Expert: Ivan Goldberg, M.D. - 8/6/2010

Question
My mother and older brother are both bipolar, I am now 34 years old and every day I am understanding better and better about the abuse from an untreated bipolar and how it affected/created my life, personality and codependance.
I have been "tested" 3 times in the past 10 years for it and have passed (free of it) the test every time with flying colors, but however have been diagnosed with compressional "problems". But having lived with 2 bipolar family members in my life for so many years, I feel I'm pretty good at telling when they are having manic episodes or compressional episodes. As with myself, I know the signs, and do believe I have it. could the "experts" be wrong in my diagnoses, or am I just so familiar with it that I'm "creating" something out of nothing?

Answer
Hi Matt . . .

In anyone who has relatives diagnosed with bipolar disorder, there certainly is a possibility that bipolar disorder is the correct diagnosis. Please Google "soft bipolar" and "bipolar spectrum" to read about some of the less severe forms of bipolar disorder.

If you think you may fit the picture, I suggest that you be evaluated by a psychiatrist with greater than average skills in making a bipolar diagnosis. A list of such psychiatrists may be found at:
http://www.psycom.net/depression.central.psychatrists.html

Best regards . . .

Ivan
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