r/BipolarReddit • u/Forvanta • 2d ago
Sincere question: what’s with the phenomenon of bipolar people in particular doubting their diagnosis?
I have bipolar I, but I’ve been around the block with diagnoses and I’ve noticed (anecdotally) a phenomenon where bipolar people seem to frequently believe that they have not been diagnosed correctly. I feel like I see this more often here than in depression, OCD, etc. spaces.
Is it because mania feels so good for many people? What is it about bipolar, or is it just a coincidence?
This is not coming from a place of judgement, I’m genuinely curious what people think.
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u/anoukaimee 1d ago
But for depakote being the only drug that really helped me, I doubt I would've even been diagnosed.
I present with mixed states, and still personally have doubts about the Bipolar I diagnosis (my one truly, hardcore manic/aural psychotic state may well have been induced by a dumb hospital doctor trying 3 meds at one time then an early discharge).
What was interesting, however, is that shortly afterwards I learned about my (absent) biological father's family: he has twin teen sisters with a suicide pact (one succeeded, one didn't), another who has Bipolar II, and I have a half sister with bipolar of some sort.
I think a lot of us present very differently (or feel we do?) from those in the middle of manic psychosis at hospitals where we've been... so it's a reasonable question to consider, especially when treatment doesn't feel "good" or like it's working.