flutterby
Fly away!
This is a bit of frustration.
For years, bipolar wasn't something you heard too much about. I understand that with awareness comes better diagnosis'ing and treatment.
But, it seems like everyone that goes to a psychiatrist ends up with a bipolar diagnosis.
A friend of mine has recently been diagnosis'd bipolar. I've known her for 10 years. If she's bipolar, then I'm Angelina Jolie. And then they put her on Abilify, along with her welbutrin (can you get any more stupid???). In one week, the Abilify has caused significant disinhibition.
She saw the nurse today; the psychiatrist is on vacation. She was told to continue the Abilify and if it gets worse to call. *blink* This is someone who is disinhibited enough all by herself. She doesn't need any help.
I would bet everything I own that she is borderline. Borderline and bipolar often get confused. Of course, it would take more than one 45 minute session to determine that.
But, in any case, it just seems like it is so overdiagnosed. It cannot be possible that everyone I know who ends up with a mental health diagnosis is bipolar. It's just not statistically possible. And look at the number of kids on the board who are diagnosis'd bipolar. I'm not saying none of them are, but the numbers are so high. I don't buy it. I'm not even convinced that difficult child 2 is bipolar. If he is, with the medications he's on, he should be going off the deep end. And he's not.
The first time I joined the board 6 or 7 years ago, almost no one was familiar with medications like lamictal. Now look at it.
These are powerful drugs and they are just dispensed as if it's no big deal. And then when they cause an adverse or undesirable reaction, they are told to wait it out and see what happens; or let's add this other medication to it.
I am so frustrated with the mental health services in this country. Something has got to give.
Off my soapbox now.
ETA: I was even diagnosis'd bipolar at one time. Interesting as I have never had a manic or hypomanic episode. When I went back for my second appointment and wanted to discuss this, the psychiatrist said I wasn't medication compliant and refused to see me again. If I'm bipolar, I'm the most incredibly boring bipolar patient *ever*.
For years, bipolar wasn't something you heard too much about. I understand that with awareness comes better diagnosis'ing and treatment.
But, it seems like everyone that goes to a psychiatrist ends up with a bipolar diagnosis.
A friend of mine has recently been diagnosis'd bipolar. I've known her for 10 years. If she's bipolar, then I'm Angelina Jolie. And then they put her on Abilify, along with her welbutrin (can you get any more stupid???). In one week, the Abilify has caused significant disinhibition.
She saw the nurse today; the psychiatrist is on vacation. She was told to continue the Abilify and if it gets worse to call. *blink* This is someone who is disinhibited enough all by herself. She doesn't need any help.
I would bet everything I own that she is borderline. Borderline and bipolar often get confused. Of course, it would take more than one 45 minute session to determine that.
But, in any case, it just seems like it is so overdiagnosed. It cannot be possible that everyone I know who ends up with a mental health diagnosis is bipolar. It's just not statistically possible. And look at the number of kids on the board who are diagnosis'd bipolar. I'm not saying none of them are, but the numbers are so high. I don't buy it. I'm not even convinced that difficult child 2 is bipolar. If he is, with the medications he's on, he should be going off the deep end. And he's not.
The first time I joined the board 6 or 7 years ago, almost no one was familiar with medications like lamictal. Now look at it.
These are powerful drugs and they are just dispensed as if it's no big deal. And then when they cause an adverse or undesirable reaction, they are told to wait it out and see what happens; or let's add this other medication to it.
I am so frustrated with the mental health services in this country. Something has got to give.
Off my soapbox now.
ETA: I was even diagnosis'd bipolar at one time. Interesting as I have never had a manic or hypomanic episode. When I went back for my second appointment and wanted to discuss this, the psychiatrist said I wasn't medication compliant and refused to see me again. If I'm bipolar, I'm the most incredibly boring bipolar patient *ever*.