hows the shrink know what the problem is??

[jimgreg]

for someone thats been diagnosed whats the process of being diagnosed wile just sitting there?? now im on lithiem threw my family doc taking care of me with his diagnose is bipolar on the very hi end..well i was manic ,, mania.,.but not like they say in the books were i didnt need any sleep or had highs from the manic..i get manic and depressed  i cant explain it to you..im on disabilty for whatever's wrong with me..so can you ANSWER MY QUESTSHION??     thanks

[RJ233]

I'm so sorry things are so rough for you. She is definitely acting very erratic. Either someone she works with or a friend has told her she is going to have a melt down or she knows it in her own mind. I would imagine you are not the only one that she is taking it out on. When a person gets so uncontrollable of themselve they usually lash out at everybody. She still might be holding on somewhat around others, but the way she sounds, she is not going to be able to much longer. She is trying to deny it to herself to make it go away. She is using beer as a means to self medicate, even knowing it is a problem for her. In the position she is in, she sees her reality and sees different people as trying to hurt her or she fears they will. It is not unusual. My counselor told me one time, he went to visit a good friend that was in the middle of an episode. He was talking to her and suddenly she thought he was the devil and was in terror, so he left. He wasn't a relative, but a good friend and educated in that area so he knew all the trigger words not to say and she still flipped.

Just hang in there and try your best to relax. Find things that will help to take your mind off the problem, reading, fishing, going to a movie with a friend or any other interests you have to occupy yourself. Try to let the ugly things she says to you go in one ear and out the other. Later, she may not even remember what she said. It is her illness speaking. I know it is hard to watch someone you love go through this, but atleast she does have someone that knows and cares and will be there to help when she does fall. When you need to talk just remember here is a place that you have support and people that care. Keep in touch. RJ

[dwray1]

Sadly no change with my wife.  More irritable and sleep patterns seem to be somewhat erratic.  Yesterday we had a blow-up over our dog, which is hers, but I have been doing all the work.  She screamed at me  and after 6 weeks of this, I admit I lost it.  I had made an appointment with the vet and told her about it 8 days ago via email (which is the only way we communicate now) and she ranted that I had made the appointment without checking with her.  I sent her the email from 9 days ago to her to show she did know about it but got no response.  She yelled that I had more free time than her and I was trying to screw her.  I told her the only reason I had more free time was that she told me she didn't need my help with anything 6 weeks ago.  In the same breath, she said that my offer to help her was a lie and just because we were not going to be together I wasn't willing to help her.  Once again, I reminded her that I offered to help her in any way I could when we were proceeding as a couple but she had told me she wanted out. I called her on her assertion that a doctor recommended she get off Celexa and go on the vitamin/mineral program I told you about.  She back-pedaled but said she had seen a doctor, which I know isn't true.

Oddly, she sent several emails to me telling me her "head was on better than ever", "That if I was expecting a meltdown, it wasn't going to happen" and I have never said any of those things to her. It was almost as if the pressure of school, job, study etc was getting to her and she wanted to take it out on me. She is working 12-16 hours or more a day sometimes getting up at 4:30 am , sometimes not until 8-9 AM.

She has been having a beer each night, which with a history in her family and her self-admittance that she has a problem with alcohol, doesn't see prudent.  She doesn't pick up after herself, which is not like her.  Doesn't put her dished in the dishwasher but, instead, leaves them in the sink for me to pick up.hanks for the note.

[Fairygirlthirty]

I think a bit of diagnosis goes by your mood at the time of appointment too.  The day I received my diagnosis of Bipolar I was misdiagnosed 2 hours prior as schizophrenic.  The first psychiatrist I spoke to asked me rapid fire yes and no answer questions.  I was feeling very down and just didn't participate much.  At the end of our 15 minute appointment he told me I was schizophrenic.  To say I flipped out would be putting it mildly.  I demanded to see a different psychiatrist.  She spent two hours with me, and asked me much more in depth questions and got more in depth answers.  She helped me to feel comfortable sharing and opening up to her.  At the end of our session she told me that I am clearly Bipolar.  Once home I did some online research into this disorder and it fits like a glove.

[shortcircuited]

Doctors have a lot of training, plus many have experience.  When you see people with the same symptoms over and over, it's easier to pick up on that problem in someone.  Also, you only have to meet a certain number of symptoms to be diagnosed, because not everyone has all the symptoms.  The doctors have guidelines to help them make the diagnosis.  

Sometimes you can even find bipolar self tests online.  I had a friend with bipolar, and I didn't think her symptoms were so strange--so I tested myself for bipolar and thought the test was just mistaken.  I actually had bipolar that just wasn't all that extreme at first.  It doesn't have to be really obvious to be diagnosed.

[Lizz67]

What an awsome description of how the therapeutic process works!  I'm going to have to quote you the next time I'm trying to explain what I get out of it or trying to encourage someone to seek a doctor or therapy.  I feel fortunate that I've had counselors and doctors who stay "on top of me."  Thanks.

[RJ233]

You are surely welcome. I am glad that helped you.

[jimgreg]

hey thanks alot for the advice..that helped me alot to understand it better...james

[RJ233]

Originally, I went to the psychiatrist, because I was so depressed and I wasn't myself. I basically wanted someone to talk to. He asked me questions and it would get me to talking about how I felt, the why's, my concerns. Your personality comes out in what you say and how you act. He basically asks what I would call trigger questions, and out you come. He is trained to know what to look for, to see what is going on with you. You may say things like, I can't sleep, I walk the floors, I don't want to be around any one, I won't even answer the phone, my husband gets on my nerves just looking at me, I don't have any noise on in my house because it gets on my nerves. All the things we say and focus on, cry about, and physical reactions during those conversations, even our appearance tells him a lot. I never knew in such a little time a dr could learn so much about me. He follows up to see how well you are doing on the meds. A question like, "how do you feel"? That is actually a big question. You start to look at yourself and try to describe "you on the inside" and "how you act on the outside". That gives him the picture of your mental status. Atleast, that's my view. My dr has been right on target and I have been seeing him for quite a few years.