Honestly I don't know that anyone but a doctor could tell you if you're misdiagnosed. The way I see it, the medications are meant to treat your symptoms, whether or not your symptoms have a name. If you can live day to day without your symptoms interfering too much with your life, then you probably don't need the meds. I have always seen medication as a last resort. (That being said I have tried several mood stabilizers and antipsychotics, some of which helped and most of which caused really terrible side effects.) It kind of seems like you're all over the place. But I don't know whether that means you're bipolar.

Hey all!

I am wondering if I was misdiagnosed as well. I had PTSD following a shooting incident (I'm a guy in uniform). I had nightmares and responded to various triggers on occasion, but it was not really disruptive. Follwoing the incident I got into drinking heavily, but that lasted about a year or two and then I slowed down and drinking returned to "normal". I decided to go see a psych, just to resolve all this.

We got to talking about things and I mentionned other stuff about myself as well: I have highs of energy sometimes, I love sex a lot and sleep around, and I like to party. Doctor said I was Bipolar, and within a month I was on Seroquel and talking with a psychologist. On Seroquel, I became drowsy, lethargic and had difficulty concentrating. On my highest doesage (only 250mg!) I became unable to function properly...and the doctors said I was being depressive and "confirmed" a cyclothimia or bipolar 2 diagnostic. I stopped Seroquel and two days later, everything was back to normal and my lethargy was gone. The doctor then placed me on Lamictal (170mg). It's been about 7 months now...during this period, I got arrested for public intoxication, I've been sick (flu, colds, coughs, etc...) every two weeks...I mean literally, every two weeks I am sick: I usually have no more than a cold a year.

During the past 10 years, I've had excellent job assessments from all my supervisors and peers, without exception. I work shifts and long hours without rest in a very difficult and stressful job.

Now, I forgot some of my meds, so I had to cut back my dosage until I can get my prescription removed: no change in behavior or emotion. Myself and those artound me have not noticed any change despite having cut back on the dosage...is the med necessary then?

Opinions? Is it possible the meds are doing more harm than good? Is it possible I am not bipolar?

Thanks!

its crazy that you mentioned getting sick every couple weeks im in the same exact scenario,I have been sick atleast once every month ,very bad cough,throwing up sometimes,and alot of cigurette smoking.

To be honest the medicine has helped me a little bit. I have less anxiety but i am more depressed.And one thing bad about giving me less anxiety is i tend to say or do things with out thinking because i became imuned to fear, Since the medicine makes me feel no panic.The real question is if im on a mood stabalizer like lamictal what mood is it gonna stabalize me too? I Know i do Not have bi-polar i never was depressed until a few years ago during a incident but i know the reasons why im depressed.
The thing is i cant control is the mind racing and not being patient,not being able to concentrate on things and being all over the place.