Be sure of your diagnosis

As a care giver,diagnostician and treatment recommender, I am cautioning you to be very sure about your diagnosis of Bi-Polar disorder. I have seen too many patients diagnosed with this disorder that are not Bi-polar. I have seen this especially in pre-adolescents and adolescents. Don't be quick to accept this diagnosis without a full history that includes family, medical soacial and trauma histories. There is a lot of undisclosed physical and sexual abuse out there htat left untreated starts to look like bipolar but it is not. It can be diagnosed with mood disorder of depressive disorder not otherwise specified. Another issue that psychiatrists forget that I argue with them on many ocassions is PUBERTY. Puberty causes mood changes, physical changes and a whole host of behaviors that have been diagnosed as bipolr. Well for all practical purposes it is not. I have only seen a hand full of true bipolar disorders over the last few years. Besides medication is not the only answer and therapy in conjunction with medication if needed will help a person in the long run. Since bi-polar disorder is a combination of symptoms and behaviors there is no clear cut treatment options in regards to medications. So seriously look at your problems and get a second opinion before you start taking medication that makes you goofy and possibly worse.