Unsure of My Diagnosis

Hi Everyone,
I am a 41 year old South African Woman in the middle of a divorce who was diagnosed by a private Psychiatrist with manic depression. I was so bad at the time that my first treatment was a course of ECT. However she refused to continue treating me while I was still married to my husband because of his negative affect on me.

Turns out she was very correct in that regard, he had no time for me or my illness and it became very apparent in the frequent hospitalisations caused by incorrect medication and self mutilation. As my psychologist said to me, you can throw all the medication you like down your throat but if you don't have the necessary love, care and support at home you will never stabilise.

I have stabilised enough on my own by making the decision to do it all for me and no-one else hence the divorce but what has got me so twisted is the medical fraternity. I was diagnosed by a private practitioner but I had to continue my treatment in a Government Institution which explains why it took so long for me to get the correct medication. It was expensive and not available at Government Hospitals. The care I got was excellent though as we still have one of the best establishments standing called The H.Morross Rehab. Centre. They do take care of patients with mental disorders but they offer psycho therapy as well.

However, with me now leaving Johannesburg to return to Natal to live with my Mother as I am disabled having both Bipolar and Fibromyalgia I had to get a letter from my Psychiatrist explaining my history, my treatment and my diagnosis. Well was I surprised to find Major Depressive Disorder, General Anxiety Disorder and Borderline Personality Disorder. I was under the impression that if one had Major Depressive Disorder for an extended period which I think 11 years is it generally has a tendancy to become Bipolar 2 anyway? All the medication I take is for exactly that so I'm lost.

Does someone have an answer or is this just mumbo jumbo to you too.

Great to have people to discuss this with. Sorry about the biography.

[mags22]

I'm don't think having major depression for any length of time means you are going to develop Bipolar.  You are either bipolar, or a combination of bipolar and other disorders as well.  It could just be that the mania aspect of the the bipolar doesn't appear as quickly.

As far as I understand to be Bipolar 1 you must suffer from major depressive disorder combined with at least one episode of acute mania, and for bipolar 2 at least one episode of hypomania.  

The medications for many disorders may be similar and overlap, so you would have to talk with the prescribing doctor and find out exactly why you were given particular meds.