T Is Thinking I Have Bipolar Disorder Too.

[Iam]

HI Ayesha,
I can understand why you are upset. Being told that you might have another disorder has got to be upsetting. How can they determine this one way or another? PTSD causes so many symptoms that can be taken for another disorder so hopefully it is only that your PTSD symptoms are very apparent right now.

I know saying try not to worry about it is a lame response. I wish you didn't have this additional concern on your plate.Thing is, you are strong and you will overcome because you are a fighter. Wish I could give you more than just a virtual hug. My thoughts and prayers are with you :Hug_emoticon:

 

[James B.]

because i need to learn how to channel energy. I have lots lots lots of it most of the time. No idea where to put it.

Quoting you Ayesha, that's why I posted the above resource. It is extensive.

Anni, the images Mr. Blackwell uses are just visual metaphors, his library of information and knowledge has really helped a lot of people. Found some tips and ideas from his video's that have cross-referenced with other stuff I've come across, and helped me too. Really interesting watching his method of meditations and hearing his stories about meditation retreats and fasting, plus the spiritual component, so overlooked I feel.

 

[anni]

It's hugely helpful, James-I've just been operating on zero sleep so am quite, quite easily distracted. :)

Ayesha, we allll worry too much, so you're pretty normal! :) Painting is the coolest thing ever to just get out of one's head with, isn't it? I'm a tad precluded from painting at the moment-have this squished cord thing which makes it tough to sit and do it properly. I started tooling around while baking, to have SOMETHING-you know how it is. It's easier fo me, and not as time consuming or intense. I've been putzingw ith cupcakes this week, believe it or not. Never having done it before it's all still imperfect as heck but I defy anyone to go to Google images, look at cupcake, and not feel better! :) On the grounds of distraction and other forms of creativity, I'll try to post some first-efforts.

You sound more peaceful, you know. :) Thought perhaps you should know, since you seem so upset with this diagnosing limbo.

I'm very sorry but can't figure out why these appeared all over the post. I know it is, in fact, something I'm not doing correctly but can't find it! :)

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[catjudo]

When I took those meds, with in a week I noticed... I started having a hypomania phase, it was awful! And I went to see my T during that time ( the 2nd or maybe the 3rd time he told me I might be bipolar) I could even finish sentences b/c I was all over the place.

There's lots more...but, I don't want to go on. But anyway...that's one of the reason he's worried because a lot of times when you take antidepressant's and that happens..its because you have bipolar disorder.

Sometimes people who are not bipolar at all can have a hypomanic or even manic reaction to antidepressants. That is why part of the diagnostic criteria for bipolar specifies that it in order for it to be considered as bipolar it cannot be a reaction to medication.

 

[Deleted member 5760]

I have to add my two cents and if nobody wants to BUY anything with it that's fine.

I think someone who has PTSD can so easily appear to be bipolar. I see the 'peaks' and 'troughs' on this site with people all the time. However, I'm not going to judge anyone else because I'm clearly NOT in their head. What I can say for ME - I definitely experience highs! But I think what distinguishes me from someone bipolar is that I'm AWARE I'm on a high. Just like I'm aware when I'm on a low.

So I know to tell myself and everyone around me what is happening.

Also, I think people don't understand the degree of mania. Yes I wake up in the middle of the night and think 'well, wouldn't it be lovely to.....'

But I dont DO IT.

And I think that is really what a doctor needs to look for when disagnosing something like bipolar. Because depression is common!! Lows are so common, and so are highs. But I think it's the 'extreme' highs which really set it apart. And the length of time for which it lasts.

 

[Lady of Longbourn]

There are different levels of bipolar disorder. Not all have the manic phase.

I have had what happened to me on the meds happen before but there was no meds. Some happened months ago, some years ago.

 

[Deleted member 5760]

But you HAVE to on some level have the 'high' phase. That's what bipolar is. Perhaps you're feeling 'cyclothymic'.

 

[Lady of Longbourn]

Yes. I need to talk to my psychiatrist about it. My T keeps saying he will know more.

For some reason I keep feeling hes keeping something from me. Like today he was saying the goal was to get me on the right meds, so I could function. I told him that if he ( the psychiatrist) give me ritalin I would throw it in his face. He said ayesha, I don't want you to do that and I wasn't talking about ritalin...it doesn't matter what it is called that you are diagnosed with, just need the right meds. And then you can start school. I told him I hate school and I don't want to go to school. he is like I thought you wanted to go to school...and " school brings up painful memories for you.."?
I closed up. I didn't want to cry. Everyone is always saying I am so strong, so when I show weakness...they just..I don't know. all I know is I very VERY good at hiding depression, and I've always kept quiet. Even as a child.

 

[Deleted member 5760]

The other thing I can add - and Im just sharing MY story :

Sometimes I think people who are VERY AWARE (ie they know something's wrong and they know they're 'sane' but they don't know what the 'wrong' is) will actually play on a high or a low... because they want a diagnosis of something...

And again I stress - I think that's why people with PTSD are often misdiagnosed with bipolar. It's kinda like someone with depression going 'I have PTSD'. There is a diagnostic criteria. And if you dont have these 'highs' you dont fit bipolar.

 

[Lady of Longbourn]

SuperJen, I am trying to clear the air here; I feel like you are saying I am making things up??

I think my T doesn't want to diagnose me until the psychiatrist talks to me. I can understand that, its hard to diagnose for bipolar.

you are right jen that people do that. but i hope i am not one of those people. I talked with my mother yesterday, because my T give me a paper with the difference between adhd and bipolar. I asked my mother the questions about how i was as a child. there was about 8 main topics each with more symptoms. when she was done, there was 1 ( maybe 2) for adhd and about 6 or 7 for bipolar.

Maybe I should explain, he knows I have PTSD. Because I have lots of anxiety. But he is trying to figure out if I have ADHD or bipolar. or both.

So I wait. That doesn't bother me. But every session he talks about it, asks about it. Asks more questions. So I can't ignore it. So I brought it here.

 

[Deleted member 5760]

Ayesha - I'm so sorry if these comments sound 'bad'. I guess what I'm trying to say is that it is very clear to me that regardless of the diagnosis that you need to talk. And clearly feel as though you are NOT being heard.

 

[Lady of Longbourn]

Okay. I was just asking...you know? I didn't want to misunderstand you, even subconsciously.