I've had a lot of anxiety, and sleeping problems for years - can't sleep because I'm anxious, and even though I've told the DR that I just think something's wrong with me, I can't be any more specific... but tend to always have a gazillion things going on in my head at once. Anyway, after 6 years of being with Kaiser Perm. my PC DR wanted me to take Celexa for my "general anxiety disorder" that she said I had - however she told me that it wasn't a "depression pill"... when I got home I did some search online and found out that it is a pill that's commonly used to treat depression, so I chose not to take it. (I'd had a miscarriage at 20 weeks in 2000 with twins, and at the time I'd been put on prozac (by the same dr) at 40mg twice a day, for a year -- it was horrible - I had NO feelings of any kind, and only after being off of it for about 6 months, did I feel like I was returning to normal -- so didn't want to go down that route again, never mind weight gain and funky moods).....

My next appt, I explained my reasons, and she told me she thought I was possibly ADD - she referred me to their mental health dept, and someone had me do some test, that I scored 100 on it. Apparantly just scoring 70 means that you have ADD, and 100 being you definitely have ADD. I was then referred to an outside shrink associated with a hospital over in Takoma Park, MD. I went to meet him right before Xmas - when I went in, he had me fill out a general health ***. form, asked me a few questions, and within 5 minutes was sending me out with 10mg of Ritalin. I thought it was a little weird, but figured he had already been sent over my PC DR's forms etc., about me, and why she thought I probably had ADD. (HE never had as it turns out).

Oh they also told me that if you have it, the pills work, and if you don't - the pills have no effect on you whatsoever... OK? I thought that was VERY Bizarre.

So I took the pills - and by god they did seem to have amazing effects on me. I was finally able to do all the things that I have a horrible time of doing - paying bills, organizing, keeping things contained - did them all with no problem, no procrastination, no starting and never finishing, just sat down, focused and took care of it. The channel changing in my head also was a lot less than usual, and I could handle my husband watching football in the same room as me, while I read a book for the first time in EONS..... SO, went back 2 weeks later for another consult, and I wasn't in the door more than 3 minutes, and had told him that I felt that the pills were working well for me, when he asked me about my mother.

I had on the last visit, checked that she had been an alcoholic, and had died at 43. So, I explained that yes, and her father also had, but she was one of those highly functioning alcos - when I was first born she was an accountant who did the books for several car garages in our area. She was married very young, and had me 13 months later. Then later in life, she taught at a prestigious Catering college in our town. Our home was always neat as a pin, dinner was always on the table at night, but she was certainly different - ocd about cleaning (and I'm not) really concerned about her looks, and was probably a size 4 . She had a terrible temper issue, and physically abused me all the time, she went out every night to the bar with various friends, and she apparantly had several affairs. She and I never got along, and I was pretty much raised by my grandparents (her family). I left home at 17 to move to the states by myself.
ANYWAY, (sorry this is so long).. he asked me if I drank - I said that in my twenties yeah I drank a lot, to party and have fun. Now I may have a glass of red wine if I'm out with a friend, or we're at a party. So I'd say socially for sure, but I don't crack it open at home, unless we're having a party, or friends over for dinner.

So after those two conversations, he told me I was bi-polar, and that he was going to put me on Lithium 300mg, Lunesta for sleeping issues, and decrease the ritalin to 5mg - 4 times a day. I said that I find it hard to believe I was bi-polar, and that I didn't think that was true. He got a bit stuffy and told me he'd been practicing medicine since 1954, and that lithium has been around since the time of the romans..... I said exactly the reason I wouldn't want to be on it.

Was I wrong to leave? Luckily, we had planned on changing our insurance, and as of Jan 1st, we now have a high PPO plan through United Health, so I have to find someone else, but it worries me. Do DR's just willy nilly prescribe this stuff, and don't they need to examine you several times before they tell you that you're bi-polar?

Please help, how do I find a dr, that will take the time to figure me out, and tell me if I really do have ADD or any other issues. Anyone know of any good mental health professionals?

I feel like my "anxiety" has been that I've always felt different / weird and that something, that I couldn't explain was wrong with me.

I've owned my own businesses - but always had to hire out the "tedious" "boring" kinda jobs like filing, taxes etc., because I just can't do it. Intellectually, I know that the bills have to be paid on a certain date, or my credit is going to get f*ked up, but..... didn't matter, I still couldn't do it. I've frittered thousands of dollars a week away with compulsive shopping, no doubt trying to fill a void.

At this point, I'm just desperate to find a DR (mental health professional) who can take care of me, figure out what's wrong with me, and get me on the right track.
Thanks in advance!!
__________________
Julie
Maryland SAHM to 2 Toddlers - 26 months & 16 months old!

SO, why didn't he keep up the ritalin, even with such a positive effect? what did he say about that?

Sounds to me like this doctor doesn't understand AD/HD in Women. I suggest contacting your local CHADD Chapter. I know they are active in MD they can either suggest somebody or give information about support groups where you can network and get recommendations for others.

Bipolar is a serious diagnosis. I think you would know before now if you had it. Get another doctor, or, seriously, see if you can get REAL ADHD "Testing" (eg working memory; executive dysfunction, etc.)

Many people go for years being treated for Anxiety (GAD, as you mention; panic; etc) and Depression/Dysthymia, etc, when they really have ADHD (sometimes both). They get labelled as "treatment resistant" disorders b/c nothing works. *Surprised?*

Anxiety and Depression are often two sides of the same coin and occur as common 'bedfellows'.

Most people with mental diagnoses have dual or multiple co-morbidities (eg MORE THAN ONE DIAGNOSIS!). (NB Not to be confused with the term 'dual diagnosis'.)

I don't know enough of your History to say more.

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PS. your doc was probably Rxing Celexa for your Anxiety. SSRIs are often used for Anxiety.

While it is TECHNICALLY an antidepressant category drug, various anti-D's are used 'off label" for other disorders. eg pain, anxiety, etc. They work on similar chemical signalling pathways. [Similarly, anti-seizure drugs are used 'offlabel' for chronic pain and as mood stabilizers.]

Your Doc should have explained it better.... Docs have no time for talk these days, it seems!

Bipolar is a serious diagnosis. I think you would know before now if you had it.

I agree that its a serious diagnosis. However, while one may know that "something" is wrong, many with Bipolar disorder can go for years and years, often being misdiagnosed, before being properly diagnosed and treated.

Diagnosing disorders is as much an art as it is a science. Many many people have been misdiagnosed over the years, because disorders can share symptoms, doctors may jump to conclusions quickly, and may just assume that their first "hunch" is the right dx, without spending the time to really understand your family history, and what's going on with you.

Yes, some doctors will use medications to rule out a diagnosis. Its one of the reasons you want to seek out a specialist who's both trained and experienced in diagnosing these types of disorders.

On a side note, many with Bipolar disorder do not react well at ALL to anti-depressants or stimulants...something a specialist is likely to know about, but a general psych or MD might not.

Bottom line: If you don't feel comfortable with your diagnosis or treatment, seek out a second opinion if you can.

He sounds like a jerk and I wouldn't want him as my any type of doctor from the get-go. I was told I was bipolar before it came out I was ADD. It took going to another doctor to figure it all out.