I think you might be right about the fact that people who are addicted to booze or withdrawing can be mis-diagnosed as bi-polar. That being said, the disorder does exist independantly from alcohol; I know this because my wife has been diagnosed for over 20 years and she does not drink or use drugs (never really did it either).

Bi-polar is a chemical imbalance in the brain. It used to be called manic-depression, and it's an over simplification to say that you are "really happy" when manic, or "really sad" when depressed. When my wife is manic, she is NOT happy. She is on overload and her system races, until she feels like she will explode. When she is depressed, she withdrawls within herself for weeks. Then there are the "in betweens" (on the way up or down).

Interestly though, bipolar people tend to be very creative and driven. My wife trained herself in classical guitar (no lessons) and was accepted into the local Conservatory of music (top rate program). Many artists and actors, and leaders were bipolar.

Is it over diagnosed or misdiagosed today? Probably. Is it real? YES. And it can be very hard to live with.

One other note: Many are not diagnosed until they are adults. The pressures of adult life will often bring the disorder out into the open.

One other note: People who are bi-polar and NOT diagnosed will often turn to alcohol or drugs to self medicate. Also, some of the meds for bi-polar are really rough on you, so there are others who will medicate with alcohol instead of taking their meds.

Just to let you know, in rehab nearly everyone had the diagnosis of bipolar. It is the diagnosis dujour. I am not bipolar, but acted like it when first sober. It was maddening because I knew they were way off but my brains were so scrambled I could not coherently let them know.

Thank you, Jacker.
That definitely shed some light.
Since I'm an alcoholic and my sister is a drug addict and many of us here have addictions....I'm thinking a good majority of these people here are being misdiagnosed and taking meds that are not necessary.

Yeah... my standard was never to give a diagnosis of bipolar until someone had some soberity to clear up what was substance induced rather than a "gentic chemical imbalance." I would use the diagnosis "Substance Induced Mood Disorder...rule out Bipolar." Some psychiatrist will give the diagnosis anyway so they can prescribe mood stablizer which will help someone in recovery stablize their mood (insurances and medical cards will not cover it if they do not care the diagnosis..silly insurance game). However I do not think enough doctors explain that to clients to well. It's easier to say, "This is for bipolar."

If you look at the history of mental health there are always "trends" in diagnosis. True Type I Bipolar is rare, and there is a genetic link. There are other Type II, and Cyclothymic, and rapid cycling... it is a complicated disorder and usually takes awhile to get a clear diagnosis.

Hi, It's really tough to say if one has bi-polar disorder while they are having a tough time staying clean and sober for any period of time, like a year!(as you have stated) so the trick for her I guess is to get sober and find out. I was diagnosed with it about 6 years ago and they couldn't have been more wrong, BUT I was newly sober, I had had a hysterectomy and my thyroid was out of wack so they didn't know what label to put on me. I just ignored it. ( that doesn't mean that evryone should though) and after a few years sober i realized why they thought that. This may sound too simple, but believe me it's true. I lived my life with out any self disciplin. Whatever I felt like doing I did, whatever I didn't feel like doing I didn't. I said whatever came to my mind whenever I felt like it, and didn't give a hoot whom I offended. It was all about me.
I grew up in an alcohol home too where there was not a lot of disciplin, so I was literaly all over the place....I have been sober now for 6 years and that is all behind me now. I have grown up along the way and my life is so much more stable now. I have learned to control my emotions, first and formost and that made a huge difference.
I don't know if this will help you at all, but your right. It is very difficult to diagnose bi-polar in new sobriety...One way she'll be able to tell is...watch closely to what the meds to for her. The meds made me nuts. Far worse than I ever was and if she's drinking on that stuff..oh..boy that can get ugly!!! Good luck.

I am Bipolar 2. Dx in April of this year. Two years of being Sober and I am giving this dx. Also, had a full hysterectomy a year prior. So, Yes, I am totally confused with being dx. My moods were off the scale and still are to a degree. Would go days without sleep. All of a sudden be hyper, then depressed, then moody. I thought it was all related to my hormones being out of whack, but I have to say the Lithium has helped me to stay somewhat stable.

I know in rehab a few years back, like someone else said, everyone in my group had a dx or several. It is mind boggling to think about it. Do they(pdocs) get carried away with dx's? Or is it, like you said, not being totally honest with drinking or drugging.

Interesting thread. Thanks

my experience is NOT one of a doctor.

However I do have an observation over the past 20 years in this fellowship.

When i came to AA in 1988 it was on the wave of the Inner Child movement.
Group therapy and the Prozac nation etc.

Then it was the PTSD wave and suddenly a lot of the newcomers and some of the "unhappy 15-20 yrs sober" ones too were being "diagnosed with this.

Next came the "bi-polar" wave of which we are still in and seemingly the "tail end" of the PTSD wave.

My point in all this is that there is HUUUGE conern within the medical society of the influence of the Pharmaceutical companies on our general population today.

I must be VERY clear that I am NOT suggesting that those individuals that have been correctly diagnosed with PTSD or bi-polar disease should be off any Doctors care at all.

My concern is the over medication of our society as a whole.

Here is an article that might prove interesting to some that are following this thread>>
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/11/pharmaceutical-influence_n_125569.html

God Bless

They diagnosed me bipolar once, it was the drugs, I don't have bipolar disorder. Damn psychiatrist's label everyone bipolar nowadays.With me it was drug/alcohol withdrawal, I suspect not everyone is bipolar, it's just the drugs and alcohol, it will mimic symptoms until you totally detox yourself, they won't even know if you have a mental illness until you are at least sober a year.I never see psych's anymore, I don't trust them, they just want to push psych meds on you.

You are right they are being misdiagnosed, but some are truly bipolar, but there can't be that many, like you said.

I finally had a therapist tell me you don't have a mental illness you just have bad coping skills, so after that got rid of all my psych meds and been better ever since, that was 2 yrs ago.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bipolar_disorder

Hmmm,
It seems everyone has an opinion and I don't believe there are any doctors here., so all these opinions are of an uneducated nature.
I don't mean to be rude, its just my opinion.

No, it's a known fact it's misdiagnosed alot
The whole planet isn't bipolar. geeez!And yes I am just actully talking about my experience with the mental health system.

http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/b/bipolar/misdiag.htm