Has anyone been diagnosed BiPolar?

[SoberGirlsMOM]

Just wondering if anyone with addiction has been diagnosed as BiPolar?  I ask this because my daughter (19 yoa) who has been pill free for 39 days was diagnosed as BiPolar w/anxiety 8 months ago but she was in the full chemical mode already.  After a 1 hour visit (and probably pill seeking) with a psychiatrist she was diagnosed as BiPolar.

[SableZen]

Good points that Bipolar is often over-diagnosed, especially in younger adults and adolescents.

However, with that said it's almost always a case of having to just differentiate between unipolar or bipolar depression. Discovering if depression is present is the easy part... With Type 2 Bipolar for example, some people have no true 'manic' phases. Instead they can just be very infrequent 'hypomanic' phases. Hypomanic episodes aren't very spectacular and don't usually result in any social disruption. And when you add in the possibilities of things like 'mixed states' and 'rapid cycling' the picture gets even further obscured...

The reason I mention all that is this: Finding the right *combination* of medicines is often very crucial. You really have to either go all in and trust the doctor with medications, or stay all out. Doing it half-way and not complying to prescriptions can often just make things worse...

Bipolar is very unique in how it responds to medications compared to unipolar depression: antidepressants alone may make things much worse. A mood stabilizer alone may make things worse. And different periods of depression/mania alter the effects. And a lot of people, not realizing this will pick and choose which medications to be compliant with or not take them regularly AND are not honest with their doctor about their compliance all at the same time.

For example:

1. Using only a mood stabilizer *without* also using an antidepressant often results in making the depression worse.

2. Using only an antidepressant may result in an increase the number and duration of manic episodes, 'rapid cycling' between phases, and mixed states. None of which is enjoyable.

3. A combination of an antidepressant and a mood stabilizer often provides a *lot* of relief to someone suffering from Bipolar after finding the right ones.

So there's two things I just wanted to point out: 1. If your daughter does not want to take the medication, the side effects are too severe, etc... encourage her to be honest about it and be open to her opinion while encouraging her to be honest with the doctor.  2. How she responds to the medications (antidepressant vs mood stabilizer) is often the ultimate litmus test on if she is actually Bipolar or Unipolar - otherwise, it's often a guessing game. [Although with some people, classic manic phases are easy to recognize and differentiate from unipolar behavior and result in an easier diagnosis - this may be the case with her... but with Type 2 Bipolar in particular it can often be less clear.]

[Amyleigh1974]

Has anyone had a neurotransmitter urine test?I recently had one ordered by my psychiatrist and some of my chemicals in my brain were high and I was taking 60 mgs of prozac and my seritonine level was still low.So my psychiatrist told me I have Bi-Polar Type 2.Has anyone heard of this kind of test and how accurate are they????

[tzt2lady]

There is bipolar and bi-polar type II.   I have a student who is type 2.

I agree with FLaddict.   We do need to give our bodies time to heal and then see what we are left with, if we can.

Sometimes though, our emotions are so overwhelmingly depressive that we need help.    

Great question and I enjoyed the responses.

[FLaddict]

From working in drug treatment and also being in a few myself years ago. I feel that docs are too quick to diagnose people who have addictions. They should let someone have the time to heal the damage the have done to their bodies and brains before diagnosing them. For instance its very common for an addict fresh in rehab to be placed on a SSRI or some anti depressant. At this point when they are barely detoxed their levels of serotonin are very low.  The normal production has been slowed down or stopped by the drugs. SSRI's do not make or increase serotonin. They merely take whatever amount you have and recycle it and use it over and over again. They prevent more from being depleted but they do not icrease it or produce it. That person then does not have the chance for their body to do its normal function of making more. That addict then continues to be depressed and will go out and get high or eat sugary foods and carbs to get that "good feeling" back since sugar and carbs will increase serotonin production that is why we crave them in early recovery.
So MOM I would have your daughter re-evaluated after a few months of clean time. she may not be Bi polar at all. Only time will tell for sure, not being on meds.

[TimH2]

You have a lot to offer this forum. :)

[retiredrn]

It has become very common for drs to overdiagnose bi-polar without doing a thorough exam.  I was diagnosed bi-polar and it turned out to be benzodiazepines that caused my symptoms.  It would be nice if she could be without all drugs for a while to see what she's really like.

[TimH2]

I agree with Joanzie. It is very common to self med if the person is Bi-Polar. They are other drugs that will help. I wish you and your daughter the best. I hope her doc finds the right meds for her.

God Bless,
Tim

[joanzie]

I am Bi-Polar. It is not uncommon for people with this mental illness to self medicate, take drugs, drink whatever to ease symptoms.

The doctor will give her meds to equal her out. Probably lithium, there are some others that they use. It is very important that your daughter keep taking her meds. Once we start to feel better we think we are cured and so the extreme mood swings come back and the roller coaster ride starts all over again.

Good luck to you and your daughter. With the right medication and therapy she should do well.