Confused about mutiple diagnosis

[BeeKeeper]

I'm hoping to hear some opinions from the group.  I was first diagnoses as having an addiction...then being manic depressive with suicidal tendencies...and now BP2 Disorder.  My question is do all three issues exist seperately or as one under the BP2 Disorder?  I've heard this argued both ways but am curious as to what others trying to work/live through these issues think.

[monkeyc]

I kind of don't understand how you can have it argued both ways.

Manic Depression is the old catch all name which was replaced by Bipolar Disorder in DSM-IV - there are 3 distinct types in the bipolar tree - Type 1, Type 2 and Cyclothymia.

Manic Depression is really not used much anymore as a diagnostic term though older pdoc's can have a habit of doing it but there is no real difference in them because they are words for the same mood disorders.

Addiction is a seperate axis but its also a component of BP - Bipolars do tend to have addictive tendencies as a symptomatic behaviour and many bipolars who are undiagnosed ore unmedicated turn to to drugs and alcohol as self treatments because they are easy to get and work in some fashion for a period of time (with massive consequences later).

While I do not disagree with ILADVOCATE who is on the money I would give you a different angle to take as well.

First of all your psychiatrist works for you.  There is a need to make sure you are educating yourself on the illness and there are a lot of resources out there to start with, some excellent books and a host of websites - reading the forum can give you a lot of resources.

And as a consumer you owe it to yourself to get value from your treatment, ask your doctors questions, ask them how to treat the illness, what drugs you need, therapies.

I think that good treatment for this disease has to include a couple of things, first is education because knowledge is power, second is medication because stability is key to survival, third is a good medical team - Family Doc, pdoc and a therapist (Never underestimate how much use a good psychologist is - someone who can just advocate for you and talk to you and give you some advice and techniques for coping is priceless) are essential as they all play their parts and fourth is support - you need friends or family who can support you when you need their help.

The last one is the hardest in many ways.

Don't forget we are all here for support, this is a community and we are always willing to help out.

[ILADVOCATE]

"Manic depressive" is not used anymore. Bipolar has replaced it. BP2 is one form of bipolar. I've probably provided you with the site but "Depression Central" (its for all mood disorders) should explain in consumer friendly terms the different types of bipolar. If you have remaining suicidal ideations they would put that down out of concern but that's not part of a specific diagnosis. As for "addiction" if you ever had a problem with substance abuse then that would be a seperate axis (in clinical terms) or category. I've been through all this not as a provider of course but in representing people and helping them apply for supported housing. So I have some familiarity with what a psychiatrist's chart looks like and what it means. What you basically need to know most importantly are what are the remaining symptoms that need to be worked on, what is there to treat them, what are the good effects of these medications are, the side effects and how you can know when they aren't working and what to look for. I think that site should give you some more information and then you could discuss the specifics of what's going on with you with your psychiatrist. And as long as you are polite and not confrontational and respect their judgement there's no reason not to ask questions. An educated consumer gets the best treatment and the best response.