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ADHD or Bi Polar Disorder?
Four years ago I have been suffering with terrible anxiety and panic attacks. I was diagnosed with Panic Disorder. I was taking clonazepam for it 1mg 2x daily.
However, about a year ago I researched what ADHD was and I thought I matched all the symptoms. I went to go see my Psychiatrists and he was willing to try Ritalin. I immediately had so much energy and was finally able to keep a job for the few months I was on it. I then read the Rx label and it said may cause new bi polar symptoms including mania. I also found out it was a controlled narcotic.
I went back to my Psychiatrists told him about how much evergy I had and he then diagnosed me with Bi Polar I. He put me on Abilify which I only tried for one day. I was very confused of all these diagnoses within four years. In the mean time I still suffered with anxiety attacks and had a fear of failure going back to work..
How do I know if I am Bi Polar or ADHD now? I got a second opinion and he says ADHD and my counselor says I am not Bi- Polar. How can he make such a quick judgement?
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Want to answer more questions in the Health & Fitness category?
Maybe give some free advice about: Mental health?
When it comes to psychiatry and the practice there of. In many states in the U.S. any doctor that did a rotation in psychiatry during their Residency can practice psychiatry. This does not make them the best psychiatrists.
The best psychiatrists are the ones who have been Board Certified by the College of Psychiatrists. These are Medical Doctors who have done a Fellowship in psychiatry after their residency and past all the test and standards to practice psychiatry.
Your counselor may be a clinician such as a psychologist or social worker who is trained to help you deal with the problems of your illness but is not a medical doctor and in most states is not allowed to make a diagnosis. Though they can suggest to you what they think. I know this is a bit confusing but so is anything that concerns one's mental health.
Since it would be wrong of me to make any type of judgment here and you are still confused and being re-diagnosed between two different illnesses. I suggest you do the following:
Find a board Certified Psychiatrist for another opinion. Call the State Board of licensing or your local hospital if need to find one. Then allow that doctor to help you find a psychologist he or she can work with for you to work with in dealing with whatever diagnoses this doctor finds.
As for the medication. If by chance you are diagnosed as bipolar the medications for this illness take time to work. They do not work overnight and yes they will make you feel different for a while. Give them a chance to build up in you and give your body a chance to get use to them. Do not stop taking them without first talking with your doctor. All that might be needed is a change is dosage to make you feel better.
Yes some of these drugs are a schedule II or I drugs. This is not something to be concerned about. It mostly concerns how the doctor prescribes and how the drug is tracked by FDA. Just because it is a Narcotic does not mean you are going to become a Junkie.
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