Thu Aug 22, 2013, 07:23 PM
Denninmi (6,021 posts)
One year ago today, I was handed a death sentence. Or so I believed.
At 3:10 PM on 08/22/2012, I was misdiagnosed by a psychiatrist as bipolar, and intimidated, more or less ordered against my will and in spite of going rapidly from stating my objections to pleading for this doctor to not do this to me. I "presented" with extreme anxiety, panic attacks, depression and insomnia. I stated clearly and truthfully on intake forms, which were cursory, that I had had suicidal thoughts at times, but also made it explicitly clear that I had no intent. And that I was there because I wanted help. I made this statement verbally - I can't live like this, I want to change my life for the better. I believe this doctor "heard" only the first half. I was given an ultimatum to comply within 36 hours. The "or else" was implicit involvement, threat of anyway", of the authorities.
I believed this was a death sentence. Because of the nature of the illness. Because I would lose my career in a nation of no real social net. Because of stigma, rejection by family, friends. Because of fear of those with a mental health condition. My mind, not in good shape to begin, ran wild with panic. I left there genuinely suicidal, wanting to die at my own hand before fate tortured me to death. I saw myself meeting my death homeless and alone in a Detroit alley.
Blah, blah, blah, lunatic whining blah....
Not posting for sympathy. Not for support. I sought out a new, competent doctor. I checked her out extensively. She has a stellar online reputation 
. A clean license. Many years experience. Professional accolades and recognition. Admitting privileges at major hospitals. She has been everything I wanted, a kind and professional partner in healthcare who is genuinely concerned and who works with me to fix the damage.
Why did I lose it in the first place? Because, of my late father. I grew up in an atmosphere of domestic violence and abuse. It left me more scarred than I knew. I was held at gunpoint several times as a teen by him while he berated me as the effiminate (he believed) bastard child of my mother's (non-existent) "lovers". Then I was sent over the edge ladt year when I received death threats on the job. I lost it, and it was not pretty.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023516087This, you will recall, was DUmmy Dennis the Menace's most recent involuntary committment.
It was all the doctor's fault, but now he has one with a great online reputation!
It has to be either Doctor Phil or Doctor Oz.
Response to Denninmi (Original post)
Thu Aug 22, 2013, 07:41 PM
Wait Wut (6,857 posts)
3. This is excellent advice.
A good friend of mine had been misdiagnosed for years. When he finally received the treatment he needed, it was too late. The cracks had become canyons.
Keep it up, D. You're one of the best here.
That's right "D", you're one of the best lunatics on a site loaded with lunatics.
A nut among nuts.
Response to Denninmi (Original post)
Thu Aug 22, 2013, 07:42 PM
Yooperman (587 posts)
4. Hugs from the Great White North Country...
Just remember that which does not kill us makes us stronger.
You are not alone my friend... and if you ever want to get away from the rat race of the city.... you have a place to stay for a few days here in da U.P.
A homo who idolizes Kelly Clarkson, trolling for dick from the Upper Peninsula.
Response to Denninmi (Original post)
Thu Aug 22, 2013, 07:53 PM
BainsBane (15,659 posts)
6. Bipolar isn't a death sentence
Many people with that condition live productive lives. Misdiagnosis is common is psychiatry. I am glad you got a proper diagnosis and the help you needed, but I think it is unfortunate to characterize bipolar as a death sentence. There are doubtless dozens of people on this site who are bipolar. I doubt they see themselves as dying, and I fear your comment is stigmatizing to them.
Jugs knows nothing about it , "D". It truly is a death sentence, and the sooner you accept that the better.
She's right that there are dozens of nuts on this site.
That's why we need that Dead DUmmy forum.
They drop like flies.
Hey, let's have a disease contest! Who wants to go first?
Thu Aug 22, 2013, 08:49 PM
mimi85 (561 posts)
I am not only bipolar, I have leukemia, Sjogren's Syndrome (I don't think I'd wish this on Sarah Palin - maybe), acoustic neuroma, meningioma that I had to have emergency brain surgery for last year, deaf in one year, Barrett's Esophagus and other stuff I can't think of now.
Wow. DUmmy miminumbers could give hypochondrial DUmmy mopinko a run for her money!
A hilarious tale from the monstrously fat DUmmy Bennyboy:
Response to Denninmi (Original post)
Thu Aug 22, 2013, 08:18 PM
Bennyboy (9,219 posts)
A five minute diagnosis, take these pills (Zoloft) wait six weeks. Went back after 8, told the doc I hated them and he told me to double the dose. Six weeks later my life was OVER. 40 bucks and car that ran five miles.
It wasn't depression at all, it was PTSD, from when some punks tried to kill me in a dope deal gone bad, that was all my step child's doing. For me, wrong place, wrong time. easily the worst experience of my life and I didn't know what was wrong with me but something was. I went to counseling but only to a therapist, not a prescribing physch, so he could not give me the right prescription. But he knew, all I talked about was that event, and the bunchabullshit that ensued due to it and the fact that the same kid still did the same shit, with the same kids, that caused the thing in the first place. I was afraid to leave my house for fear it would be over run with teenagers again. I was freaking out.
So I went to the doctor and he gave me a two minute diagnosis and take this and stop smoking pot.
After my divorce i could no longer afford the meds (I still took them hoping things would work out even though I hated them, but I was so afraid of suicide at that time that I held onto hope that they were helping me) but eventually I could not afford them so I stopped. And went back to smoking pot. And guess what? no problems. I've gotten past it now and had so many other things happen that it seems a long time in the past (ten years since the 'shootout", 9 since the lawsuit (the guy who tried to shoot me, in my own home, sued me for two million dollars... yeah that's right)and nine (9 years today I think actually was the last time i slept in the house).
And now DUmmy Bennyboy, a diabetic, is in the fifth month of a suicidal fast. The last time he reported in, he was preparing to smother his invalid mother.
Response to Denninmi (Original post)
Thu Aug 22, 2013, 09:41 PM
distantearlywarning (4,222 posts)
19. I was also traumatized and misdiagnosed by a therapist
Also, like you, figured out eventually on my own that I actually had PTSD (from an old abusive relationship).
I no longer trust the mental health profession at all, and have been taking care of my own mental health needs for 10 years.
Want to guess what that involves?
