Bipolar disorder

partlyponder · 2022-09-02T17:53:33+00:00

Hi. I’m due to get assessed for bipolar disorder by a psychiatrist/psychologist soon. Can I ask those with bipolar, how did you get diagnosed? I have felt brushed off by other professionals and just told I’m ’depressed’ or ‘anxious.’ I’m worried I will be fobbed off, as I present very well. What led to your diagnosis? Any tips on how to be taken seriously? What should I say? I haven't had extreme manic episodes to refer to, I think I probably have bipolar two but struggle to make that clear. Thanks!

Dalaidramailama · 02/09/2022 18:55

I have family members who were only diagnosed following hospital admissions for manic episodes.

GingerAndLemonn · 02/09/2022 18:55

Unfortunately it took over 15 years to get my diagnoses. And I think then they only listened to me when I got my degree in psychology. It’s very very hard to get a diagnosis it just be as hi eat as you can about everything.

Remainiac · 02/09/2022 19:22

BiL was diagnosed after being sectioned during a psychotic episode. Neighbour’s daughter the same.

OneSugarOneSpoon · 04/09/2022 08:07

From my experience with a friend, after multiple admissions to hospital and sections is when they were diagnosed.

JennyForeigner · 04/09/2022 08:18

GingerAndLemonn · 02/09/2022 18:55

Unfortunately it took over 15 years to get my diagnoses. And I think then they only listened to me when I got my degree in psychology. It’s very very hard to get a diagnosis it just be as hi eat as you can about everything.

Same. And we have bipolar in the family. Imho the NHS just really hate diagnosing anything MH but would rather treat symptoms in the now, and will for as long as there is nothing so acute as to be not ignorable.

It will just be a conversation, but I would give some thought to not disguising or minimising. Women are so good at masking and coping - you just won't do yourself any favours if you persuade yourself that that very low bit was all environmental, or you were hormonal that day/week/month/three months/...

Pinkandpurplehairedlady · 04/09/2022 19:03

I was diagnosed by a psychiatrist about 3 years ago. Like you I’ve never had true manic episodes. I was being treated for depression and anxiety and was seen for that with a follow up 6 weeks later. When I went for the follow up I was very ‘up’ which the psychiatrist picked up on and after talking about my mood swings he diagnosed me. I’m now on medication which has been life saving..

My up symptoms are: not sleeping, hyper sexuality, spending a lot, talking a lot and redecorating my house obsessively.

Original poster

partlyponder · 04/09/2022 22:19

Pinkandpurplehairedlady · 04/09/2022 19:03

I was diagnosed by a psychiatrist about 3 years ago. Like you I’ve never had true manic episodes. I was being treated for depression and anxiety and was seen for that with a follow up 6 weeks later. When I went for the follow up I was very ‘up’ which the psychiatrist picked up on and after talking about my mood swings he diagnosed me. I’m now on medication which has been life saving..

My up symptoms are: not sleeping, hyper sexuality, spending a lot, talking a lot and redecorating my house obsessively.

Thankyou! This was the kind of answer I was hoping for. Did you get diagnosed bipolar one or two!
Can you recommend anything else I should mention when trying to convey this more subtle kind of mania? I'm worried they'll fob me off with personality disorder or something.

OP posts:

Pinkandpurplehairedlady · 05/09/2022 07:13

I’m not sure what type it is but would say bipolar 2. Just be honest with them about what you’ve experienced with the highs and the lows. They might want to monitor you for awhile before they make the official diagnoses.

Original poster

partlyponder · 05/09/2022 10:45

Pinkandpurplehairedlady · 05/09/2022 07:13

I’m not sure what type it is but would say bipolar 2. Just be honest with them about what you’ve experienced with the highs and the lows. They might want to monitor you for awhile before they make the official diagnoses.

Thanks

OP posts:

Hm2020 · 08/09/2022 14:52

I was only diagnosed after a 4 month manic episode that nearly caused me to lose everything although it’s very obvious looking back I had the same manic episodes from being a young teen and medicated bouts of depression. I went to my gp who referred me for an urgent psych enaluation I was seen with in 2 weeks maybe because I had a 2 year old and was a single mother I was diagnosed within them 2 weeks with bipolar 1. That was in 2016.

FrecklesMalone · 08/09/2022 15:07

Mine was after 3 lots of being sectioned from very manic episodes. My mum is I think bipolar but much less extreme. She has never been sectioned.