I have a question....

[tbird_energizerbunny]

I have a friend who has just had, let's say a rough life, just to be short, and after running away from home (which I truly support 100%) she was advised to go into counseling. Well her parents agree to take her to counseling, and within 1 hour, her counselor diagnosed her as Bipolar II hypomania....

...my question, is how long did it take for your counselor to diagnose you if you have Bipolar II hypomania? If you have Bipolar I or any other type, please specify. Could you tell me the steps your counselor took to diagnose you?

The reason I'm asking, is that my friend does not have manic episodes or anything. She's pretty level headed and in order to have this, she'd have to have manic episodes, that are pretty obvious, but she doesn't. So I don't know...

There's also the fact that her parents may have paid him to paint it to look as if she can't live with anyone but them..

but she is getting a second opinion soon.

what do you think?

 

[lvbeads]

That's a tough question. I have schizoaffective disorder which is a combo of schizophrenia and bipolar (not sure what type). I came with a list of symptoms and my doctor knew in 5 minutes. For your friend, she may have revealed a symptom to the doc that caused the diagnosis. If not, I would encourage her to somehow get a second opinion, though it sounds like that may be hard.

My prayers are with you both...
God bless...

 

[tbird_energizerbunny]

She really didn't tell him anything other than she was having a tough time trying to deal with her parents.

 

[angelkiss]

I am bipolar I and have PTSD, but I was diagnosed in the beginning as Borderline Personality Disorder.

There is a list of criteria to go by, but considering bipolar also has some of the symptoms of other illnesses as well, it usually takes a few or more visits to get the correct diagnosis. At least that's how it always was with me. I've been to numerous therapists, but they all went by the criteria that had to be met for the final diagnosis.

This is a short explanation of a bipolar episode that I just googled:

As someone who has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, you have probably experienced both depressive and manic episodes. And you know first-hand the impact these episodes can have on your day-to-day life and the goals you have set for yourself.
A common misperception is that bipolar mood changes are usually quick and drastic. In reality, mood shifts are often quite gradual. An episode—whether depressive or manic—can last for weeks, months, or even years.
People with bipolar disorder are not always depressed or manic; they can go for long stretches of time in a "normal," balanced mood. The typical person with bipolar disorder has an average of four episodes during the first 10 years of the illness.1


This is a list of criteria I just googled. Maybe it will help a little.
Depressive Episodes2

Depressive episodes are characterized by overwhelming feelings of sadness, worthlessness, and hopelessness. Symptoms may include

• Sadness
• Excessive crying
• Loss of pleasure
• Abnormal sleep
• Low energy
• Restlessness
• Difficulty concentrating
• Irritability
• Loss of appetite or overeating
• Feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness
• Thoughts of death or suicide

Manic Episodes2

Manic episodes are periods of elated mood, which can include racing thoughts, extreme irritability or reckless behavior. Symptoms may include

• Inappropriate sense of euphoria (elation)
• Racing thoughts; talking too much
• Extreme irritability
• Reckless behavior
• Abnormal sleep
• Excessive energy
• Out of control spending
• Difficulty concentrating
• Abnormally increased activity, including sexual activity
• Poor judgment
• Aggressive behavior

 

[Alive again]

Hi, I am bipolar type 2. The difference between type one and two is tremendous in some cases. There are also other types like bp not otherwise specified and schizoaffective which is a combo of a mood disorder and schizophrenia symptoms (the genes involved in both diseases are similar). Some also refer to soft bipolar and are looking at type 3 and 4. . . Then there is rapid cycling and mixed cycling, etc It can all get confusing.

To make a long story short bp2 has HYPOMANIAS. These are elevated mood periods, that do not reach the "typical" full blown manias that someone who has bp1 does. My son and father and myself and my brother all have (or had and they have passed away) bp2 and our primary mania symptom was anger and rage. My first manias I ever experienced just felt like normal days during the midst of depression when I could see the colors in my world around me again and enjoy the beautiful day. For me and my relatives we lived 90% or more of our time in depression which no one would guess and very little time in hypomania. but everyone's cycles vary.

Yes, a good diagnosis can occur in a few minutes with the right information. My correct diagnosis took years because of the predominance of the depression, as did my father's and son's diagnosis.

I got three opinions, they all said depressed, some added ptsd, some added a few other things, but there is no lab test or imaging test (yet) to help with the diagnosis. There is an MMPI but it is simply a list of questions (long!) to get consistent answers about thoughts and behaviors to help with a diagnosis. But the truth of the matter is that it is a diagnosis based on reported symptoms.

Feel free to ask questions here and/or pm me.

 

[bipolarbear]

The Lord allowed me to come to a very low place in my life... I would not go to tehdoctor, so He in his grace, physicly made me. I had 6 cysts rupture in 10 months, adn my Beloved was so concerned he insists make a doctor's appointment. I happen to have my appointment set up with a gal I had never seen. it should have taken all of 10 minutes, and two hours later, she sent me on my way. I am still thankful for the Lord bringing me to her. (Dispite my Beloved trying and trying to get me to talk to a dr foa many years...) She said I probably had some form of bipolar to start off with, and to set up appointments with a pdoc, adn a tdoc. I saw the therapist first... A few weeks later, i went to the pdoc. I answered questions, shared some things, adn he dx ed me with bipolar depression In the first visit, adn prescribed meds for me to start. That was last year early January. Over teh last year, i have tried diffrent mesd to find the ones that work for me, adn alsohad anxiety disorder and borderline OCD added to my dx. May the Lord be with your friend, and if she persues the meds, may her first year be one of grace...

 

[tbird_energizerbunny]

THanks guys,

But the thing is, she doesn't have any swings of emotion or anything, she's just a 'normal' (if you can call it) teenage girl who has ups and downs due to hormones, but what teenager doesnt? Surely if she has problems, then surely we would see them after 4 years of knowing her!

 

[bipolarbear]

Then she should seek a second opinion...

 

[Auston]

THanks guys,

But the thing is, she doesn't have any swings of emotion or anything, she's just a 'normal' (if you can call it) teenage girl who has ups and downs due to hormones, but what teenager doesnt? Surely if she has problems, then surely we would see them after 4 years of knowing her!

Energizer, I have bi-polar 2 and nobody suspected it my whole life until just a couple of months ago. My wife and I raised a family, and I am quite sucessful in managing a business. Somehow, barely, I kept going throught the manic times, people just thought I was a hard worker, full of energy, and yes a little impulsive. On the down sidess I would get sick, unable to work, and physically drained. My wife didn't know what to think, just that I was depressed. She knew something was wrong. It was finally after marriage counseling, which I had to transfer to a personal counselor, that if finally was recognized. That was 9 months after counseling started. Getting on medication has changed my life.

Things like running away can seem very right to a manic mind. I could share a whole host of things that seemed right to this manic mind, and I could, at the time, explain them all. People would agree with me 100% also. I look back and see a path in my wake that I am not proud of. If your friend needs help it may not be so evident, as in classic manic symtoms. I actually started on meds under an evaluated trial. The outward symptoms seemed minor to others, but inwardly there was a storm. Upon medication I saw something I had never known before: peace, calm, reasonability, reality, ......I had spent all those years in utter termoil trying to make sense of it all, flying high, crashing, and repeating the cycle. It had beome a torment to my soul. Not all storms show externally, but don't underestimate the power within.

Good Luck with your friend.