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Bipolar diagnosis overturned at last

Alice-nice-Alice

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  

E x

Parents

  • Congratulations, it must be a relief to finally receive the right diagnosis. Being misdiagnosed seems unfortunately to be quite common. 

  • in reply to Pegg

    Thanks Pegg. Yes it is a HUGE relief. The realisation that the bipolar dx was wrong only came after the autism dx, I’d always been that horrible judgy word “compliant” and truly believed all that the psychs said (I’ve never understood that anyone would lie to me, would manipulate me, a significant part of my autism apparently) so went along with everything they suggested. And yes, unfortunately all too common

  • in reply to Alice-nice-Alice
    Alice-nice-Alice said:
    I’ve never understood that anyone would lie to me, would manipulate me, a significant part of my autism apparently

    Yeah, me too - it sucks... 

    When it comes to the medical profession though, I've come to the conclusion that it's mostly lack of knowledge/awareness and incompetence really, maybe they're not deliberately deceiving people in what they tell them. 

    I've struggled to find the right answer for myself and have been told by various health professionals that I am - 

    Depressed

    Bi-Polar

    Have GAD

    Have a dissociative disorder - basically that makes me believe there's something wrong with me when there isn't- it's all in my mind!

    Have PTSD

    Am making it up for attention- another 'there's nothing wrong with you' diagnosis. 

    None of the above diagnosis are correct, and because I didn't fit well enough into any them, there was never any progression. Instead I was just abandoned because health professionals couldn't find a solution. 

    Not once did any of them suggest autism, even when I had a meltdown in the presence of a GP. It didn't occur to them because- 

    I'm good at masking

    I'm an adult woman. 

    I say all this just to illustrate how easy it is for misdiagnosis to occur. It shouldn't be that way, but sadly it often seems to be. 

    I'm really pleased that you have the right diagnosis now, the world makes much more sense when you have the answer you need. Slight smile

  • in reply to Pegg

    Your approach to not revisiting the past and anticipating a bright future is spot on imo 

  • in reply to Alice-nice-Alice
    Alice-nice-Alice said:
    as an autistic person this makes me more likely to be abused

    Sadly, yes. I think it's true that many of us have been bullied and abused. These are things that haunted me for a long time, I felt I was defined by them, the abuse particularly - although I think I'm at peace with it all now..

    There really is only the present, I've decided. The past can be revisited, but not changed; and the future anticipated, but not known. 

    So.. enjoy the day! Slight smile

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  • in reply to Alice-nice-Alice
    Alice-nice-Alice said:
    as an autistic person this makes me more likely to be abused

    Sadly, yes. I think it's true that many of us have been bullied and abused. These are things that haunted me for a long time, I felt I was defined by them, the abuse particularly - although I think I'm at peace with it all now..

    There really is only the present, I've decided. The past can be revisited, but not changed; and the future anticipated, but not known. 

    So.. enjoy the day! Slight smile

Children