Are children being overdiagnosed with bipolar disorder?

Yes

1 of 13

by Kim Cox

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I happened to stumble on the topic and I am in utter belief that there are way to many people diagnosed with this disorder that indeed have other issues. This topic hits very close to home for me I myself suffer from Bipolar Disorder and my son has been diagnosed with it as well.

I was diagnosed last year with this condition even though I didn't want to be. Things became for and more clear that I had a chemical imbalance. Believe me it has taken some time to me able to admit it. However, not only am I a text book bipolar, I have severe PTSD and was diagnosed and medicated on two drugs Lemectil and Lexapro. Seemed to help at first however I repeatedly complained about how I did not believe this was helping. The depression was worse than ever and there were constant thoughts of death and suicide.

All of that reared its ugly head one night when I atttacked my boyfriend and for safety of not only myself, but everyone I love, I checked myself in. That was hands down the hardest thing I have ever had to do but knew that there was something wrong still and everyone blamed it on the medicines not being right.

Three days I spent there and although I feel like I learned al ot there they increased my meds and basically shoved me out the door. This increase that I now am literally counting on with my life only has led me to even more dispair and thoughts of suicide. Three weeks ago I attempted to take me life and now I see what it is that is so dangerous about both disorders.

Over the last couple of months were the worst everyday I was sleeping for 16 hours not only was I medicated I was over medicated. I had reached to a doctor for help with the meds yet again and instead of thinking the other two were wrong he added now another. So I am on an upper, a downer and a stabelizer/anti-phys hotic. The combination of those three pills is what got me into the hospital on an over does attempt. My dad that had not seen me in months said when he came back to my mother something was not right, I looked like a zombie. Three days after that was the attempt on my life. That day I stopped taking all but one of my meds and I still can not get into see someone to ever discuss it.

I myself a 32 year old mother of three went from a normal productive member of society to someone that was scared to leave her own home. I am a victim of the mental health system. The entire thing is a drug factory. Not one of the doctors, or for that fact therapists, care about their clients anymore you are a copay to them. You have a complaint about the medications that you are on they give you another to mask what the first two were doing. I refused to go back into the hospital that day because as I see it at least out of there I can control what is happening to me. I feel very let down by the health care system and most of all people. These professionals that are supposed to help us, we pay them money and we are just that they don't think or care what happends after their phones are rolled over. This will show you how bad it is. That night I had my therapist paged because until that point I thought I had found someone that was legitimately concerned about my well being. I never got a call back now understand the pages were 'we are with Kim heading to the hospital please call us'. She waited until her office opened the next day. Here I am fresh out of the Emergency Room and when I asked her why didn't she at least call back she said and I quote. "you really didn't expect me to get out of my bed and come there did you?"

Hell yeah, I did that is why you have on call, but I said nothing that day. I waited til the next meeting between us and asked her about it then again she stood behind her statement and this time alluding to the fact that business hours are just as such. Not happy at all with tears in my eyes I asked her how it is she can be so concerned with my health and well-being one week and not the other. Now the truth comes out. She says I was out drinking and with some friends. So now even at my most desperate hours, I can't pay someone to care about me enough to help me get through the very same thing you are treating me for.

I just like many others are drugged and I mean drugged through the mental health system and the fact that no one really seems to care about anothers life doesnt help either. It is so funny to sit here and read there so called stats. How about live it for just a day. I literally have begged for help from these providers and instead of that they drugged me even more.

Are children being overdiagnosed?

absolu tely...

Are adults being overdiagnosed?

Withou t a doubt!

I will even go so far as saying as a whole everyone that gets diagnosed with it is not medicated properly. Why is that? Could it be because the lack of concern for human lives. Because these big time drug companies are perking these doctors so we the unfortunate souls that are branded with this disorder are their human guine pigs. Bad part is when you feel so bad that you are going to someone for help you will listen to their rational and reasons for over medicating.

Well that Doctor cant give me the last year of my life and all the sleepless nights. He can't take back the days without my family and all the senseless tears I shed. I do believe that it could get better but as a whole the health care system lost what made it so great. BEDSIDE MANNER! We all know there is no feeling like really believing someone actually cares about you...

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