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Doctors are useless!
I'm 18/f. Please don't answer this if you're younger than me... you couldn't possibly have gone through what I am if you're 13... no offense.
I've been in psychoanalysis since I was 10 years old. They THINK I have bipolar disorder, but the psychiatrist told me they can't conclusively know or medicate me until I'm 21-22.
I'm in university right now, and I'm in danger of failing out because of my mental issues... I tried to tell this to the doctor, but she doesn't want to do anything. I'm worried that if I continue at this rate I'm going to fail at university, and at life, and that there won't be a me in 3-4 years to help anymore.
I have suicide hotline numbers, and I have really supportive friends... but everything is so hard, and the doctors are being useless...
Is there anybody here who has been through something similar, and who can offer a few words of advice? I'm dying here, and my exams are coming up.
Thank you for reading this VERY long question.
--Amanda
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well.. i think you should get a second opinion about the whole medication thing.. cause i have a friend who is bipolar... and she has been taking medication for it since she was 18.. so i dont know what your doctors are talking about...
and try to talk to your teachers and explain what is going on..
but mainly talk to the doctors..
cause that whole they cant medicate you thing is bullshit..
hope i helped
<3 kayla
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My advice is to get help at University too, tell your prof's what you're going through, they may be able to give you some space to sort out your issues.
Then seek a second opinion from a new Dr.
People get so stuck onj one Dr, shop around, only you are an expert on you, no one else.
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It's great that you have supportive friends, and I am sorry that a professional has not helped you. I know people that are bipolar and were placed on medication in the late teens. Do you know that a brain scan can now detect bipolar disorder? I saw this on Dr. Phil. It is called
MR spectroscopy. If you have a medical department at your university please seek out information and see if you can find a Dr to order one of these tests. You shouldn't have to suffer because others lack information. It's no wonder that you have trust issues, I would too. However, you can't give up because as long as you are still breathing there is hope.
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The first thing I would point out is that psychoanalysis is very different than psychotherapy - if you've not tried therapy/counselling, then it could be a good way to go. Analysis focuses on the therapist being very quiet, bordering silent, and then offering interpretations of the client's material.
Psychotherapy/counselling is not that way at all, particularly in humanistic therapists. The focus in on you as an individual - no labels, no interpretations, no judgements. It allows you space to talk through your issues with an empathetic, non-judgemental, and genuine person. Because the focus is on YOU rather than your label, you are more free to explore any deep issues and feel you will be valued as an individual with varied experiences rather than as a patient with some symptoms.
Your university should offer free counselling to students, so check it out. If it's not helpful, then you can move on - but it might offer you another way to cope with your studies and your unique issues.
It might also be worth getting a personal academic adviser and confiding in them; they can be great allies if problems crop up in future.
Best of luck.
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I have been through something very similar to what you've just described. I was diagnosed with schizophrenia when I was 19 years old. I ended being admitted into the pschiatrict ward during my second semester of my first year at college. I ended up failing all my courses and dropped out. I thought that my life was over. I know that you are scared and think things are never going to get better; but believe me they will. Once you get properly diagnosed and put on the right medication you can lead a normal life. It might take you a bit longer than you thought to finish school or find work but if you hang in there it will all work out for you.
I don't understand why your doctor can't medicate you if you are 18? I know people a lot younger who have been put on anti-psychotic medication. Believe me; if you think you are on the verge of a breakdown by all means admit yourself voluntarily to the psych ward. Sometimes the doctor won't diagnose you with something really serious such as bipolar or schizophrenia UNTIL you have your first psychotic break. Don't do what I did- refuse to acknowlagde you have a problem and then let your illness get the better of you and be admitted by the police and being locked in the bubble room over night.
So if you still are feeling suicidal please please do the best thing for you which is to voluntarily admit yourself into the ward. They won't let you in unless they believe it's quite serious; so this would be a perfect excuse.
I wish you all the best. Trust me; it will get better I promise.
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There should be a crisis counselor or some other counselor available to you at University. Believe it or not, this is exactly what the special needs/student services department at your school is for.
I am not bi-polar, and I gave up on medication for my issues a while ago, but I understand completely the performance stress and fear at university. For my first two years at University I refused to speak to my program director or a university counselor. I didn't want special treatment and I was terrified that if I spoke to the university about my problems it would haunt me in the work force for years to come.
When it finally became unbearable last semester I broke down and called the university counseling center for help. The school counselor was completely discreet. Only she and one of my program directors know I have a problem, and even the program director doesn't know the nature of it. But between the two of them, they helped me negotiate extensions and allowances in my classes that cut down my stress and angst an amazing amount. I'm even able to write exams in ways that are more comfortable for me now.
The counselor told me something that really stuck with me. She said asking for help doesn't make you weak it makes you smarter then the fools who fail without a fight.
I know this is stressful too, especially tying to fit it into a student schedule, but see other doctors. My first family doctor was amazingly supportive and I owe her a lot, but when I went away to school I went through three doctors before I found one who actually took me seriously. If you are going to look into medication as a way to deal a dedicated and intelligent family doctor is a must have. My personal opinion, most Physiatrists are jerks, Behavioral Therapists are the ones who actually helped me. Physiatrists kept beating around the bush saying, "Well, we think that maybe you have suchandsuch disorder" and the therapists said "I don't much care about diagnosis, lets try to solve the problems you are facing."
I assume this is your first year too. First year can be hell, especially if you are in a new city or away from home for the first time. Your professors know this, your university knows this and they don't want you to fail. That means they don't get your money for three more years, they want to keep you.
You don't need a diagnosis to ask somebody for the help you need, all you need to do is ask.
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I'm not bipolar, but a member of my family is. So I've lived with it, and have some idea of what it's like.
I agree with ncblondie; I've never before heard that it's necessary to wait to have a diagnosis made. I'm not a doctor, but that really sounds suspicious to me.
I don't know what country you're in, but if you're in the US healthcare system, I have to tell you that there are times when you may have to fight to get the treatment that you need.
I suspect you're in the UK, from your language, but some of this may still apply.
From personal experience, I can tell you that all too often behavioral health insurance companies will attempt to fob you with with a "treat & street". In our case, they didn't even get a correct diagnosis; they said it was depression, and prescribed antidepressants. Each time there was a crisis, they simply upped the dose, until it actually caused medical problems. We finally had to go out of network and pay out of pocket to get competent care.
That made all the difference in the world. Once the diagnosis was made, and proper treatment was started (including, in our case, a mood stabilizer), it was...it was like night and day. Things still aren't perfect, but they're 100 times better than before.
Sorry to have gone on for so long. What I'm trying to say is that there IS hope, and that your condition can and will be treated. But if your doctors are falling short, you may need to push things. Check around. If you know anyone who knows a good psychiatrist, they may be able to recommend a specialist in bipolar. In my experience, the best psychiatrists generally practice in the wealthiest towns and cities; it's sad, but true.
If you have to go out of network, do; it's worth anything to get your *self* back. You may want to look into health advocates in your area; since I don't know what country or state you're in, I can't dig up any specific recommendation. But in the US, there are advocates who will help you negotiate the difficulties of your health insurance, and (perhaps) help you to file an appeal to have your out-of-network expenses covered or reimbursed.
In any case, I can say this with certainty: if your doctor isn't responding to the very serious issue you have raised, she or he should no longer be your doctor. You need to find someone new who will respond. And there ARE good doctors out there. You may have to work to find the right one, but it's worth it.
I wish you the best of luck.
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ncblondie is correct. There is no need for your doctor to wait for you to be a certain age to diagnose or medicate you. It generally first apepars in your early teens, so your doctor really shouldn't wait. I'd seek a second opinion.
Most universities have health centres were there is someone you can speak to about mental issues among other things. They are probably not psychiatrists, but might be counsellors, and would be able to refer you to other doctors in your area.
Best of luck.
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From what I understand, bipolar disorder can start at any age, including in childhood. I don't understand why your psychiatrist is insisting on waiting until you're 21 to diagnose you. Obviously it's having an effect on your life and needs to be treated now. I would suggest seeking a second opinion, preferably with someone who specializes in the disorder. Either your family doctor or student health center at the university should be able to give you a referral.
For more details on bipolar disorder, you can try the links below.
[Link](Mouse over link to see full location)
[Link](Mouse over link to see full location)
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