Do you think Bipolar is over diagnosed.?

Answer 1

I think a lot of illnesses are conveniently MISDIAGNOSED.

Doctors (in the US especially!!!) are quick to put a label on something and seems to me that everyone is looking for the answers to all their problems in a pill, when most of the time it's just something they need to learn to cope and deal with and do something about.

I'll never forget what this one doctor said when I was doing a medical transcription--he was talking about women and depression and how they come to him for medication, and he said "they don't need medication, they need to get out of the lousy relationship they are in and get a new partner."

I think that is kind of self explanatory and proves the point I am trying to make, that happiness is something you find from within and that you have to create for yourself. The answer lies not in a pill.

Answer 2

It takes an average of 10 years for a person to get correctly diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Misdiagnosis as things other than BP are very common. It took 20 years in my case. Let me tell you, they were NOT quick to put that label on (and I saw many doctors and therapists), despite how clearly it was the correct one for me. 1-2% of the population has this..which translates to a LOT of people in the world.
If diet and exercise and all that good stuff heal a person, than they were not bipolar to begin with. This is a biologically based medical disorder and medication is pretty much a must if the person wants to live anything resembling a "normal" life. There are other medical problems that can cause similar symptoms of bipolar. The effects of being a substance abuser can also mimic bipolar. But that doesn't mean the person actually has BP. It gets complicated here because a large portion of bipolar people will at some point abuse substances.
I don't know if it is overdiagnosed. It's a shame there is no blood test or brain scan that can easily and accurately diagnose this disease because the earlier there is intervention, the better the prognosis.
For the record, children and teenagers can be dx'ed with this. Research has only opened the medical communities eyes to this in the past decade or so, which caused a lot of needless suffering and chaos in the lives of those who would have greatly benefited from being properly treated at a much earlier age. We are not talking about normal moodiness in kids. The symptoms are severe and intense and drastically effect the life of the child and the lofe of everyone around him or her. Also, there is a strong genetic link with this disorder. Nature plays a big part, but the effects of nurture can't be discounted either.

Answer 3

To begin with, bipolar disorder is a vary serious illness! It kills 1 in every 5. Knowing this statistic anyone here want to play it smart and say to people (or even imply!) to "look at the bright side of life and you will be fine"? Or, "diet and exercise and you do not need medicine"?
Bipolar is a chemical imbalance in the brain and has no cure. The essence of the disorder is the endless circles of ups and downs in the mood of the individual. Sometimes, people might feel better or "normal" without being on medication or by improving some elements of their life's BUT that does NOT mean they are curred and they will not have the symptoms again!
All of us need to have a positive attitude in life, but if someone suffers from bipolar they need to take medication and take them regularly!
Now, is it over-diagnosed? How can you know? In fact it might even be under-diagnosed! Many people have been diagnosed as depressed and when given antidepressants then the real condition emerges: after loosing a dream job, spending all their savings and many other problems and complications.
My point is, I can not answer if it is over or under diagnosed, but I would urge everyone to follow the doctors advice and to help the ones you know or communicate with (including here) to seek and accept professional help, not "home made" recipes...

Answer 4

I don't know how many people have been diagnosed ... I do know that I have a friend who is bipolar (it's a chemical imbalance in his case) and his son may have it as well but since he is young (still in the teens) they cannot determine. Bipolar (formerly manic depressive) has been around for a long time. There is nothing wrong with his relationships and maybe he's never been given the tools for life that a lot of us get like dealing with pressure. I think a dr. who says women get depressed from bad relationships may not be a good dr ... it sounds like a judgement is made without any tests being done, and he wouldn't waste his time doing them. I wouldn't bring my car to a mechanic who says women just don't know how to take care of a car it needs an oil change ... and he never looks under the hood to check!!!

Answer 5

Yes I do. I had a question on this site re my sons girlfriend who "we thought" was bipolar. but what I have realised is that as soon as somebody is moody, or goes on a shopping spree, or does anything that is "different", they have bipolar and are put on medication. I think in a lot of cases it is not necessary. We are all different, and cant be the same. Some people think a pill makes you better. Imagine if we were all the same, sensible, and controlled. How boring????

Answer 6

No, and here's why: I think that mental illness has been so feared and overly-scandalized over the years that many people shame it terribly. Therefore, many of our grandparents and great grandparents (for whatever reason) never sought psychiatric help. Then, they have kids, and they have kids, and then more kids, pretty soon you have 5 or 6 generations of mental illness running around the country and nobody will go get treatment. Now, with the internet and tv, it's "coming out of the closet" and more people are warming to the idea of mental wellness. If we stop shaming it and pooh-poohing it, maybe more people will seek treatment and stop the endless cycle.

Answer 7

Bi-polar is my diagnosis by three different Neuropsychologists.

The medicine prescribed is not taken.

I found another way to beat the odds down regardless of imbalanced signals.

Exercise, good eating habits, lots of fluids and curricular activities have given me the upper edge of winning the battle against depression without having to take medicine.
I even quit smoking cigarettes after 25 years of smoking. I stopped consuming Beer as well. My life has changed dramatically buy changing the way I eat, live and sleep. I could very well be the next poster person for depression that kicks the habit and heals naturally by letting your body know you care!

I have done Crack Cocaine, Snorted Cocaine, Smoked Marijuana, taken Acid, over the course of my horrible years in adolescence, but also there is thing called WILL POWER and my power to not let anything destroy me is simply a miracle why I have beaten the odds that have destroyed many other lives. Who am I??? What am I??? How is it that I have proven to American doctors that addicition in my body doesn't exhist. I'm pure in heart with God and he alone is responsible for giving me the gift to beat down anything that would otherwise destroy me as a person.
I am simply a living miracle and try to help others now beat the odds of being a winner and never giving up to anything that has consumed so many lives especially drugs.

The VA has been wanting to take blood from me all the time and study me, but I have finally stopped that. I just want to be left alone and live happy and save other lives when I can. NEVER....let anything be your enemy...you are sole control of your Army in battle against disease and drugs...we as humans carry the ability to beat it down if we really want to, I am living proof of that. God Bless YOU All

Answer 8

My personal feeling is yes. It's like there is a flavor of the month/year because someone writes a article is a magazine and all the doctors rush to have their own case.

Answer 9

I am bipolar and my doctor told me it was the most overdiagnosed disorder there is

Answer 10

yes, NO!