Bipolar Type II Support Group

First therapy session I got diagnosed with depression. Yesterday was the second session and she changed her mind - now I'm bipolar. Not bipolar 1 or 2, but definitely in the spectrum. She said this because of my strong negative reaction to the pristiq, she viewed it as having thrown me into a manic state. She said no one reacts that quickly and that harshly to an antidepressant unless you're bipolar. But I didn't feel good or full of energy during this panic attack...you can read about it in my other post. Of course, she tried to validate this diagnosis with other questions..and although she's convinced, I'm not. True, my mood fluctuates a lot, but it's almost always different levels of depression, it rarely goes above "baseline", and when it does, it isn't fast talking, little need for sleep, hyper energy, hypersexual, etc. I've never had anything like that. I have moods where I get storms of ideas and motivation, where I get somewhat grandiose ideas, but I never really felt these moods were unhealthy. She wants to get me on a mood stabilizer, like abilify.

Do you think she might be mistaken?

Have you had any experience with mood stabilizers?

Most Bipolar people are on mood stabilizers, its pretty much mandatory for the disorder. I take Depakote ER with Lithium. I have tried Abilify and had a horrible experoence myself, as with all meds it has alot of bad side effects and I along with alot of other people on here suffered from them. I have heard people say they liked it. Everyone reacts to meds differently so its up to you in the end if you want to try it or ask your pdoc for a different one to try out first. If you type in Abilify in the search box at the top of the page you can review some of the previous posts. Best of luck. Stacey

From what you've mention i don’t think she mistaking. You've just described your mood and those are definitely bipolar symptoms. You'll be find, so i wouldn't worrie about it.

wish you well

Hi, I am no pdoc but from the symptoms you said above it does sound like you could be bipolar. I am bipolar type II and have had very similar symptoms. I wouldn't rule out your pdoc's diagnosis just yet because once I got the correct diagnosis the mood stablizer's have been quite helpful. I went for years diagnosed with clinical depression with an anxiety disorder and the meds just never quite helped. The anti-depressants would send me into a hypomanic state but then I would struggle with my anxiety, racing thoughts, agitation, etc. Once they added the mood stabilizer with the other meds things stabilized. The depression and the anxiety became much more manageable.

Wish you luck and take care.

Yes, it's not a good idea to take antidepressants alone when you have bipolar; they can bring on hypomania or mixed episodes - feels like depression and anxiety together. Like you're gonna crawl out of your skin. A mood stabilizer is essential and there are other meds that work together to help you even more. I've been stable for a few years on a med combo the "pdocs" found for me during my hospital stay back then. It was a wonderful experience. Before that, I was an emotional mess. But it gets better - just keep looking for the right meds for you and don't give up - it may take a few trials before you get the best combo for you.

Hi, I think it is a healthy reaction to question your diagnosis. If you truly recognized yourself in the bipolar description than it would be easier. I just think that if you do not question it now that your feelings about the accuracy of the diagnosis will not be resolved. At first my doctor did not know I was bipolar so he gave me a couple antidepressants which made me hypomanic. Now I am on depakote 500 mg and wellbutrin 450 mg and that combination is working great for me but everyone on here seems to be on totally different meds/combos and that is all a part of treatment. I wish you the very best

Katie

Hi there - Your pdoc sounds like she could be right. I am BPII and never went manic in the creative, lots of energy, little need for sleep sense but my temper, anger and absolutely negative thoughts were my hypomanic state. Also, ADs sent me hyper/manic. Am on prozac, wellbutrin and lithium and feel fantastic 80% of the time, which is 80% more than two months ago! Good luck - Denise

I think this particular doctor is trying to sell you certain kinds of medications to line her pockets, especially if you have insurance. Some of these new bipolar meds are expensive, and psychiatry/psychology are specialty fields.

If you think the courses of treatment she's tried haven't been at all successful I would try to find someone else.