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How quickly to make a diagnosis
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Q: i was sent to charter after trying to take my life for the second time im almost 18 they diagonosed me after a week i believe i am bipolar from all the reading ive done but is it safe for them to diagonose me after only a week im on some medicine but i still cycle at least five times a week is any of this normal ? Dear Kristina -- Not sure if they diagnosed you as "bipolar" based on your letter. Let's say they did. Yes, I'd say that's "safe" -- especially if there's something in your story that's really clear, as I noted above. After a week on med's, still cycling almost every day? Question #1: on an antidepressant? (said he, thinking the answer would be yes...). However, even if you're not, a week is too short a time for mood stabilizers to do a complete job; and about half of people at your stage will end up needing more than one mood stabilizer, so it may be that until you clear out the antidepressants (that has to be done slowly) and add another mood stabilizer (this one can be low-dose, often) that you'll still be seeing cycling. No drugs or alcohol, mind you, meaning literally none until you're clearly stable and can judge for yourself how destabilizing even a drink or two can be (some people can get away with one or two, others not; few can handle more than 2 a week without seeing some instability result). Keep learning and keep hoping. Dr. Phelps |