Real bipolar?

[Manicmeganme]

I've felt with anxiety and depression most my life. I always thought my good moods were exactly that. After a few years of seeing a psychologist and psychiatrist they have decided I'm bipolar and an alcoholic. My question is could I just have good moods? Ive been on limictal and celexa for about a year now. When they gave me sequraquil to stop the mania I slept for two days straight. So am I stupid for questioning their diagnosis?

[rogelio63]

I think they missed it often for me. But I have to admit to myself that I had the mood swings, the spending sprees, the over the top sex drive that would stop and end with depression.  I used to think everyone did that.  I guess they don't.  But even now, I wonder if the meds made me different.  I go back and forth like a teeter totter.

[lindahand]

You aren't stupid. It is natural to question a diagnosis. It can be a very good thing to get a second opinion.

Denial may also be at play. When I was first diagnosed I went on every website that had a symptom checker and skewed the results to 'prove' I didn't have bipolar disorder. I couldn't accept that I had such a severe psychiatric diagnosis. Sure I was crying all the time or an energizer bunny wrapped in neurotic anxiety, but that was just who I was.

Finally I had to accept the fact that I have bipolar disorder. And it was really hard to admit but it made so much sense. All of the times in my life where I had trainwrecked it with my behavior finally made sense.

Now knowing I have this illness I can learn about how to manage it and that gives me a lot of power.

If you don't have bipolar disorder it is important to know that because the meds do come with side effects. If you are bipolar than there is a lot you can do to help yourself.

I guess part of the question is judging those 'good moods' Do they disrupt your life? Do you need less sleep and still feel energized. Do people comment that you appear in an unusually good mood. Do those good moods occur despite bad things happening in your life. Do those good moods cause you to spend money foolishly. Go on drinking binges. Have lots of sex, or want to have lots of sex. Have you ever spent more money than you should in one of those moods. Do you talk faster during those moods. Do you get annoyed when people can't keep up with you. If you get some of these than the chances are higher it is a hypomanic episode verses just being happy. And sometimes we are not the best judge of our actions. My husband can usually tell I am hypomanic before I can. So your psychologist may recognize something like pressured speech that you don't necessarily see. It is important to ask them why they think you are bipolar and to be specific.

[littlebit667]

It is always good to get a second opinion.  My husband is bipolar and drank for many years as his way of self medicating.  Have you quit drinking??  

[Manicmeganme]

Oh I forgot to mention my vitiman D is low and liver enzymes are high with my pshoriousis flair up. Ugh