It's up to you how you relate with your treatment. Nobody knows my situation because I don't tell anyone. I've always figured that whatever I told the pdoc was the truth.

I think you should be honest. How can the pdoc help you if you don't tell him what is wrong.

Yeah, since I got sober a couple years ago I've found honesty to be one of the better remedies. Just that if I am labeled with this disorder or that, there isn't much going back to change the fact. Which is why my current pdoc has me as 'Mood disorder NOS'. He's a good doctor though, can't complain about him, and he's also active duty so knows the do's & don'ts IRT diagnosing certain disorders.

And yeah tommy I know what you mean with reaction to my environment. Just that when I'm in a rut or depressed, I catastrophize and blow small things out of proportion. Which is one of my issues to begin with.

I hear ya re society it can be nasty at times... We as part of society can work on changing that though..

Acceptance is a huge gift to yourself....I found when I accepted that I had this disorder that I got stable much faster...I started working with the disorder as opposed to struggling against having it..

There is little to nothing that your psych hasn't already heard Dad... He won't be judging you... Normally anything you discuss with your psych would be completely private.. I would ask him if it's the same rules in the military...Holding a lot in becomes things that you aren't dealing with and working to stabilize

Big hug for you and a blessing....x

I know military - I know they are trying to break stigma, from the top down.... probably won't reach you.....

your pdoc - should be safe, if your not honest - they can't treat you effectively, if you lie - it makes him guess...

Private sector, including support groups NAMI, DBSA Here! You have more choices, then you think

Depression wants us to feel discouraged, hopeless, stuck, isolated, that's its job description... everyone on here has felt, what your feeling now -

You have to talk, it takes a lot of the power away - when you talk to go people, you get choices, options -= and friends, you didn't know you had!!!!

Welcome!

Thanks everyone, I appreciate your thoughts. I tell my pdoc everything that is going on, short of "I'm 99% sure that I am Bipolar.

Just frustrating because I've been on and off so many colors & flavors of medication that I fear I may need to try something else. It has been 26 months since all of my 'real' issues were exposed to someone other than me, and I am still getting worse IRT anxiety, stress, mood fluctuations, and well as cravings for something to shut my mind out. Don't worry though, I'm not going to drink today, and hope to make it through tomorrow.

That's good! Alcoholism looks just like bipolar... Hold on and stay sober, or you can't get close the rest!

"Acceptance doesn't mean resignation . It means understanding that something is what it is and there's got to be a way through it ."
by
Michael J. Fox

The truth is they know when you are lying to them and yourself , that's part of their job , and they respect you more and are way more empathetic when your open and honest .

The way I think of it is its like lying to a cop it just makes more trouble for everyone ! But its hard as hell snitching on your self LOL