I, too, have multiple dx'es, but having survived child sex trafficking and undergone psychotherapy across decades of theory development and professional name changes makes my case especially complex.

I honestly believe that I have more physical proof of God than any of my psych dx'es and/or the treatments attached. Until we come up with physical tests which distinguish BP from PTSD from OCD, etc, etc. as well as physical tracking methods for the treatment progress, I am going to take all psych labels with a proverbial grain of salt. For now, my *proofs* are in the results I, personally, feel after I've taken a leap of faith. Those results remain a mixed bag after 40 odd years of psychotherapy.

On the subject of if/when to change Pdocs, trust of your current team counts for allot, but so does the broader opinion/support base one gains from switching. I follow my gut on that one.

Just my just-a-patient opine.

Gentle support while you form your own, SullenKitty.

That alot of past to deal with arf, resulting in a complexity and pain I'm not sure I could imagine. You must be a very strong person. I think of myself as being pretty strong and in a good deal of pain, but damn. Gentle ((hugs)) of support to you as well, my friend.

Thanks for your insight.

I have switched to a new psychiatrist over the years. It’s frustrating to go over the entire history....again.... but someone suggested to me I write it all down. It can get frustrating when we start overthinking our meds, labels, differing diagnoses, etc. You aren’t alone in that. The trick for me is nipping the problematic symptoms in the bud before it escalates quickly. Sleep hygiene, minimizing anxiety, not letting depression waves get too intense. I try to keep it simple otherwise it gets overwhelming quickly!

I think the word 'labels' is frequently used now due to diagnosis changing and or concurrent things going on

I to like a specific diagnosis due to knowing the treatment and having more insight however it's not always so cut and dried in psychiatry

And I've seen a number of diagnosis change over time …. I think that's caused a lot of problems thus 'labels' was born ….. Big hug.....xo

Similar story. I have bipolar 1, depression, generalized anxiety disorder, ptsd(which he doesn’t acknowledge), and insomnia. I’m not really concerned that he lumps it all together because everything is still being treated. He once told me that he doesn’t treat the disorder, but he treats the symptoms which is ok with me. I’ve xonsidered seeking another psychiatrist but I’ve been with mine for four years and have only really had one big issue when he downplayed my depression which made me suicidal. But it’s so damn hard to get in to see a psychiatrist!! Mine is super easy to get into. Even when he is booked if I REALLY need to see him, the secretary will make it happen. I’ve been through hell and that office has been by my side 100% of the time. So what I guess I am trying to say is that as long as your symptoms are being treated, why worry if he lumps everything together.

Okay so the term "labels" is a layman's terminology, it's not used in the Medical Field of Psychotherapy. "Diagnosis" is the terminology that Pdocs use.

No all Mental Health Issues should not be wrapped into 1 neat little bag, just because you have BiPolar. You can have concurrent Mental Illnesses.

You can be BiPolar and have OCD, PTSD, and Anxiety, these can be conditions along with the BiPolar.

Things like Depression, ADD, MMD generally cannot be had with BiPolar because the BiPolar has the same symptoms and it envelops them. If a Pdoc tries to tell you that your BiPolar and you have Depression...he's nuts.

Treatment of a Mixed State is tricky, they're usually heavier on the Manic side, so they use meds geared toward Mania to treat the Mixed State and bring you out of it. That doesn't exactly mean putting you into a depressed state, some people go to a stable state depending on what their mixed state is comprised of. You don't really know what you come out of a mixed state into until you come out of it.

I'll be honest, I've never come across a Pdoc who's plan it was to bring someone from a mixed state into a depression because "the depression is easier to treat". I don't know how he figures depression is easier to treat. When it comes to the Moods of BiPolar Disorder, depression lasts longer, is more difficult to treat and has a higher suicide rate.

I don't know how long you've been with your Pdoc or what kind of relationship you've built. Personally if there were others in the area available, I'd get a 2nd opinion.

Take care,
kat