Dealing with Narcissism/ bi-polar disorder

[CMcColley1984]

Two years ago I was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder, and as time went with it I was found to have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder as well. As most people on medications for mental illnessed do, I quit taking mine through the two year period and in that time resolved little issues. I never took therapy although I should have but listened to people say "Buck up and quit complaining." or something along those lines. In recent time I became married moved to Texas from Chicagoland and began SSRI Celexa in which I began becoming physically ill, irritable in which I was told that was normal. Six months later I became violent toward my wife who has Lyme disease I drug her around a room then when she hid from me crying I slapped her and to this day I don't know how it all happened or why I would do that. I had never been abusive before to anyone in my life. I was kicked out by my wife and when I came back to Indiana I started getting help again this time choosing to see a psychotherapist although I'm still on hold for it because they say it a "Process". But to get to my question, Can Narcissistic Personality Disorder be confused with Bi-Polar Disorder? And could it be because I may have a personality disorder more so than bi-polar disorder that I become physically ill? Right now I'm on Depekote 1000mg' a day which leave me with dry skin and rashes, the feeling of constant anxiety and it makes me physically ill as well. Someone please don't give me a cop out answer like "Don't worry about your diagnosis worry about the medication." it's been pretty obvious that medication is not helping me, it's making me sick. So any Doctor that know's please respond.

[young46]

There is another forum called "Ask the Doctor - go back to forum home page and click on mental health and then write your question if you would like to ask the doctor a questionj

[Jaquta]

I haven't heard of those two particular disorders being confused for each other.  They may have some diagnostic criteria in common, I'm not sure.
Borderline personality disorder can be confused with bipolar.  I guess NPD and BPD have some things in common.  They both belong to the same cluster/ group of personality disorder's.  You don't sound narcissistic if that helps.

PTSD has features in common with bpd.

Did you have manic phases while off the meds?  If you did, that could indicate that you do have bipolar.
Maybe the pstd clouded the bipolar picture?

Did you drink alcohol or do anything like that before beating your wife?  If you did, it could have been a catalyst.  Someone posted recently (in the mental health expert forum) about engaging in criminal behavior without being able to recall it.  They had ptsd, adhd, tbi, etc.  But had four beers prior to the event.

A rash is a sign of a drug allergy or drug toxicity.  Maybe the dose is too high?  I'm not sure about the ssri.  One would expect any side-effect to diminish over a period of time.

A doctor should be able to differentiate between bipolar and a personality disorder.

Another thought.  You may be experiencing psychotic episodes due to the ptsd which could be confused for bipolar.  You really need a doctor's opinion.  If you aren't happy with the diagnoses you have you should ask for a second opinion.

I find the expert on the mental health expert forum really good.  The expert on the compulsive behaviors expert forum is a T and not a medical doctor or psychiatrist.  He can be good too though depending on the question.

My recommendation (and I am a lay person), would be to get another psych assessment and to pursue the psychotherapy.   I have found psychoanalysis to be the best type of therapy.  Bummer about the waiting period.

J