Myself, I was at first, in the 1960, diagnosed with an identity crises...I knew I was sicker than that; and, my father, who was a Doctor, encouraged me to go back to the psychiatricist and be more honest. I did go back, but my father was run over by his own car in the mean time. This time the psychiatrist diagnosed me as schizophrenic. ...it was not until 2001 that I recieved a proper diagnosis of bipolar disorder!
It took me a number of hospital stays and doctors to finally get the diagnosis. Looking back on it, I probably had bipolar illness since high school, 1982. I was finally diagnosed in 2005.
when I moved here to Ga 4 years ago. Dr said it was just bi-polar and anxiety when my doctors in mass,me,and Arizona all said they same thing. I had to request my records from those treating drs before he fully onderstood and went with there diagnosis. I don't see how a dr can diagnosis you after only a 15 min session. I ended up in crisis twice because I wasn't given the right medication and was having suicidal thoughts,started burning and cutting self again. thank the lord I had all my records and case managers and community support person sent new drs letters.
I was diagnosed with depression in1994. I was properly diagnosed with bipolar, PTSD and a borderline eating disorder in 2009. I have probably had bipolar since at least 1973 when I was 6.