Bipolar Disorder Support Group

Bipolar disorder is not just a single disorder, but a category of mood disorders marked by periods of abnormally high energy and euphoria, often accompanied by bouts of clinical depression. This is the place to talk about your experience with bipolar disorder, learn from others' experiences, and find support.

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Do you have to be psychotic?

sfagrad
sfagrad
I am trying to get a clear diagnoses from my doctor. My therapist thinks I am bipolar. I think I am bipolar. My pdoc says i am not bipolar because I am on antidepressants and I do not have psychosis. Do you have to be psychotic to be manic?
tommymott
tommymott
Psychosis may or may not be present in mania. My experience has been that I experience psychosis in extreme mania. It sounds like you have a pdoc who is clueless and I'd find another.
sfagrad
sfagrad
I have been thinking of getting a second opinion. I know deep down that is what it is. The therapist thinks what happened is my antidepressants over corrected me and sent me into mania. It lasted for a few years. I cried a lot during that time to.
oldcper
oldcper
LOL...that's probably one of the most ridiculous things I've ever heard in my 27 years of BiPolar.

I'd definitely look into a new Pdoc.

When you have BiPolar and you only take Anti-D's, you go manic, but psychosis is not a set "state" of being Manic. People who actually have psychosis in a Manic Ep. are the minority in BiPolars.

Good luck.
sfagrad
sfagrad
It did not sound right to me I am just not sure if it was full blown mania or hypo mania. It defiantly took its toll on my life. I could not function like that.
Community Leaderacuriousfish
acuriousfish
no that doesn't sound right. Mania doesn't always include psychosis and that would be for BP1. For BP2s it would be hypomania.

And tyou can be bipolar and not get hypomania or mania on anti-depressants too - it just increases the chances in alot of people with bipolar.

I'd get a second psychiatric opinion.
SplitScreen
SplitScreen
Agree with the others, get a second or even third opinion.
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