The Bipolar Spectrum

Definitely. And we need to know more than our doctor.

Hi, BipolarBear. The important thing is to know what's going on. Diagnostic labels can give an approximation, but sometimes they are plain wrong, which is probably why it takes so long for bipolars to get a bipolar diagnosis. We tend to get misdiagnosed with unipolar depression and put on an antidepressant which makes us worse. A spectrum approach would have doctors asking different questions - which would help get us on the right treatments, which is your point.

Hi, Cretin. Glad you brought up NOS. Imagine if NOS applied to other areas, such as law. Imagine being charged with "Assault NOS." You wouldn't know whether you were facing 20 years or community service. "Bipolar NOS" can apply to someone who is up all the time as well as someone who is down all the time. How crazy is that? The same diagnosis for two opposite states.

To readers: NOS (not otherwise specified) is used in the DSM for every psychiatric illness. Thus, if your symptoms are not an exact DSM match, the psychiatrist has NOS to fall back on. True, this does add flexibility in making a diagnosis, but this type of imprecision would not be tolerated in any other field.

hang in there. How long have you lived the medication game? most meds did not work for me...they made me have no emotions at all & I noticed w/age, im 31, they seem to be more predictable & after living this way for years, you kow you will come out of the down & be on a manic again...I can almost deal w/the depression, knowing Im going to feel that euphoric feeling again & w/age came a degree of control over the mania. I dont spend $$ I dont have on rediculas things anymore, usually able to talk myself out of it or know to go home & think about it for a couple of days & then usually make the right decision. I was diagnosed BP in 2004 but recently got rediagnosed as have borderline personality disorder...the mood swings still apply w/BPD rapid cycling normally but have been told Therapy is their main focus, not meds. Even when I thought i was Bipolar, which still may have b/c it coinsides w/BPD I began looking at the brighter side...its kinda a blessing to feel such intense emotions that most ppl never experience in their life....yes it can be draining at times but w/the control Ive gained over the years, maybe just from wisdom or trial & error....Id much rather feel the emotions life has to offer than feel nothing, numb, like a zombie inwhich meds can induce...I felt like I was just existing. So if BP doesnt put you in harmful situations anymore like it used to & you have some sort of control & can almost calculate when they are coming & how long they last....maybe its livable w/o all the medication games & side effects & let downs hoping this pill will be the one & when its not...its heart breaking. My bf says my intense, direct emotions are something to be admired, I just need to learn to chanel them in a more positive manner...w/Borderline personality disorder there is a dif type of therapy aimed @learning coping skills to live more efficent, not like other therapy ive tried that didnt work where you just talk about your past & get no feed back. I dont think rehashing your past w/o some sort of feed back is pointless...but Maybe read about BPD just incase you really arent BP....as do all mental disorders, most symptoms are almost identical & until recently most doctors didnt think it was a real disorder...justa suggestion, good luck!! Sorry to ramble on, I just hope I can help others on this site as they have helped me...outside opinions make you look in a direction you might not have otherwise.

ps...

Have you tried Abilify? I know everyones different but for me it was amazing, I just felt normal not like I was on meds but unless you have insurance it is VERY expensive $425/mos for a 30 day supply....minimal side effects for me & felt better after the 3rd pill, lessened depression & made my anxiety practically non existant. again good luck