Bipolar diagnosis overturned at last

Some good news which might encourage others …

I was diagnosed with bipolar affective disorder in 1998, four suicide attempts later, an inpatient in a psych ward last November, it was appreciated at last by one of the team that my problems might actually be autism, not serious mental illness. They screened me on the the ward then soon after returning home I received the full assessment and was diagnosed ASC in early January. It felt so absolutely right, all those years they’d mis interpreted my meltdowns as psychosis/mania, and my shutdowns as depression, the treatment with anti psychotics and anti depressants consequential from the mis diagnosis being little short of abuse. So I set about getting the incorrect bipolar dx overturned, and just this August I succeeded. It’s a huge weight off my shoulders, truly validating and has revolutionised my treatments, I’m off all psychotropic meds and at last getting the correct interventions for several physical health conditions which had been swept under the carpet. It is also important legally as there can now be no question over my capacity regarding legal and financial decisions  

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Parents
  • Wow!

    That is an incredible journey!  Well done for surviving and popping out the right end of that (what sounds like) a very long dark and cramped mental constriction and imposition ....frankly, that mis-dx had torturous consequences.

    I am very pleased for you CloudF...thanks for telling your story.  It is worth sharing, for the sake of knowledge.

Reply
  • Wow!

    That is an incredible journey!  Well done for surviving and popping out the right end of that (what sounds like) a very long dark and cramped mental constriction and imposition ....frankly, that mis-dx had torturous consequences.

    I am very pleased for you CloudF...thanks for telling your story.  It is worth sharing, for the sake of knowledge.

Children
  • Thank you Number. Check out my replies to others above in this thread where I’ve added more detail. I really want to help improve the system to make this happen less and less. The NAS stats published just recently about autistic people in psych wards are shocking too, I had two in patient stays and absolutely agree that these are the WORST place for anyone with autism to get better. The noise, lights, aggression (from mainly other patients actually), the total lack of control all just a maelstrom of triggers.