I think the doctors thought I was a hypochondriac; they didn't know what to do with me. They put me in a program for substance abuse. But that wasn't the answer. I was battling a combination of mental and physical ailments; it was difficult to make a clear-cut diagnosis. So, I can't put full blame on the doctors. But what I needed was one good doctor that would take the time to really listen to me and help me sort it all out. I found such a doctor which marked a turning point for me. He recommended a digital EEG where they monitor your brain then translate the data. It told me that my brain activity matched those who had manic depression and ADHD. I finally got confirmation of what I thought was my diagnosis all along. This was ground-breaking news. Nobody else was using this service in the psychiatric field.
I finally found an excellent psychiatrist four years ago, and I thank God for him. He saved my life. I felt that after everything I'd been through, and still no answers (the Veterans Affairs psychologist disregarded the DEEG.), I'd suffered long enough. I decided that if this doctor couldn't help me, then my only resolution was to kill myself. I had a sure-fire plan to end my life with no chance of reviving me. Much to my surprise this doctor listened to my history, was supportive and confirmed my diagnosis. Then, together we worked out a prescription regimen for me to start with the realization that it may take time to find what works for me along with the proper dosage. I'd been through 34 medications before my doctor finally found the perfect treatment cocktail (combinations of medications) that worked for me. It's a total crap-shoot, purely trial and error. What works for one person might not work for another. My Doctor and I are a team. That's critical in finding the right doctor. I am now stabilized on 5 medications.
I have adult ADHD, and was misdiagnosed (for 40 years) since about age five. Back then they thought only boys had it. I had a lot of problems with being extremely hyper and unruly, had social problems and learning disabilities in school. Children with ADHD are at higher risk for depression, alcoholism and antisocial behavior as adults. Many carry it with them into adulthood. One in four ADHD kids is at risk for being bipolar, which complicates the ADHD.
Bipolar affective disorder or manic depression is a type of brain disorder or biochemical imbalance; it is also believed to be a genetic disease. It's extremely hard to diagnose and treat. This illness is a curse and a blessing all rolled into one (manic depressive individuals tend to be highly creative). It's characterized by severe mood swings that cycle back and forth between extreme highs (mania) and severe lows (depression). Bipolar affects some people as early as childhood. Some with bipolar disorder experience normal moods between cycles. Some might experience mania once in their lifetime, while others experience it once a year, or even once every few months. Some are called rapid cyclers. I'm an ultra, ultra rapid cycler who experiences mixed states, which means I cycle so fast that I actually have depression and mania happening at the same time within a 24-hour period. I had to record my moods in order to track my pattern of mood swings.
When someone with bipolar disorder is manic, they're in mental overdrive. Ideas are coming fast and furious. It's hard for them to keep up. It's hard for people to keep up with them. You're revved up. You're tripping over your own words. You become a total work horse or workaholic. That mental state can be productive if you're not too manic. The energy is great. but the problem is that the mania keeps building until eventually you spin out of control and just can't function. Then the depression sets in. You go from an extreme high to an extreme low. You come crashing down. Most turn to alcohol to take the edge off the mania or to nurse their depressing woes. You feel invincible one minute and like your sinking into an abyss the next. You actually feel like you're coming out of your skin when you're manic.
