How do you get diagnosed bi-polar?

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-03-2004
How do you get diagnosed bi-polar?
4
Fri, 10-29-2004 - 1:22pm

I have a long history of depression/anxiety problems.

Christine

CL

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Fri, 10-29-2004 - 2:29pm
Hey Christine! Good to see you here! I tried to get your email, but my email is down...ugh...so I'll reply as soon as I can. As for your question on being dx'ed Bipolar...when I first got "manic", I had a really good time...I was very productive, I got a lot done, I lost weight, I was happy, I was also making VERY bad choices and decisions in my life, spending money LIKE CRAZY, and I got in a lot of financial, legal, and marital trouble. So, that sent me to a therapist, who confirmed what I already knew (that I was indeed Bipolar). She sent me to a psychiatrist, who also confirmed it, after taking my full history, including family history and hearing EVERYTHING about me and the things I'd been through and had done. It was about a 2 hour meeting with the psychiatrist. The therapist and psychiatrist talked. I got meds...they didn't do much...I went off them...went on Prozac only...got manic again...after about 9 months, I ended up in the hospital after becoming psychotic...got more meds...they would work on and off...mostly not though...its been an uphill battle for me...BIG TIME...but I am finally on the right track...I've been stable pretty much for the last 2 weeks, with only a SMALL amount of cycling. After the last mania I had that I was hospitalized for, they OVER medicated me...and that caused all my depression that I couldn't get out of. I couldn't deal with the depression anymore...was hospitalized another 2 times for that...so I'm EXTREMELY grateful now, that the Cymbalta helped me. I also take Topamax, 100 mgs, a mood stabilizer, and 1 mg of Ativan for anxiety.

I'm glad you're here on this board...I used to CL here, but stopped after I could barely function a few months ago. Life WILL get better. I promise. You have to accept the BP, and then fight it like crazy. I'm here for you. A good support system is also key in recovery. YOU CAN DO THIS. Okay?

I'll check the board in a bit, and will email you definitely this weekend from the library.

MANY HUGS!

Keli

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-03-2004
Fri, 10-29-2004 - 2:52pm
Hey Keli!

Christine

CL

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-02-2003
Fri, 10-29-2004 - 11:50pm

Christine,

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-03-2004
Mon, 11-01-2004 - 8:51am
Thanks guys!

Christine


"What would you do if you weren't afraid?"


Christine

CL