Feelings
How did you feel when you were first diagnosed with Bipolar? Did you feel relief or was it more of a label?
@JamieSclafaniLMSW
Hey Jamie! Thanks for asking this important question. I know that when my friend was diagnosed he felt relief! Suddenly it all made snes nad he had a reason and a way to go forwards.
But, I imagine that some people would feel devastated, depressed and others elated?
@JamieSclafaniLMSW
Since being diagnosed I feel it is a neon sign on me warning those to run sad to say
@JamieSclafaniLMSW It felt, and still feels, like they marked me as 'definitely broken, no amount of glue will ever fix this teacup again' when I got diagnosed.
@Thelastleafthatheldontothetree It heals. You have to change how you think on the inside and unblock whatever negative emotions are there
@Thelastleafthatheldontothetree :( all is not lost and you aren't broken
@JamieSclafaniLMSW
When I recieved the official diagnosis, it was more a formality and a direction for treatment.
My GP had me in a 'wait and see' state for a few years... he wasn't sure it wasn't SAD, since I really only saw him in the fall for my annual physical and a couple times a year. As the illness progressed and my body got more and more worn down from the constant roller-coaster, I was in more often with issues and he got to see some changes in my mood and energy.
I finally hit my breaking point and all but begged him to get things moving on treatment... a couple paperwork tests and I had pinned the score for both depression and bipolar. Numerous calls and meetings later, allergic reaction to his first med choice, and he only was willing to go so far on his second choice... I had 5 unofficial diagnosis of bipolar from various levels in the health system... I finally got in with a psychiatrist almost a year after I broke down, and was quickly put up the dose I'm on and received an official diagnosis of bipolar II. It took me a few months to really own it, but nothing had really changed other than I was seeing a psychiatrist and was on medication that helped level things out.
@JamieSclafaniLMSW I just joined because I am in over my head in terms of subcoms but Bipolar is near and dear to my heart. I suspect I have suffered from it but over 30 years learned to work around it.
My friend got the diagnosis 10 years ago and they did not have a strong outer reaction. For me it has been a 10 year learning process. Bipolar is not easy if you do not like change.
