I would just tell my doctor how I feel. Take a list of symptons. Maybe they will give you a mood stabilzer. Otherwise, the treatment is pretty much the same.

I went to a pdoc who thought I had chronic depression but decided it was BP. Now my new pdoc thinks it's PTSD. I don't really care as long as the meds work. Yeah I was on anti-depressants and they seemed to make me worse, so he put me on mood stabilizers. Maybe that was a deciding factor.

Sounds like no matter what the diagnosis you need more than just meds for treatment. Meds may (and more often than no don't) help but they are not a cure- not by a long shot.

Are you seeing a regular doctor for your meds or are you seeing a p-doc? If you are seeing a GP- well that's your first big issue. When you have cancer you see an oncologist and when you have mental illness you need to see someone who specializes in mental illness. There are set standards for the diagnosis of depression and bipolar although there are nuances that only someone well versed in mental illness will pick up.

I get the feeling though that you've already diagnosed yourself as bipolar and unless a dr agrees with you, you don't really want to hear anything else. Not the healthiest approach- although many take it.

Why do you want bi polar and not plain old depression?The meds are scary and people will be involved in your life. They will diagnose you with it I hope you get the right treatment though. Meds are scary to me is all, but they help peeps x

is depression not bad enough? why in under God's name would you be looking for a diagnosis of Bipolar, I mean Jesus!

Are you insane? Isn't crippling depression enough? Without all the pseudo highs and what not that comes along with this sht, Ive had it for over 20 years.

You should be careful what you wish for.

I'm sorry this post just makes me MAD!!!!!!!

Oh trust me I am not looking for/hopeing for it. But if I do have it and I begin the right treatment it will help. I have been literally on dozens of meds for depression and tehy seem to work initially (a little) but then the effectivenness wears off. No matter what I do or what the doctors put me on nothing works and the more I look at it the more it seems that is what I have. So if the treatment helps/works then I dont care what it is called as long as it begins to help.

I have been told that Bipolar is one of the hardest diagnosis to make. One thing you can do is to find a psychologist who specializes in bipolar and have them evaluate you.

You are right, finding the right diagnosis is the best thing to do. Knowing what is going on inside our heads is a HUGE thing, and very helpful when it comes to allowing us to manage our recovery.

Admitting something is wrong with us is the first step to recovery, getting the right help is the second. Getting help starts with a properly arrived at Dx.

@effinellfiregirl - "Why do you want bi polar and not plain old depression?"

Possibly because atleast with bipolar you get to experience some elation (although manic!); depression (especially) chronic you get nothing.

Well, if the studies that I mentioned in my Placebo post are any indication, it may be that the placebo effect causes you to feel temporarily better because your mind is telling you that you should since you are on meds that are supposedly going to help. I'm afraid we don't want to face that we will have to work hard on changing our own perceptions and coping skills but this is what a good PDoc should be able to solve for us especially when meds have no marked or permanent results. Best Wishes.

@ mal66- not true, im bipolar two and never experienced mania, only mixed states which for me is extreme anxiety, obsessive thoughts and crippling depression.

for the original question, i was hospitalized twice, both times labeled depressed, my shitty pdoc at the time ran me thru 6 AD's in a handful of weeks time, only to highten my mixed state(hence hospital)
they didnt pick up on it in hospital, they just tried to get me stable.

it wasnt until i got a good pdoc and he dx'd me bipolar 2.

im now in the early stages of treatment and acceptance, other than an identity crisis i feel better....

I say shame on the people that are getting on your case. It's not that you want bp, it's just that you know there is something else wrong. I would go to a pdoc and find out what is wrong. I agree you may need a mood stabilizer and maybe something for anxiety. I am on two pills for depression and a mood stabilizer, a sleeping pill and something for anxiety and I have been dx with bp for 7 yrs now. It is not a fun thing but I am on the right meds finally and feel better than I have in yrs.

By all means, knowing WHAT is going on is critical. Only then can you know what path your recovery will take.

Agreed we need to know what is going on. What do you do when you can not get the help you need? That is where I am at.

oh ok Mal. No never get the mania. Something to aspire to maybe? It's the drugs they prescribe that scare me not the illness : )