I am a mental health counselor... Are you seeing a counselor/or therapist that should help you with these mood swings...Post specific questions and maybe I can help you.

i read that you are a mental health counselor; my daughter, 16 yo, refuses to go to therapy. About 2 years ago she was diagnosed with yet another mental disorder, this time bi-polar. She has been on lamictal for awhile, and just stated again with seroquel to help her sleep at night. She has major anger outbursts, and times she freaks out for no apparent reason, and just takes off. Her lying is hard to handle. I can go on for days, but I won't. I just don't know where to turn now. A new med? Force therapy/ if you would, please let me know what you think. Thanks so much.

First off, i'm a psychiatrist. One of the biggest problems I see in the us is incorrect diagnoses. To be diagnosed with bipolar affective disorder, the patient must meet specific criteria. I see this diagnosis given out to patients who are clearly not bipolar. It's normal to be depressed. It's normal to have mood swings. Those two things alone do not = a diganosis of bipolar disorder. Many psychiatrists prescribe powerful medications to adults and children without thinking of the side effects and consequences.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, make sure the diagnosis was made by an md or do psychiatrist (preferrably one who is american and speaks english well) or a phd/psyd clinical psychologist. Do not trust a diagnosis of bipolar disorder from a family doctor, internist, or master's level therapist (msw, acsw, ma/lpc, ma/llp). These people are not qualified to diagnose mental illness.

If you're a parent, before you let your developing child take powerful psychotropic medication(s), ask the doctor to tell you about the side effects, the proper dosages, and risks. Ask a pharmacist too. Pharmacists often know more about medications than physicians. Don't just let your child be medicated without looking into the diagnosis, type of medication, and side effects. Don't trust foreign psychiatrists -- most don't have the skills to properly diagnose a mental disorder. Don't trust social workers or master's level therapists. Don't trust your child's school teachers, especially if they say your child has adhd or bipolar disorder.

It's normal to be a bratty as a teenager. A kid probably needs a swift kick in the ass, not medication. Before you medicate yourself or your child, think first and be an informed consumer. Educate yourself. Don't just trust the doctor.

Also, if you are on medication now, and it's working and helping you feel better, then why take it? Have your medications reevalauted and adjusted.

Hi, I was diagnosed with bipolarism when I was 13 yrs old, I know what it is like to have it at such a young age. First you say you are prozac and you are being mean. Well I was put on prozac when I was about 15 yrs old and all it did was cause me to violent, I would suggest talking to the doctor who put you on this med and tell him look I want to be switched to something new. You have the right to request a change in your meds, it is your body, your health, and your decision! Do not allow them to control this stuff for you. I do not feel you are old enough to know if you need it or not, so please stay on some type of meds. But if the meds you are taking are making your mean or violent or even increased thoughts of suicide, talk to your doctor. Any time you feel something is not write talk to your doctor, medications are not something to play around with.

Try to read this... Hope it helps...


Http://www.Nimh.Nih.Gov/publicat/bipolar.C fm#intro

I doubt i'll be much help because I am no doctor. But I have experienced quite a change since I was diagnosed.
When I was diagnosed I was very messed up and self distrutive. I would do things that burned bridges and destroyed relationships with others.
But I found with time, therapy and proper medication, I have changed greatly.
I still do distritive behavior, but I can tell when I am doing it and I can stop it. I have learned when not to say and do certain behavioir and such.
Several years after dignose, I found the bad behavior I used to do that was ruining my life, has reduced greatly.
All I can really tell you is get help, learn about the illness and how to control it, change it and in the end you can make it stop ruining your life.

Understanding and the right help can change a person in due time.

How I stayed alive when my brain was trying to kill me ----- this book has helped me a lot. Especially with the self destructive behavior. :) just thought you should know! :p hope I helped.
Annie

Hey killerkitten, I agree; once you can get to the point of being able to identify the onset of these traits and change as appropriate it's so much better for everyone. I got off of meds, and take omega-3; that coupled behavior modification has the best effect on me and others. The point of course, is if I can live without the meds the better. Some can't :(

I would start with writting down what your stressors are and what triggers you. Drink lots of water, and eat right. Remember you have "bipolar" but are not bipolar. Also the doctor is right do trust the net,or some therapist to give you a diagnose. You need a md. I'm thankful I found a phyictraist(sp?)/ nerologagist(sp?).. I got dianosed back in march of this year.
But my symptoms started when I was 8. When I was 10-12 years old I took prozac it made me manic, and I got violent. To the 14 year old,
if you are starting to get mean,boosy and angry. It could be a warning sign that the prozac is starting to make you go in to a mania/manic state.