts me back on track.

I believe I had a dopamine problem from drug use and lifestyle.

Everyone is different. Don't feel helpless. Modern medicine is not all it is cracked up to be. There is a solution out there for you.

Best of luck to you!

[ddandb]

This is the part that scares me.
For years and years I've been either up or down. No middle ground with me.
My behavior and decisions have been based on either being very depressed or someone who is completely on overload.
If the Doctors hit on the right meds and I become this 'normal' person... who is he? After 53 years do I want to change who I am? Suppose I don't like this new person?

[jamesstew]

I don't think it will change the 'core' of who you are. Maybe it will just balance things out a little bit.

[ddandb]

I don't think it will change the 'core' of who you are. Maybe it will just balance things out a little bit.

Damn...
I was hoping to become a female.

[sgreger1]

There's worse things. I think it's pretty treatable with meds.

The symptoms are somewhat treatable, not the cause. I was diagnosed bi-polar some years ago, but most psychologists and psychiatrists are like art critics - full of shit - so I ignored it and fixed myself. Eat well, exercise, get enough sleep and don't feel guilty for taking naps, don't **** yourself with chemicals, pet an animal regularly, have a creative outlet, and maybe meditate once in a while. That's a prescription.

= how to fix most problems.

I was diagnosed with asthma when i was young, and I had eczema (both lifelong and uncurable), I said **** your inhaler and **** your hydrocotosone cream and just stayed healthy and I now do not have asthma and I do not have eczema and havnt since I made that decision.

Bi-polar, hdhd, manic despressive. These are all just terms to define how we are all jus a little ****ing crazy in our own way, its normal. Just dont let it get the best of you.

[sgreger1]

This is the part that scares me.
For years and years I've been either up or down. No middle ground with me.
My behavior and decisions have been based on either being very depressed or someone who is completely on overload.
If the Doctors hit on the right meds and I become this 'normal' person... who is he? After 53 years do I want to change who I am? Suppose I don't like this new person?

That is a riddle right there myfriend. Our reaality is based on perception, and your reality has been this up-down things for 53 years, I dunno man in my book that just means that thats who you are, how god made you you know? Nothing wrong with it, take meds if who you are bothers you and you want to be a more mellow "in the middle" kinda guy, but if you like who you are than say **** it, I mean you made it this far, right?

[amorican]

I was diagnosed as Bi-Polar 1 when I was 13, and am now 25. It's thrown some curveballs at me in my lifetime, but It's no death sentence. For me, my medications work, so be open to meds, and know that it might take a while to find the right ones for you. You'll be alright man.