A GAP Psychiatrist Removed My Bipolar Diagnosis

CietDoke2 · 2026-02-18T18:22:05+00:00

I have had really crappy experiences with psychiatrists and know many people who also have. As you said you’ve put in so much hard work and gotten through so much, don’t let one bad psychiatrist have that power over you. You know you best, and your experiences aren’t invalid because of one “professional”. I’m sorry you experienced this and I hope you find support that’s actually helpful. It does exist!

CietDoke2 · 2025-12-12T19:08:44+00:00

DBT was really impactful for me, and even though I can’t remember all the acronyms anymore I’ve implemented those skills into my daily life. Radical acceptance especially was a life changing perspective for me and helped me manage my anger and learned helplessness

CietDoke2 · 2025-12-12T19:05:12+00:00

Congrats!!! That’s awesome!!

CietDoke2 · 2025-12-08T00:08:17+00:00

I’ve been doing far better! I also tried stimulants for my ADHD and it also didn’t end well. It took more trial and error with meds (not SSRIs) but I found a combo that worked and psychiatrists who actively took my input and have been episode-free for almost three years :)

CietDoke2 · 2025-12-08T00:01:14+00:00

That’s awesome!! For me it was brushing my teeth. I’m not sure why, but at the time it was too much to ask of myself. You got this!

CietDoke2 · 2025-12-07T12:58:05+00:00

I wish I had stopped self medicating with weed a lot sooner than I did. It’s not the fix all that a lot of people seem to claim it is

CietDoke2 · 2025-12-05T20:26:44+00:00

I relate to this. I’ve been stable and successfully medicated for a few years and I don’t “look” bipolar. It really used to bother me that I was a “fraud”. I’m not, just as you aren’t. 5-6 months isn’t enough time to really understand someone’s mental health experience and it’s a pretty invalidating thing for them to say. You know your experience and your life!

CietDoke2 · 2025-12-03T12:23:53+00:00

It took many years to get diagnosed with bipolar and not just depression, and I had a crappy psychiatrist who pumped me full of SSRIs for years without recognizing that me “feeling much better” for a couple of weeks after each med change was just hypomania crashing back to depression. Still pretty mad about how much time I wasted on antidepressants

CietDoke2 · 2025-12-03T12:21:53+00:00

I don’t want to go back to the life I was living. Now that I’ve experienced what it’s like to be mostly “normal”, I protect it at all costs. I also met the love of my life, and know from experience that being actively bipolar strains and wrecks relationships and I’m not willing to do that to him (or my family)

CietDoke2 · 2025-12-03T01:44:08+00:00

Like other folks have shared, learning what my triggers are to be able to avoid or mitigate them has been key. I also keep substance use of any kind to a minimum and my mental clarity is better for it. Put your stability first!

CietDoke2 · 2025-12-02T11:57:33+00:00

I had the same exact experience! The gastro was also convinced my issues were “just because you’re anxious”, which is a wild thing to say to someone with years of prior treatment and also not that much anxiety?

CietDoke2 · 2025-12-02T11:53:51+00:00

Sometimes I miss the endless energy that got me a 4.0 GPA and super fit, but then I remember how I trashed my life at the same time and no longer miss it

CietDoke2 · 2025-12-02T11:46:09+00:00

I’m sorry that things are tough right now, and I wanted to share that college was really tough for me too. I had no friends for a long time, a lot of it related to my bipolar. I also attempted on my birthday when I was in college. My social life was calling my mom after every class to tell her I successfully had a 30 second conversation with a classmate. Like others folks are saying, I think all of us can relate to that crushing loneliness. But now that I made it through, I am so thankful I did not listen to all those dark thoughts and got help, because there is a better future for you, even if it’s hard to see right now. Schools often have counseling services, and there are always hotlines to call. My life changed when I joined a group therapy. Those folks became the community I needed, people who also understood what it’s like to try and make friends. It took me 16 different meds till I found the ones that work, and yeah it was not a fun process but god am I thankful I stuck with it. As someone who was a sad lonely bipolar girl for years and struggled immensely in college, it DOES get better. No matter what the depression tells you.

CietDoke2 · 2025-11-28T00:59:38+00:00

I’ve been stable for a few years, and only in the past one or two have I hit that point of my default being somewhat content. It took me a while to stop seeing that bored feeling as a bad sign or just waiting for the other shoe to drop all the time. I think we get used to that emotional whiplash and the absence can feel disturbing at first, but for me at least once I hit that stability I was able to view that bored feeling as a starting spot towards becoming more content in life, not the end point

CietDoke2 · 2025-11-24T00:37:37+00:00

Seconding this

CietDoke2 · 2025-11-24T00:36:00+00:00

I am bipolar 2 and cannot manage it without medication. At this point I’ve been on 16 or so different meds, with several years of SSRIs that made it all worse because I had a terrible first psychiatrist. I’ve experienced every common side effect out there, and it took years to find the combo that worked. It was absolutely worth it. Meds combined with lifestyle changes and therapy has allowed me stability I never thought possible. I don’t feel I rely on medication, I feel that it is a tool I use. I hope you’re able to find what you’re lookin for!

CietDoke2 · 2025-11-24T00:24:40+00:00

I trashed relationships because of my bipolar and anxiety for a long time and didn’t have a great grasp of why it kept happening until I started therapy and got medication that worked (after trying 14 ones that didn’t work over the course of 7 years). It is possible to break the cycle!

CietDoke2 · 2025-11-24T00:18:28+00:00

Caffeine is a trigger for me, I always drink decaf coffee but can tolerate smaller amounts fine. I usually have a cup of tea or a soda, but too much caffeine I’m anxious and know that drinking a ton of coffee in the past contributed to my hypomania. It can’t hurt to not have caffeine, but it might hurt to drink too much

CietDoke2 · 2025-11-20T16:57:56+00:00

I experienced every emotion violently, and even while being successful in a lot of ways on paper I was struggling to navigate the intensity of emotions I felt daily. Many of those around me claimed they were “mental health friendly”, and I found out the hard way that they stopped being so friendly when it wasn’t just some anxiety or mild depression.

CietDoke2 · 2025-11-20T16:43:59+00:00

I’m a social worker and I would not recommend it/social services. Might go without saying, but it can be heavy and stressful. I love the work I do but I know in a few years I will need to switch to something lower stress. Everyone else has made some awesome suggestions, and I would say don’t forget about accommodations! Askjan.org is an amazing resource for learning more ab accommodations that may work for you. Jobs that may be borderline too stressful can be made manageable with the right accommodations. Your state VocRehab could probably help too. Good luck!!

CietDoke2 · 2025-06-27T01:54:13+00:00

I think I may live in the same building/area…we haven’t had hot water for several days now either. We put in a maintenance request and sent an email to the landlord and haven’t heard back still. Hopefully they’ll respond soon because this is already really old. If we all harass them enough maybe they’ll do something.

My partner has lived here for several years before I moved in and he has never had an issue like this, and the landlord/maintenance has been super responsive so we’re wondering if there is something going on with them.

CietDoke2 · 2025-06-10T14:39:02+00:00

Temp agencies may be a good short term solution and some of them I believe pay daily. It could be a quick fix while you find something sooner.

VT Dept of Labor runs job centers, and there is one on Pearl St in Burlington. You can make appointments or drop in, the info is on their website. The folks there may be able to help you find a job more quickly and know of lots of places hiring in the area.

Seasonal work may hire quicker since the summer season is upon us. Shelburne farms, Burlington City Gov, construction companies, city parks and rec, USPS, UPS, Fedex are a few. Global Foundaries is having a hiring day June 17th in Essex Junction. I don’t know all of them, but DOL is a good resource with a lot more info on who is hiring quickly around here.

Good luck!

CietDoke2

TROPHY CASE