Expert: Joyce A. Anthony - 5/18/2009

Question
Hi there,
I am a 20 year old female. When I was sixteen, I went through a very difficult phase in my life. I cried everyday, stopped going to school and stopped eating. I was severely depressed, and I attempted suicide. I didn't really do it because I wanted to die, I was just going through a lot of stuff and was tired of having my depression ignored by friends and family. I was kept in a hospital for 2 weeks, and diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. I was put on Epival and Seroquel,which made me feel worse I initially did. I took my meds for about three months and quit cold turkey. I was attending therapy sessions, and even my therapist said I was " coping unusually well" for a Bipolar patient,even after quitting my meds. I eventually stopped going to that too, because I felt that it was a waste of my time and it was taking away from time I could have spent doing other things.I honestly don't think I had Bipolar Disorder to begin with. I haven't been hospitalized since that time, I have a stable job and I am a full time university student. I'm not sad, angry or depressed anymore. Is there anyway to get a psychiatric evaluation so I can put this behind me ?

Answer
Vanessa:

Having the diagnosis made when you were 16 will not affect your life as an adult.  You can probably go to see a psychiatrist for an evaluation, but most won't provide any paperwork saying you are "normal".  I would suggest you move forward as though that period never happened and you didn't get a diagnosis.  

                            Joyce A. Anthony