Do you think people are misdiagnosed bipolar, because without it they would not be able to receive help?
If you've seen my posts before you know that I've gone back and forth on my diagnosis multiple times.
I have a psychiatrist who says I'm bipolar.
I had another psychiatrist say that I wasn't, and I work with a therapist under her practice. She thinks it is more likely CPTSD with borderline traits. It also doesn't help that my moods shift based on the hormonal phases of my period--which I found after tracking for 4 months.
I have gotten away from labels as they seem to do me no good. The truth is, I just need effective treatment. I don't want to close the door to medication if I need it, the more avenues I have to help treat this the better. I have no concrete opinion on what I have or if I have it, I just know I'm sick and I need help.
One thing I was thinking of lately is that I used to really push my psych on where my symptoms come from. "I think these are from TRAUMA, not a chemical imbalance!" " I think I have borderline!"
His response was always, why does it matter? In my mind, it mattered quite a bit, because it would help me figure out how to deal. Focusing on triggers vs medication and the like.
But from his standpoint, why does it matter? My symptoms are severe enough to impact my daily life. I haven not attempted suicide or had a psychotic episode, but my life is extremely difficult.
In my psychs mind--the treatment would need to be the same. As little meds as possible and accommodations when needed.
If I was diagnosed borderline, or CPTSD (which isn't even recognized by the DSM), people would not take my illness seriously. Accommodations would likely be much harder to get, and I'd feel much guiltier asking for them.
I am not saying that I don't think I'm bipolar--the truth is I don't really care anymore. Instead, I'm engaging in a thought exercise: what if a good majority of BP II is not really BP but doctors know that the label is required to get any sort of effective treatment? My doctor is great about FMLA, accommodations, and the like. He has pushed me away from trying to label my illness over and over again. For the time being, I don't really know or care. When I thought "what if I'm not bipolar?" What would that change? Nothing but name. Borderline is even more stigmatized that BP, so I'd have that to deal with, accommodations, might be harder, and treatment might be harder.
If this thought exercise were true, this would mostly be hurting people who have BPI, as the severity of the illness is not thought to be as bad as it really is. If this thought exercise was true, it would also be extremely depressing that the only way people can find help is by saying there is something physically wrong with their body. We all know trauma and personality disorders are not taken seriously.
I hope no offense is taken from this post, it has just been on my mind quite a bit.
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