Posted by Christ_empowered on November 21, 2011, at 9:48:51
In reply to Re: zyprexa triggering mania? » floatingbridge, posted by g_g_g_unit on November 21, 2011, at 7:04:51
I don't know that its always (or even usually) helpful to focus on diagnosis. The best shrinks I've had used diagnosis as a rough guideline for how to treat me, but focused more on symptom management. In my experience, the only times diagnosis really mattered was when I had useless shrinks who were blinded by it. "Well, I said you're schizophrenic. Therefore, all your problems can be solved by ever-increasing neuroleptic doses" and this gem "This patient has a Personality Disorder the leads to depression and anxiety; therefore, he needs meds to manage those and therapy will be ineffective." Right...
So, I fight for my bipolar diagnosis because a) its less stigmatizing than schizophrenia and b) because shrinks look at it and start using their skills to help me, instead of putting me in a chemical straight jacket like they do when you have "schizophrenia" (or just ignoring you when you have "narcissism").
I guess what I'm saying is that diagnosis shouldn't matter that much in terms of treatment, but if it does its really your prescriber's concern. As the person dealing with it, I think you should just focus on symptom relief and living your life, especially since the "soft" bipolar criteria just keep getting looser and looser.
poster:Christ_empowered
thread:1003037
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20111120/msgs/1003289.html