How I Was Misdiagnosed With Bipolar Disorder
Вставка
- Опубліковано 28 вер 2024
- I've recently been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder as an adult female. When I was 25 years old, I was misdiagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. I share my story of how I was diagnosed bipolar when I was just actually autistic.
⛅️ Why I'm Getting An Autism Evaluation 👉 • Why I'm Getting An Aut...
⛅️ Autism Evaluation Process 👉 • Autism Testing As An A...
⛅️ My Evaluation Results Vlog 👉 • My Autism Evaluation R...
⛅️ My Autistic Girl Traits 👉 • My Autistic Girl Trait...
⛅️ My Autism Testing Explained 👉 • Breaking Down My Autis...
⛅️ Adult Autism Q&A 👉 TBA
☀️ Adult Autism Playlist • Autism In Adults
💖 Confused about our family? Go here 👉 • MOST Asked Questions A...
Our Lifestyle Channel 💞 / landinglifestyle
Join our exclusive OLC Farm 👉 / ourlandingcrew
Autism Merch teespring.com/stores/ourlandingcrew
Join us for LIVESTREAM 👉www.younow.com...
Instagram 👉 / ourlandingcrew
FB 👉 / ourlandingcrew
TikTok 👉 ourlandingcrew
❤ We would love to hear from you ❤
Our LANDing Crew
P.O. Box 75712
Colorado Springs, CO 80970
!KiDS SOCiAL MEDiA!
Noah's Instagram 👉 / noaholc
Stephanie, I am a relatively new subscriber and I just want to let you know how much I appreciate your videos. My daughter is 11 and (so far!) has been diagnosed with epilepsy, ADHD non attentive type, generalized anxiety, separation anxiety, OCD (hoarding), sensory processing disorder and tic disorder. That is a lot of disorders! She is going to be properly assessed for autism in a few weeks. This is all new to me and I am learning quite a bit through you sharing your family's experience, so thank you.
Got diagnosed bipolar with anxiety in mid 20's after a meltdown & now in late 30's. Watched a few autism / aspergers videos and realized I had speech issues growing up, bad stutter, socially awkward, bad anxiety, been academically good & achieved a lot, but poor working in teams / groups, like working on own, get fixated on subjects like macro economics & monetary history, information dump on people a lot & bore them, used to sit watching the clock and couldn't leave room unless it was on a round number, sit taking things apart & re-assembling them when I'm nervous (pens etc), keep re-ordering the dinner table so that everything is perfectly straight, like being on my own, get angry around loud noises, don't like mess, I'm quite introverted, brain tortures me all day with every mistake I've ever made, i'm into music and kind of used that to engage with people instead of conversation. Have taken several online tests and it says strong possibility. Tried to breach the subject with my family, but they not interested & seemed scared so I shut up about it. I think I come across OK now as I've learned how to behave, but I feel terrible inside - no meds have ever worked & nearly medication free as had to come off due to side effects. Think i'm doomed - feel very lonely, but also scared of socializing. Thanks for video it helped.
Happened to me. As a nurse in a psych hospital, see this all the time with my patients. Heartbreaking.
I’m in a not too dissimilar situation (I know everyone is different). I was “diagnosed” with bipolar august 2019, without a proper evaluation. Took 40 minutes to be diagnosed. February 2020 I was diagnosed with autism… my psychiatrist knew about that and stated in a letter he is struggling to determine the difference in my symptoms of bipolar, compared to autism. He did nothing about it and I carried on taking antipsychotics, with disgusting sideffects and a visit to rehab. Even after that, my specific traits of autism (not questioning people higher up than me as I’m too socially awkward and don’t want to question authority/don’t realise the abuse), played a lot in the lack of help I could get. Fast forward to 3 months ago and I was suffering with so much underlying trauma I moved to my mothers home country, Finland, and saw a doctor. He immediately change my perspective on my situation, and wanted me to stop meds (safely), whilst under the careful watch of him. My mental health itself is improving, however I have so much trauma from the 3 year period (which has only surfaced after regaining memory, after stopping meds), I can’t function properly. This is only a slight overview of my situation, I could write an essay on the past 3 years.
As someone who was misdiagnosed with bipolar when I'm actually autistic. I really appreciate this video. It helps to see I'm not alone in this experience
❤️🤗 definitely not alone!
Your not alone. Twenty yrs from 19-39 with the wrong one- loving my autism now and life begins at forty eh? ❤❤❤❤
I feel I may have been misdiagnosed with bipolar at 15 after my dad died, I have realized now I have more autistic tendencies that could have shown up as bipolar
My mom pushed the diagnosis because she was convinced I did and she suggested it, how could I go about being tested for autism
I spent from age 7-12 in shutdown - always having a “headache” or a “stomach ache” so I could leave school or social gatherings. Then age 12-18 diagnosed with clinical depression and severe anxiety. Then 18-25 with bipolar. I then had a terrible car accident that made me have to essentially stop trying to engage in the world. My injuries were extensive and my recovery was long. But it was the first time no one questioned me, gave me room to be in silence and kind of do what I needed to do on my own terms. Ironically an injury that took a ton away from me and closed a ton of doors also gave me the space and quietness to realize I wasn’t mentally ill. I wasn’t depressed. I was just not made for today’s crazy world. I have lived as much more of a hermit, and more mentally well than ever before, despite my car accident injuries never fully healing. Because I wasn’t diagnosed what level 2 autism until recently, I also spent years just not engaging in the workforce - because I didn’t think there was a way I could - even tho my accident injuries don’t fully preclude me from some level of employment. The undiagnosed autism + the injuries made it impossible to work - let alone even go to the grocery store like a normal human. Now I feel like there is some hope that I can be part of this world more!
We need better understanding of autism in women. I am really classically autistic. It shouldn’t have ever been called anything else. And I wouldn’t have had nearly as much pain in my life if I had proper diagnosis in childhood. Based on the comments here, and the video itself, I am far from alone.
Thanks for posting this!
remember you are you no matter what others might think and hugs to you
You are such a special human. Sharing your story is helping so many! You are so articulate.
I resonated with your story a lot - especially the first part, how you are started to act before getting a diagnosis. My mom is also bipolar and so i thought you know it probably is that because i was repeating a lot of her issues she had at my age as well. It wasnt until recently that i finally admitted to my husband i think i was wrongly diagnosed and asked his opinion (he is on the spectrum and has been his entire life) so for a little context, i actually had the thought in my head for 13 years ( which is literally half my life at this point) that i was probably autistic to some degree or sort, becasue every single online test i did, or questions or conversations ive had with people are formally diagnosed, they all came back as strong chances. I am not going to base it entirely off those quizzes, but I asked my husband what he thought about me possibly seeing someone about that. and his response was all i needed to hear to get help (cuz my bipolar meds were not helping at all lol) he said "omg finally, were you not able to tell?" and then we talked in depth about my experiences and all that for the last 13 years and why i might think that is a possibility. ANYWAYS - our insurance is now active as of last week so ill be making an appointment ASAP, wish me luck, im nervous and i dont want them to think im like just seeking attention or anything, i just want some feeling of regulation in my life haha
I’m so glad you got your correct diagnosis! I haven’t talked with my sister about it but I learned quite a lot from your videos and I think she may be autistic, and she is diagnosed with bipolar.
We don’t know anyone who may be autistic and the autism community in Argentina isn’t really out there so it’s hard to know more about it.
EXACTLY the same story as mine! Misdiagnosed Bipolar 1 for 25 years by psychiatrists who did extremely limited evaluations( in matters of minute )and who complained when my huge list of symptoms didn't fit the BP criteria! I was always being told my feedback was not consistent with BP and to stay on track! I did every med out there and NONE of them worked. I have now had a very thorough psychiatric evaluation, and guess what(!?); I am ASD 1!!! The diagnosis fits my whole life 100% and explains everything. I now understand what really makes me "me" and can now correctly attribute my behavior. I feel rejuvenated and all the years of depression and alleged mania have melted away in an instant! Anyways, what I really mean to say is, don't be intimatated by these professionals if you genuinely feel the diagnosis is wrong. You MUST insist on a proper evaluation, not the usual sub-five minute consultation!
I was diagnosed at 18 with bipolar and with BPD at 27. The last therapist I had said she didn't think i had either. Now, at 40, after weeks and months of researching autism, I feel like I can finally relate to something.
I honestly think if they hadn't diagnosed me at 19, I would have eventually been misdiagnosed with BPD/Bipolar. I had even asked psychiatrists if that could be what was going on and they said no, only because I was "too young" to get that diagnosis. I find it a bit amusing, I didn't actually know they were screening for autism. I thought it was just one last assessment as I graduated grade 12 to see if I would qualify for further supports as an adult. Turns out that meant looking into an autism diagnosis!
that’s awesome! I was diagnosed as bipolar when I was 16, but I always fought against other misdiagnosis before that. It stinks that we have to get lucky and advocate for ourselves so much but it sounds like your story ended well!
I got misdiagnosed with bipolar too. Those meds were no joke. I was on them for two years too… then my new psychiatrist was like… oh honey no lol
I have got high functioning Autism, also I have got OCD, where I do like things clean, but my OCD, is more a less obsessive thoughts, and also I do have Some form of ritualistic Behaviors as well, and I have also got a mild Learning disability by the way, but I don't have Bipolar, but I do know a fair bit about Bipolar, and having Autism and Bipolar at the same time, I bet you that can class together, but I have learned how too live with both of my Conditions now, and I have come a very long way too where I used too be years ago now, but I wont go into the details what happened too me fully, but I was sectioned in a Autistic hospital for just under 3 years, and that got me on the right meds, and it helped me a lot with my Anxiety too, so it just shows that people who suffer from Mental Health, can get better with it, when you do finally get the right help and support, and whoever is struggling with their mental health, who will take their time out too read this, well I wish you all very well, and good luck for the future, and don't stop fighting, on till you touch that light, at the end of the tunnel. :)
thank you for this video!
So I have been diagnosed bipolar for over 10 years.... I always had a psychiatrist but not a therapist.
Now I have started a new treatment that focuses on my past growing up a jehovah witness and trauma from my past...
and then now I have been diagnosed adhd and autism and its like I have been questioning my diagnosis for these reasons
It's pretty sad that we live in a world where incompetence is the average, just because someone has a PhD doesn't mean they know how to do their job.
100% accurate. There are rarely any consequences. So, yea. I'm pretty old-school and have intrinsic motivation to do a genuine job.
I have a mother who is extremely bipolar, and I have been terrified of finding out I am bipolar my while life because I've seen how terrible it is for her and how terrible it can be for those close to her. I recently learned a lit about Autism, and have begun to seriously think I am autistic, but I cant help but think that I am bipolar and am trying to hide that by explaining my issues with autism.
(This is not to say that autism is somehow easier to deal with than bipilar, as that kind of thing is different per person and much their situation effects them)
This video helped me a lot. I am still terrified that im wrong and am actually bipolar, especially since if im bipolar like my mom then I could be have dilusions that I would not be able to coin as dilusions. Which im terrified of. There nothing I fear more than being alive, and not having control over myself, but thinking I do. Which is why I was so relieved when i learned about autism and how kych it resonates with me. Because it would mean I am different, but that I can still learn to manage myself and keeo control of my life.
Again thanks a lot for this video, it helped me talk myself off the kedge of convincing myself I am bipolar pre diagnosis. Now I can just hope that my evaluation for autism doesnt lead me to a bipolar diagnosis
You shouldn’t have to explain a thing, but I understand why you feel the need to. It’s a shame though. 🥺
I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at age 22 when my parents divorced after 28 years. I got fired from a job right after my parents divorced. I truly DON'T believe that I have bipolar disorder! I have SO many things that I do/don't do that make me believe that I am autistic and not bipolar. I live in a very small town and we don't have anybody to see for an evaluation for autism as an adult. The closest hospital that could do an evaluation for autism is in another state. I have Medicaid so I can't go there..... I just don't know what to do or where to go for an evaluation for autism as an adult.....
I LOVE BEING A MEMBER OF YOUR LANDing Crew! I LOVE YOU ALL!
I am currently diagnosed with bipolar II disorder, but my therapist is trying to get me tested for autism because of my symptoms.
Hi Steph :) I am actually bipolar and I am also NVLD so let’s just say I am neurodivergent lol. I really feel like we would be great friends, such similar brains. Thank you for inspiring and comforting me with your vlogs
To be diagnosed with bipolar, you don't need recurring manias. The DSM says that you only need ONE mania at any point in your life to be diagnosed. Your psychiatrist should have known that.
We believe you Stephanie. You know your truth!!
Today, after a couple of months of instability caused by prescription drugs (with a regular cannabis solution), I had an adult autism assessment by a practicing psychiatrist in Toronto. The result, which I don't believe, is that I'm not autistic, and instead I'm bipolar. Because I was medicated to be pure manic for a week, and effects lasting a month. The neat thing is that my clinical depression melted away when I stopped trying to accept society's lies. Then I became manic for some weeks. Then everybody said I was crazy and didn't make sense, even though I'm pretty sure I was just speaking the inconvenient truth. And so now I'm back to feeling depressed, but not clinically. A 9am appointment meant that I didn't have any energy to give you. Assessment was quick and painful. 😂 But the doctor didn't specialize in autism, and there is plenty of memory haze for myself and my parents. So he did encourage me to seek a second opinion from a specialist. I can fully sympathize with how nobody is really trying too hard to help for too long.
Yeah this happened to me when I was 24, cuz I was upset about something & they said cuz I spoke fast I probably have bipolar…
Years later after having met heaps of ppl who had BPAD and like were literally these highly creative people into symbols, who have big crashing episodes. I never related, I kept saying I’ve been talking fast since I was born and I’ve never been delusional, they agreed to this.
Finally some said I don’t think u have BPAD, I think u have ADHD. Few more yrs, formal testing and the neuropsychologist said it’s ADHD. Even my school report cards in the 90’s is the DSM 3.
So my current adhd specialist says he thinks ADHD doesn’t explain everything and he thinks I’m on the spectrum too
I have bipolar 1 and schizophrenia it is a daily struggle
Always so informative Steph ! Thank you.
💝Never think you are a bad mom. Just give love, support and affection no matter your conditions, un conditional love this is all what they need, even if you have just bread and water for eating!! Stay strong moms! Stay away from med.. Eat natural and walk.. Love positive energy..will win with God help.. just matter of time💝
Love you Stephanie!❤❤
My toxic ex tried to convince family court that I was bipolar and/or schizophrenic to get my child taken away. The court treated me like I was guilty until proven innocent even though I was assessed by multiple professionals and found to be autistic. They acted like the assessments I had gotten weren't good enough. I also had a hard point in my life that they tried to justify it with. After my pregnancy I started having panic attacks, and everyone around me tried to tell me I was bipolar, even though my pregnancy had caused a bunch of complications, from hypokalemia, hypomagnesia, and a thyroid condition. I got lucky. Psychology is my "special interest" so I knew better. We as women are discriminated against versus autistic men. My toxic ex was also found to be autistic, and they didn't get on his case at all. I also had a narcissistic mother. Anyone who understands narcissistic abuse knows that it's generational, and that if you have a narcissistic parent, you will most likely be attracted to a narcissistic partner. Narcissists are also very fond of autistic people because we're so trusting. If you don’t know you're autistic, they will try to convince you that you are crazy in the discard phase.
Sending prayers 🙏 and lots of love to all of your family 👪 ❤ 💙 💕 💗 ♥
Wow this was basically my story. Thanks
Thank you. I'm still wondering how I was misdiagnosed as bipolar and adhd when I had oxygen deprivation at birth and lead poisoning as a child. From what I was told women and minorities are commonly misdiagnosed.
😢😢😢😢 It makes me cry. Because I know the TRUTH
Me too. Thank you🙏🏼💓🌈
I'm bipolar and BPD and depakote made me feel like shit as well. I'm currently off meds, thank God, but as I research more about autism it makes me wonder if I could actually be autistic. I have uncles and cousins that are, and my little sister is too, so I guess I'll take a more thorough look at it
I've often wondered if I was misdiagnosed. Do those who experience autism get extremely tired in a just a few minutes being around others? I tend to get really tired whenever I do any at all. But it gets worse when I am doing something around people. I've been diagnosed with bipolar type 2 because I don't have manic episodes. I am mostly tired all day and I constantly want to go to bed. But sleeping is very difficult without a night med. Sometimes I will close my eyes to try to go to sleep when I am feeling excessively tired, but I can't doze off. It can take me up to 2-4 hours to actually fall asleep. Not sure.
I had a late diagnosis of aspergers
I just got diagnosed with Bipolar 1, and I know I’m not. I work in the mental health field, and I’ve studied clinical psychology for years. It’s extremely frustrating because I know it’s wrong. I’m a gay male, and I feel like I get treated just like females. I didn’t meet the bipolar diagnosis, and yet I got diagnosed with it. Im pissed, but o don’t know what to do. My mother was also diagnosed with Bipolar, but I don’t think she is Bipolar. I think she was misdiagnosed too.
I am so sorry! Can you get a 2nd opinion?
@@OurLANDingCrew8 I’m trying. I’m not sure my insurance is going to cover another evaluation.
I'm still unsure. I got multiple diagnosis of asd1 as an adult, but the previous bipolar and my personal manic experiences- I'm just so confused. I believe there is a great chance I have both, but I know up until recently in life, manic episodes weren't a thing for me, or were they??? Meltdowns, mania, I have no idea. Misdiagnosis really suck
I believe I've been wrongly diagnosed with Bipolar. I also have a son who has been isolated at home for 9 years from the age of 14 without any outside help at all. I know we're on the spectrum. Thank you for the video.
After you know you're autistic, how do you treat it? I'm on meds for depression and anxiety. Of course I only get worse with time and life experiences. I am severely traumatized. I am trying to live as normal of a life as I can, due to being a mom (4 daughters, I see the autism traits in all) and to having a disabled mom who needs me. I don't know what to do to get help. I can't afford health insurance, but don't qualify for any public assistance. In fact, I am needing to have a breast biopsy, but I can't come up with the money for it.....$14k. What are some things women are doing to help themselves with their autism struggles?
🙋🏻♀️ years of meds after meds that didn't work. No duh, they were for a chemical imbalance which I don't have. I got worse and worse on meds till I stopped them all myself and have just tried my best to live my life that isn't like anyone else I know, at least my brain. 50 and just finding out it's autism
I was properly diagnosed autistic, i dont care if they dont get it. Its weird they dont like that i have an explanation for how i felt my whole life.
I love how you worded this. It's weird to me too. Like if I said I had BPD, bipolar, schizophrenia - no one would try to sit there and argue it with me.
I think im on spectrum but i could fit bipolar or borderline, mayb adhd, nothing truely fits- if it is autism is there treatments?
I am autistic and I have bipolar disorder. It's a pain in the ass but my meds help me to stabilize my wild moodswings. There's a chance somebody can have both
I never said that no one couldn’t have both. But for me. I didn’t. This was about me, not every person out there.
@@OurLANDingCrew8 I clearly understood your message and I am totaly fine with that. I just wanted to add my experience with borh diagnosis. It was just about me and the possibility to have both, I didn't intend to correct or critisize you
Listenin was like hearing someone tell my life story down to the T. Does anyone else's timeline align with this as well?
I was supposed to have the genius IQ but I lost oxygen at Birth
I'm wondering if I have autism. My daughter has just been diagnosed with mild autism. She's a year and a half old. I began seeing a doctor when I was 21 who diagnosed me with bipolar type 2 rapid cycling with mixed episodes and C-PTSD. I seriously am wondering if I've been misdiagnosed. I expressed this to my family and they laughed at me
Hello, do you have any reccomendations for an adult female with intellecual developmental disability? I am in Florida and am trying to find out what state to move to! Thanks and great video btw!
Like kind of Dr do you go thru to get diagnosed. I have alot of issues I am diagnosed epileptic as an adult. I just want to see if that diagnoses is wrong.
The only way to know if u have epilepsy or if u are epileptic is to have a VIDEO EEG and it shows the Dr if your episodes are epileptic
Hi first I want to say I admire you alot,just came back from my sons evaluation, they believe he has a speech delay since he us 2.2 years says alot of words but doesn't use in a sentence ,and has some overlaps but not strong enough to give him the diagnosis, so I will visit them after 6 months ,do you have any advice for me ,desperate mama here
Researching my granddaughter, 7, ASD. I have realized that my son 25, is Autistic. I am myself and i believe my daughter is
They dx her with bipolar and i believe she truly is Autistic also
Can you tell me what made you suspect autism instead of bipolar for your daughter? I’m asking because I’m in a similar situation and that’s what brought me to the video. Thanks so much!
Yeah my mum's got bipolar one and she was lived practically live near enough and Hospital my sister schizophrenia and I'm the youngest with bipolar 2
Misdiagnosed is sooo frustrating 😤 😑 😒 🙄 I never could be a mean person just because some people are so cruel,
Good for u. Some people snap after cruelty and I don't think there's anything that makes them any less of a person because of that
I have been diagnosed with both bipolar 2 and autism as an adult. I feel like women are already super misdiagnosed. I doubt I'm bipolar because the medication doesn't work.. and all of my children are autistic and my oldest is being diagnosed as "dmdd (baby bipolar)". I think there is a lot of overlap between the two that hasn't been throughly explored.
Hugs
I like your approach better, therapists shouldn’t be quick to diagnose at all.
I have add and I have my sister and my brother with add and I have two cousins named Joanna and Lilly who also have add.
Hi Stephanie can you explain what a Neuro-psych Evaluation all entails? I may have missed this if you answered it already lol, So like say someone who is like ok I suspect I have anxiety or ptsd or autism or what not as an adult, is that what you should ask for to your primary doctor?
A full neuropsych evaluation is performed by a psychologist usually with their PhD or a psychiatrist. It's usually narrowed down through an intake what is needed but like mine screened for any mental illness, PTSD, ADHD, and autism in addition to the vineland. The autism piece had 7-8 assessments in itself.
@@OurLANDingCrew8 what kind of assessments are they?
Like what is an assessment I mean. Just a general example like you can go for an assessment of speech or an assessment for behavior.
It would depend on what you assessments needed to be included. The psychologist would decide which are the most appropriate
The neuropsychological testing can also be done by neuropsychologists. There are several areas or “domains” that they assess. Within these domains there are specific areas they are looking at and testing. When the testing is complete, they score these tests against a rubric ( set of norms) and are able to not only diagnose autism, ADHD, etc but also provide guidance on appropriate interventions to accommodate the individual person.
Im an over sharerer too
I’m going through this shit again with a new doctor right now smh. Thanks for this informative video! And thanks for sharing your story here ❤
I ended up with bipolar type 1 and Autism
You can definitely have both, I just don’t 🥰
Also most people with very high functioning autism and bipolar disorder and mental illness have a genius IQ I was supposed to have the genius IQ but I lost oxygen first
Im both, also doesn't sound like you were misdiagnosed, you believed you had it so you gave Information to support that, and since shrinks aren't scientists they have to treat what you're presenting them with. I went through the same thing in reverse I would disassociate after a manic episode and forget that I was that person, because I hated that person and he didn't come out often enough for me to acknowledge.
It was a 5 minute appointment, I didn't believe i had it. I just answered questions that was asked and voila, 5 minutes later I have a diagnosis and anti-psychotics prescribed to me. I am not exaggerating in anyway.
An autism diagnosis does not exclude bipolar disorder. in fact bipolar disorder is a commobordity of ASD.
But for me it’s not. They tested me for both and only found that I’m autistic. I never said you can’t have both, I said I don’t
I have the same issues with you about taking medications.
Like I’ve said before you are so strong and you are helping so many people you’re an awesome person Stephanie
❤
Agree
Hey big fan I actually just finished your video that you posted like an hour ago!
I’ve been diagnosed with BPD for a few years now and recently brought this up in therapy! We’re starting the process! I see a lot of overlap in myself but due to a messy family history/ dynamic, I have no one for childhood recalling. I can’t thank you enough for speaking up about this. You’re so strong and I adore your family. You’ve opened my eyes and I hope to keep learning with you. Thank you Steph
I can't afford to get a neuropsychological assessment but I'm 99% sure I'm autistic and have ADHD. But I have a bipolar and BPD diagnosis because I am stuck in the psych system and once you are in there, where I live, it is really hard to get out. But those psych diagnosis have never been a good fit.
Thank you for being so open about this! I'm a school psychologist, and I've really noticed lately that some of the more "old-school" staff I work with have a hard time understanding how autism can look in girls. A lot of people have a very specific idea of what they think autism looks like, when it actually really varies from person to person.
Yes I was misdiagnosed twice as having BPD with schizo type traits until I was diagnosed with autism around 10 years later
Not a surprise at all….
I’ve been diagnosed with BOTH Bipolar and Borderline… but my son is diagnosed with Autism, and he’s not the only one in my family. But EVERYTHING you are saying is me. And I’m crying.
I just don’t know how I could even address this with my doctor… much less my husband
Same patterns here
Right there with you. My psychiatrists are already dismissive enough. I can only imagine what will happen if I show up saying, “Hey, here’s why my medicine isn’t working. Let’s look into it.”
For years I also had the wrong diagnoses of bipolair disorder and borderline personality disorder, I had to take a lot of medication that was actually not necessary, it didn't make me feel better, but only worse and lived like a zombie for years. Four years ago when I finally had real tests it turned out that I am autistic. I was 42 years old at the time. Finally I know what's wrong with me and all the puzzlepiezes fall into place
Would you be comfortable sharing the traits that were thought to be borderline? I’m going through a similar issue where I have seen some borderline tendencies in myself but wonder if it’s actually ASD. Thanks!
Same here
I was Mis Dx'ed with BiPolar #2 in Oct 2021 when I was actually withdrawing from 50mg IR Seroquel. He misunderstood me on the phone, because he's ESL. I only knew to cut 1 of the 2 25mg pills in 1/4's and take away 1 of the quarters. Nobody ever since July 2021 mentioned a liquid taper. I'm still stuck on it. I learned about a liquid taper on my own earlier this year on survivingantidepressants or beyondmeds. I just tried a liquid taper making my liquid dosage the equivalent of 49.6mg. But the bubbles messed it up. I lasted 1.5 weeks of hell. I'm still trying to go back to homeostasis, 5 days later. Seroquel is a beast of a drug in that it's extremely complex.
At an in-patient facility (because I got so messed up on these psychotropic drugs), they suspected that I had Borderline Personality Disorder (I failed the quiz), because I was so angry at this whole ordeal of constant unnecessary meds making me unwell based on a Mis Dx, repeated in-patient facilities because of the meds themselves or withdrawals from them, withdrawal attempts from Seroquel sending me to the Psych Ward, etc. If I actually worked (ME/CFS from constant withdrawal/different anti-depressant trying and switching in my younger years,) I'd need a serious sabbatical. I haven't been myself much at all since July 2021 when I had a severe reaction to LoLoestrin, which I was dismissed about the day before with my rapidly growing concerns. I've never gone against my better judgement before. Having my judgement questioned repeatedly with the relentless gas-lighting has been horrific. I need to lie low for a few years. I'm on so many meds with myoclonus/TD, front fuzzy/pressured brain, hypomania, tranquilizing, etc.
I've looked up Autism out of general interest in the past, and I do not meet the criteria of symptoms.
I spent $400 on an ADHD consultation appointment with an ADHD Nurse Practitioner this past summer. I 100% do not have ADHD. It's the unnecessary Psychotropic drugs and the constant switching and withdrawals and returning to homeostasis causing the symptoms of ADHD.
When I was in my early 20s I was misdiagnosed with Schizoaffective disorder and I didn’t discover I was on the spectrum until I was 31. Recently I found out through my aunt on my dads side of my family that my family knew I was autistic as a kid but they never told me about it and I only discovered through a clinical psychologist as a adult and because the trauma I went through while growing up I also have Complex PTSD as a comorbid.
Autistic girls and women get misdiagnosed a lot! I've been misdiagnosed as having a schizoid personality disorder (which is basically not wanting to be around people), because I answered yes when asked if I prefered to be alone all the time. The dr never asked why I didn't want to be with people. I had endured so much abuse (the word is correctly choosen) from both my peers and adults by the age of 15 that I just had determined that it was plain dangerous to be around people. But I was not "not interested being with people", I was just terrified being around people, and rightfully so. People abused me because of my autistic characteristics (socially ackward, naive and so on), which have been totally ignored until I was 38 y.o. and I finally had a family doctor after I ended up homeless and lost my job and my boyfriend of 5 years and basically my life was a total mess. She saw me every month, and sometimes more often, for 3 years before that crash happened, and when it happened she told me she thinks I'm autistic and I should really get a new psychiatric evaluation. I've read stories by several autistic women and men who've got schizophrenia diagnosis only for having answered yes to the question "do you hear voices?". Drs need to understand and be aware that autistic people are very litterate in their talking and in their understanding of what you ask them and say to them. Which really can lead to misdiagnosis.
Yep so much of the therapeutic process assumes you are neurotypical and does NOt account for your ways of thinking. It can actually lead to therapy being harmful because it is not accurately founded and then it is not geared to helping you.
I am currently writing a research paper for one of my classes (college senior, just got accepted into OT grad school!) on what needs to be done to ensure females specifically have better accessibility to ASD evaluation and diagnosis. It is sooo common for girls and women to be dismissed or given the wrong diagnosis because the current diagnostic criteria is based so heavily on the male presentation of autism. I literally just finished the first part of my assignment and I saw this video pop up 😊
Let’s just agree that this friggin virus is bringing out the hate talkers. Love you
Girl. People are BORED AF
I am 22 diagnosed as bipolar at age 19.
I am literally almost in tears..............this is EXACTLY what happened to me only I have ZERO family history.
"Wish i could erase that year" is just how I felt about a supposed "manic" episode.
I was on high doses of lithium and it made me extremely lethargic and had negative physical impacts (migraines, weight gain, stiffness). Similar to your story all the medications for bipolar really didnt do much other than sedate me.
I began medication in high school as a teen for depression/anxiety. Later then came the bipolar meds at age 19. None of the medications ever seemed to make a difference other than side effects.
I weened off the lithium with dr. Supervision and I have emotions just like everyone else, but there are no "high highs" and "low lows". I have been off meds for months and you would think that someone who genuinely had bipolar would have symptoms that return, but alas, they have not.
Taking no medications i am starting to assess more clearly how I feel as an adult. I am beginning to realize some of these issues I have could be ASD related but no one will listen because the precedent of bipolar has already been set.
I realize a lot of the time I am considered "manic" is really just rampant anxiety mixed with sensory issues. I get irritable ("manic") because I cannot adequately communicate how overwhelmed I feel even to close friends. I have my home orgainized in a very specific way with a very specific routine because some days are too overwhelming for me and I retreat to my bed. Having things organized provides me with a constant-
I worry less about coming home from work because I know my laptop is in my laptop spot.
I wish I could organize this comment to be better and more succinct but I have not found any story out there that matches as closely as this.
I am finding it EXTREMELY difficult to get someone to even take me seriously about adult ASD. I have private health insurance and live in Michigan. Very few places seem to be willing to assess aduly ASD and the ones that do have a wait list 2+ years out.
I am really struggling because a diagnosis would change my life. I dont want to be diagnosed "just because", I want to be assessed because either way I want someone to take my concerns seriously.
Hi sorry I’m abit confused why do u still need diagnosis if u say u have ASD?
I’m SO grateful for your videos. If it weren’t for your diagnosis video, I wouldn’t have pursued a diagnosis for myself. I had no idea what ASD looked like in females (and I’m a teacher!!) & would never have suspected you were. I related to what you were saying so much that it was an actual epiphany moment for me. From the age of 4, I blamed myself for not being able to ‘human’ properly & for the way I was treated. Thank you, from the bottom (sides, top & middle) of my heart. You have changed my life for the better ❤️ Cheers to us both not sucking as humans 🥰
And comments like yours is what makes me feel okay with being vulnerable and transparent so thank YOU ❤️
You are seriously a teacher too? Oh my. I am too and I had been told by professors that if I am ASD I shouldn’t be a teacher. It’s my passion so I’m still doing it.
@@bornacountrygirl93 I didn’t know I had ASD until Feb of this year at the age of 35. Had I known growing up, I prob wouldn’t have pursued teaching as I’ve been pretty miserable for the majority of my career even though I’m good at it. If you have a strong backbone & can stand up for yourself then go for it.
I've been diagnosed bipolar rapid cycler ontop of MANY other diagnosis (borderline personality and adhd. Ocd. PTSD. Major depression. Anxiety. Etc
Steph, I just want to say you are incredibly strong and a fantastic person, wife, and mother, autistic or not. Keep doing what you're doing mama
Super helpful, thank you for making this video. I am an Asian American woman whose father was autistic, but just recently self-diagnosed at the age of 32 with Asperger's. Never had the language delay and was always very advanced, so masking came somewhat naturally for me. I was diagnosed with bipolar after a severe break in consciousness at the age of 26 when my inner child felt like she needed to break out of the mold society had forced upon us. All of this is very real, and very important for people to be aware of, and why I want to become a therapist someday soon :)
I’m glad you finally got the correct diagnosis! As an aside - your eye make up is SO gorgeous! Can you do a tutorial? How do you get the eyeliner on so perfectly ??
Depakote is horrible, I had a doctor prescribe that to me because he saw my eyelid twitch at an appointment. I was a zombie and became unreliable and didn't trust myself to drive. I stopped taking it as often as he prescribed and he yelled at me.... this dr also tried sexual assaulting me at my appointment and never a nurse in the room. I left that appt crying and never went back, he tried calling my home asking why I have not returned, which freaked me out. I was scared to report what happened because I thought no one would believe me. A year later I was in the kitchen cooking listening to the news, when I heard this Dr's name and another woman reported him. The news ask if this happened to anyone else as a patient of his, contact the detective handling the case. I did talk to the detective. Lucky for me, the same day this happened to me, I had wrote everything down exactly how it happened. The date was on it and matched the date that dr last saw me. The attorney general took him to trial and because I had wrote everything down and I guess the detectives videoed my interview, I was deemed credible and I didn't have to be in court. The detectives told me that I had the strongest evidence out of 21 women that came forward. He prescribed that medication to women to take advantage of them.
Some people just question everything someone says...they are so afraid that they are going to put something over on them! It seems like it is hard for them to believe that someone can be honest!!!
You have so much on your plate...you do an AWESOME job!!! You are just human...well maybe superhuman!!! LOL!!!
My daughter is diagnosed with borderline personality disorder and I swear she is autistic. She refuses to believe that. I wonder if that is common too. I’ve just had an ADHD diagnosis and for the first time I actually understand why I do what I do. However I do think I may go down the autism diagnosis as well because there are things you talk about that could be me. The thing is this is my normal and the more I speak with people the more I see that most people don’t think like me or miss the things that I do socially. I really appreciate your insight
❤ THANK YOU!: “I DON’T GET ‘CRED’ POINTS FOR BEING AUTISTIC”!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you so much for this. I’ve been thinking that I’ve been autistic for awhile now but am currently diagnosed with bipolar 1 and taking Depakote. I had only one manic episode and they diagnosed me with that. Crazy
Holy wow girl! You are sitting here telling story!!! Mind blown right now! But I waited till my late 20s to go off the deep end. I'm diagnosed bipolar 2 but suspect I might be autistic after getting my son's diagnosis and watching your family.
I never knew about the common misdiagnoses. I was given BPD by a similarly dismissive doctor that a new practitioner dismissed his diagnosis later. We are in the process of getting answers for my son who is showing signs of ADHD/Autism and it makes me wonder if I was also left undiagnosed. Thank you for sharing your story!!
A lot of people don't. Now this isn't to say that every bipolar or woman diagnosed with BPD is autistic but it is a common misdiagnosis especially if it's done via a psychiatrist that isn't being thorough.
Wowwww i can literally relate. To so much of this. I was diagnosed at 19 w adhd and bipolar. Then in my 30s w BPD after what I now see was my actually autistic meltdown. My friend has suggested I am actually autistic. And I believe my bpd diagnosis was shit as it was also just a suggestion not even a test or anything. No one considered my CPTSD as well! Friends suggested I get a second opinion cos they didnt think BPD fitting to me. I feeeel you! Thank you for sharing! I feel less alone!
i got diagnosed as being soft bipolar in 2016. I take lithium orotate. But my issues are sensory processing. ive never had a manic episode. My issues are all sensory and my highly sensitive nervous system to outside stimuli. I identify more as being on the spectrum as this has been my whole identity since childhood and i was always wired different.. My psychiatrist didnt actually know what I had so he said I had soft bipolar as I didnt fit bipolar ii or i. im 41 now
Since having two kids both diagnosed with autism I’ve been screaming to my doctors that I think I have autism I need to be evaluated, someone please help me! And this year I was recommended to be evaluated for bipolar. Prior to this I thought maybe I had BPD. But every time I tell people what I think I have I get dismissed and they call it anxiety.
I was just misdiagnosed bipolar at a noco assessment center because of unstable moods. I have unstable moods because bad things happen to me and I get sad and over react. How is that bipolar. I’m happy when life is good and sad and depressed when life is bad.
I’m so sorry that people are using your misdiagnosis to attack you. It IS extremely common for doctors (even women) to assume that whenever you bring up a concern it’s “all in your head”. It was incredibly difficult to get anyone to take my pain seriously & I literally would have died in weeks if my mother hadn’t been backing me up & forcing the doctors to keep doing tests until they figured out what was PHYSICALLY wrong with me. I had juvenile gallstones at 11 & was diagnosed with CFS/fibromyalgia/ME at 13 rather than the hypochondria they wanted to label me with (they had NEVER seen anyone with that many gallstones, let alone in a kid). Please don’t blame yourself for believing that you were bipolar, ALL HUMANS will believe what they are told constantly, not just people on the spectrum (it’s how cults work)
I'm just wondering if you think your mom might be on the spectrum, rather than bipolar? Not asking for specific details, just wondering if maybe your chromosomal stuff came from your mom? Loved this video. It took me YEARS to get correctly diagnosed because it seems like people are just coming around to the idea that trauma accumulates, and that C-PTSD exists.
Exactly. At 47, and since I was 44, the whole nature of everything changed and I’ve noticed the behaviors that are characteristic of chronic trauma are apparent. Just years of repeat bad experiences and misunderstandings, judgements and perceived failures, etc
I know for a fact that my number one problem has been being on the spectrum as far as can CB e remembered… being brought up well and being very compliant, so masking to the best of my abilities -- without even knowing or discussing it..
Now very high functioning, but it’s still there, undermining any ventures in which I haven’t addressed this.
Time to reformulate and time to have other understand so there isn’t so much self gaslighting and moral issues
I also was diagnosed with Bi Polar and at 35 was finally diagnosed with autism. My Dad passed away (suicide) and was never properly diagnosed. I am 51 now and am baffled that I was incorrectly diagnosed. I also never met the criteria. Freaking not even close. Ugh. Sending all the heart hugs to you. 💞💞💞💞
Within 3 visits, one mental health professionals tried to prescribe me (tell me to get from a PCP to prescribe since not my psychiatrist) for bipolar. But it was only in depressed looking episode she said I looked bipolar (bipolar 2), because I had no mania. Then she tried to tell me my mania was anxiety and depression came after anxiety. I knew she was wrong but couldn’t combat it, not ever thinking it could be possible to be neuro-atypical without knowing (not thinking it was impossible either, just not knowing of it as a possibility). When I remembered I was diagnosed as having dyslexia as a teen, I took assessment tests to see how much of an issue this was for me as an adult. HUGE as an issues, foundational to so many of my problems.
Studying what do and how to measure dyslexia, I stumbled on dyslexia vs autism a subject, that often dyslexia will be misapplied to someone who is actually on a different part of neuro-atypical-spectrum than dyslexia, having some of the same problems of dyslexia but a different cause. So I took a professionally monitored assessment for adults too place or not on the spectrum. Result was high probability of being on the spectrum. As a side note, the questions and the answers I honestly have were traumatizing of their own.
I have been studying this and consuming so much about it. it is now so obvious to me that it makes me angry at that therapist’s knee jerk diagnosis. Her diagnosis, if taken seriously, would have been treated in ways that would be very counter productive for someone like me actually exhibiting burnout and not depression, anxiety over making and not mania.
Mortal: don’t trust a therapist, runaway, if they diagnosed after 3 visits
Subsequent therapists do not think i’m bipolar at all and that I just have lots of anxiety, because of genetic underlying predisposition and life experiences. Neuro diversity is a new understanding still discussing with therapists, though it’s not common knowledge among therapists
Everything you said : correct and resonates with what I’m recently discovering with a psychologist/psychiatrist that doesn’t take insurance and also teaches at a university.
Didn’t diagnose me ever, but let’s me know what he perceives after several sessions.
Shocking how different medical professionals are in the way they practice
Stay strong Step, we love you.💙💙🌟🌟🙂💙