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<blockquote data-quote="MyFriendKita" data-source="post: 735988" data-attributes="member: 4888"><p>My son was diagnosed as bipolar when he was 16. By that time we had been through two or three different diagnoses that were close to bipolar, so I wasn't really surprised. He was diagnosed after testing by a psychologist, who said he had depression and ODD. The psychiatrist decided his depression was bipolar, not unipolar, and prescribed a mood stabilizer (Lamictal), which was a wonder drug for him.</p><p></p><p>The problem with most of the bipolar people I know (several of whom are close family members) is they don't think there is anything wrong with them and do not admit to being bipolar. However, everyone around them is well aware there is a problem. They are good people, but not always nice people, and they have trouble keeping jobs and relationships. Life with the bipolar people I know, whether medicated or not, is very rocky. It's just that medication makes dealing with them more tolerable.</p><p></p><p>It is not impossible to diagnose someone who is on drugs, because if it were no one would ever be diagnosed, since substance abuse is very common in people with mood disorders. That's like saying someone who smokes can't be diagnosed with lung cancer until they stop smoking. I'd say that's a very dangerous stance to take. My advice would be to suggest to your son the possibility he might have some kind of mood disorder. Send him a questionnaire for bipolar symptoms (or have someone do it with whom he has a good relationship if you and he don't have one). I would not be insistent, just throw the possibility out there. The problem is, even though my son has a diagnosis, and did well on medication, he stopped taking it, so even if your son is bipolar and gets a diagnosis, it's no guarantee the battle with him will be over. I hope things work out for your family.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="MyFriendKita, post: 735988, member: 4888"] My son was diagnosed as bipolar when he was 16. By that time we had been through two or three different diagnoses that were close to bipolar, so I wasn't really surprised. He was diagnosed after testing by a psychologist, who said he had depression and ODD. The psychiatrist decided his depression was bipolar, not unipolar, and prescribed a mood stabilizer (Lamictal), which was a wonder drug for him. The problem with most of the bipolar people I know (several of whom are close family members) is they don't think there is anything wrong with them and do not admit to being bipolar. However, everyone around them is well aware there is a problem. They are good people, but not always nice people, and they have trouble keeping jobs and relationships. Life with the bipolar people I know, whether medicated or not, is very rocky. It's just that medication makes dealing with them more tolerable. It is not impossible to diagnose someone who is on drugs, because if it were no one would ever be diagnosed, since substance abuse is very common in people with mood disorders. That's like saying someone who smokes can't be diagnosed with lung cancer until they stop smoking. I'd say that's a very dangerous stance to take. My advice would be to suggest to your son the possibility he might have some kind of mood disorder. Send him a questionnaire for bipolar symptoms (or have someone do it with whom he has a good relationship if you and he don't have one). I would not be insistent, just throw the possibility out there. The problem is, even though my son has a diagnosis, and did well on medication, he stopped taking it, so even if your son is bipolar and gets a diagnosis, it's no guarantee the battle with him will be over. I hope things work out for your family. [/QUOTE]
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