I was satisfied when my doc diagnosed my with bipolar-II couple of weeks ago. But I was also satisfied 2 years ago when he diagnosed me with ADD and told me my depression was a symptom of it. I feel "more satisfied" but from past experience its like I can't allow myself to accept it totally. I´m like obsessed now reading about all common disorders. I´m even thinking about getting brain screenings. The thing is I found out that I can find like 5+ disorders where I have at least half of the symptoms, not just the 2 I´m diagnosed with. And I´m wondering why its so common people are misdiagnosed or getting diagnosed with something new. My thoughts right now... Could it be that all these brands are really just different levels / names of the same "brain type"? Could Alzheimer, bipolar, ADD, OCD, Schizophrenia, tourettes, LD, Autism, Anxiety/Panic disorders and more be really from the same genetics? For example maybe someone could get bipolar and ADD from the same genes that made his grandfather develope Alzheimer.

I´m just sick of my status changing all the time. I´m wondering if it might be best to just think of myself as someone with "brain disorders" or something more serious than normal depression. Sometimes it feels like I´m back at the beginning and that all of the treatments in past years have been a waste of time, I want to limit that feeling with a different attitude and thinking. Anyone else feel the same way? Anyway I haven't been long enough on Lamictal to feel any difference, maybe it will be easier to accept if I feel a change in couple of months. Also I've heard ECT can effect many disorders at the same time, more than any one medication. So maybe thats something to think about later this year if my latest treatment doesn't succeed, it could help with a disorder you don't even know you have.

Anyway please comment and be honest, am I just over thinking right now or does it make any sense?

I feel the same way.

I was diagnosed bipolar 2. Then told I wasn't bipolar, but dysthymic, with GAD, PTSD, and dissociation. Now I am bipolar 2 again with possible adhd.

I'm confused by the whole thing, and frustrated with the medical system. One school of docs wants me drugged out the ying yang, and yet I've lived a very long time without medication. I've suffered but have not been out of work.

I sometimes think professionals are lazy and overdiagnosing where people shouldn't be diagnosed, and not focusing on a person's coping skills.

My thoughts right now... Could it be that all these brands are really just different levels / names of the same "brain type"? Could Alzheimer, bipolar, ADD, OCD, Schizophrenia, tourettes, LD, Autism, Anxiety/Panic disorders and more be really from the same genetics? For example maybe someone could get bipolar and ADD from the same genes that made his grandfather develope Alzheimer.

I believe that there is something to the statement you made. When my son was being diagnosed with ADHD and Autism (high-functioning) one of the main things they asked about was mood disorders among his relatives. His family tree is riddled with it. Bipolar, being the main one they asked about; but also included depression, AD/HD, Learning disabilities, and Schizophrenia.

Lets hope they find the genetic links in the future and offer blood tests... or mapping the brain so you can get better results from brain scans. I´m sick of answering oral tests for my doc that have the same questions I can find online. Sometimes I honestly think I´m more fit to diagnose myself than the pro's.

There are huge links genetically between a lot of those disorders. They are mostly related to the functioning of the brain's neurotransmitters. Bipolar's closest relative is schizophrenia, and I have family members with this on both sides.

I was lucky enough only to have BP and ADD.

Talk about counting one's blessings!

Can you have both bipolar and schizophrenia? Or is it just different levels of the same thing? (like when you get the schizophrenia symptoms you have gone pass the bipolar)

Just wondering because when I do a checklist for schizophrenia I have like half of the symptoms, but its like 2/3 on bipolar-II which I'm diagnosed with.

Fortunately it is a gene where you either get one lucky condition or the other. Rather be bipolar if you ask me.

Alzheimer's is on Chromosome 21.

http://www.genomenewsnetwork.org/articles/02_01/Bipolar_disorder.shtml

"A genome-wide search for susceptibility genes in bipolar disorder has yielded a potential hotspot on chromosome 22. In addition to the chromosome 22 region, researchers found evidence of susceptibility genes for bipolar disorder on chromosomes 3, 5, 10, 13 and 21. The regions of chromosomes 22, 13, and 10 implicated here may also contain susceptibility genes for schizophrenia, according to published data."

Interesting :)

It is incredibly confusing, and frustrating. I have known about my own alcoholism for years... Moved to back to my home town to help with Dad, who has Alzheimer's, (chromosome 21?) then I was diagnosed with, first, ADHD. Then, Bipolar II, or possibly Bipolar NOS. and PTSD. Now, maybe it's it's also PMDD along with or without some of the other Dx's. Maybe SAD. I'm starting to think it's all kind of a crap-shoot.
It is becoming quite clear to me that the only recourse I have is to be entirely honest with my pdoc, and to be true to myself in the midst of the Dx/Med-go-round, until we figure out what works, regardless of what label might be attached.

its good that you finally have your answers though...in the beginning of my therapy and stuff i was diagnosed with major depression,anxiety, and ADHD..however, ive been on 3 different antidepressants and the first one would work then stop abruptly, and the last 2 were completely useless and didnt work instantly..last wednesday i went back to my psych and she wanted to wait another week to see how i reacted on the antidepressant that did work and stopped on a higher dose...still no reaction from it...she thinks she might add an SSRI to my medication cocktail but now shes even thinking of the possibility of me being bipoar II. ive done a lot of research on it..taken a mood tracker thing and printed it for when i see her and printed off this sheet of symptoms of an upcoming episode and circled all the ones i felt (which was everything but 3 of the points)...i dunno its really sad that people with bipolar are diagnosed with all these other things before actually being treated for what they have...

Geiri,

I know how frustrating it can be not knowing for sure what is going on with you, and I know about the very real confusion of reading up on it all. I know because I felt the same way. I think you hit the nail on the head when you said you were wondering if it might be best to just think of yourself as someone with a 'brain disorder'. I have lived with 'my stuff' a long time and found much comfort in simply admitting that I had a personality disorder. For me it explains well enough that I'm not interested in the same things a lot of people are, it explains why I like to be on my own so much, and it explains why I occasionally need meds to deal with some of the low-points. And acceptance that no matter what it is, I can deal with it if allowed to do so in my own way.