Bipolar Depression

Hi Everyone - I was just diagnosed Bipolar II by my psychatrist who has spent about 20 minutes cumlatively with me over three visits. I really do not think I have this condition. I think I have anxiety and depression over the anxiety and a VERY active mind that gets very over active with worry and caustrophizing. I have been so stressed and I think my nervous system is shot.

Quick background - I have always been a major worrier but also a very successful and happy person. I had a very stressful job that I left in January bcs the stress was so high and I wasn't sleeping and so keyed up with anxiety that I was scared to return emails or phone call for fear of making mistakes. The woman that I worked for was always belittling me.

Anyways, after I quit, my fears seemed to transfer to other less significant areas and I became plagged with anxiety. I was on zoloft which made me extremely jumpy and seemed to feul my anxiety. I saw a Christain conselor who diagnosed me with Anxiety disorder. I still felt all keyed up and anxious that I wasn't my normal self for several more weeks.

After I was the psychiatrist for the first (2 weeks ago) time, she put me on a low dose of riperdole. She just increased it to 1MG from .5MG and says that I have bipolar II. My depression is also really high bcs of this crazy and highly depressing situation that I find myself in. Plus she makes me so anxious bcs she doen'st listen and her office is such a zoo that I am usually so nervous to go there. Today I was actually really mellow. I am also taking activan.

So, I guess this is a rambling post but I really don't think I am bibolar. I have only been having anxiety and depresssion issues for a couple months ........... I just feel like I should have tried to deal with this through more mind body technichiques

The pyschatrist is so awful and won't let me ask any questions. She sees 60 patients a day and says she doesn't have time. I am so worried about taking this drug.

Is there a good way to tell if you really have Bipolar II?

Sorry for the long post!

Sorry to hear about your situation.
I would recomend seeing someone else for a second opinion. It is important that you try to come terms with what is going on regarding your highs and lows. It usually takes sometime to make a diagnosis. If you are going to take a new drug, and are feeling that you are being treated by some one who does not display care and concern, then it is even more important to find out as much as you can about bipolar, and also get that second opinion, but don't forget that it will take a commitment from you and your doc. Take care

I agree with Ruff. You need to seek a 2nd opinion with someone that will take the time to allow you to ask questions. Seriously, they can not make a Bipolar diagnosis in one sitting of 20 minutes or so UNLESS you are clearly displaying symptoms. Bipolar doesn't just strike overnight and you wake up with it. There has to be a pattern and/or you are so clearly manic that you can't see straight when you are sitting with the psychiatrist. I am beginning to think that docs are just handing out the diagnosis like M & Ms because they are afraid of making the wrong diagnosis and are just learning about the illness. That, of course, is my opinion but you hear more and more of folks going in for one appointment and being diagnosed and given a mood stabilizer 30 minutes later.

get 2nd opinion from a psychiatrist that will see you for 50 min. my shrink sees me 2ce yr and i'm in/out in 10-15 minutes. but i was diagnosed way long ago and have little to say. he just makes sure blood levels ok and if anything radical is going on. if you are bipolar, get the meds right. i did tell my employers, relatives, friends, but they were good. nothing to be ashamed of. stuff happens.

Maybe you need a second or third opinion... It's a frustrating process, after almost 7 years of being treated for depression and jumping from one medicine to another I was hospitalized a few of months ago and finally a psych diagnosed me with BP II. Altough I have not gotten better just yet(too many things causing depression and BP episodes) the diagnosis explains a few symptoms I had before