Bipolar Disorder Support Group

i was forced to get mentally evaluated i got in trouble with the law and was court ordered to go to a hospital it really saved my life

My primary doctor had suspicions then I saw a psychiatrist and she agreed...so no hospital needed, though the pdoc wanted to commit me my mom said no.

No you don't have to be commited to be diagnosed but sometimes they prefer you have a brief stay in the psyc. ward to observate and level your meds. It's not mandatory but it may be in your best interest in the long run. Lucky you ,I have been commited more times than I can remember. Oh the old days were really something,locked ward full of whackos(my peeps)and being put into restraints,I especially enjoyed the full body restraint,it was like a sleeping bag,and left in the middle of the room for all my friends there to have fun with me................................but I digress it's not bad at all now kinda like a mini vacation actually.

I was diagnosed in hospital by my first psych. But I was a voluntary admit, not committed. Now how bad do you have to feel to voluntary admit? Glad those days are gone!

i have been diagnosed twice the first time was a waste of money the second hospital stay was helpful they actually knew what they were doing and didn't just care about the money

No, you don't need a trip to the loony tune land, I just had a psychotic break and for my safety they put me there. In a place I didn't belong, where there were Druggies coming down from major withdrawls, Alchies coming down from theirs, Suicidal people (which I have NEVER been) as roommates, but that is where they put me. Am still very bitter about where my EX sent me, but I digress. No, you don't have to be locked up to be DX (diagnosed). Good luck to you and I hope that if you are going thru a psychotic break, you have the knowledge to know to ask for help. Maybe the psych wards where you went to will be different, and the one that I went to was a good one??? I still question that...Maria J.

my regular doctor suspected it and i finally went to a pdoc...second pdoc got it right

I will no more or less in a little you

disregard last post as I it was training to use my speaking type program.

Nope! No Need to Get Diagnosed in a Hospital.
I was diagnosed as an out patient going to a therapist. Crazy shit was going on in 1997/1998. Parents threw me out on my ass. Didn't speak, ETC. Anyway around 1999 a freind said something about all that was going on in my life and suggested that a I see someone for help sorting it all out. I talked to a relative that is an alcoholic and depressed and she gave me the name of her therapist so I called. Next thing I knew is that I had an apponintment with a therapist in that office. So I started seeing a guy named Bill. I got better and quit going to therapy. Bill never told me I was bipolar and I never saw a P-doc for meds. a little while went by and I relapsed. So I Get a new therapist at a new agency and he gets my records from the first agency where I was seeing Bill. OK, It is a long story so will cut some out. Fast forward to 2003. Loose my P-doc and finaly wind up in a hospital! Not once but twice. Bipolar had gotten worse. Finally on meds in 2003 and on my 2nd or 3rd P-doc and 4th or 5th therapist. Hospitalized again in 2005 and should have been hospitalized in 2007 but wasn't. It is a long road. Take it one day at a time. Good luck getting the help you need. You will get it as help is out there but it does take time