Challenge Prior Diagnosis

Hi all,

Thanks in advance if you have any suggestions/have challenged a prior diagnosis.

While I was a minor, I was diagnosed with Bipolar I Disorder. Several years later, I have reason to believe this diagnosis was a mistake. The diagnosis was made several months after I underwent several major and stressful life changes (cross-country move, combining household with new stepparent and siblings, first relationship-was abusive, sick with mono, experimented with drugs/alcohol, and the list goes on). Following the diagnosis I was placed on many different psychiatric medicines and coincidentally became more and more sick. I lost nearly 40 pounds, caught a cold every 2-3 weeks. I spent the entire year physically sick, which is a serious stressor to one's brain. I refer to that time period as the year that I fell asleep since I was too drugged up to complete school assignments and the meds put me to sleep all the time.

Anyway, I stopped taking psychiatric medications, took better care of my body and all of my 'bipolar' symptoms cleared up. Nada. Nothing for 4 years. I feel great. I'm in good health. I rarely feel stressed out and am generally pretty optimistic and happy.

But now I have a diagnosis for Bipolar I made while I was a minor, and I do not believe I'm Bipolar. I'm trying to apply for the Peace Corps, but Bipolar I automatically would disqualify me. And they will look into all my medical background, so I cannot decline to answer.

Can I challenge this diagnosis/remove it if I have an evaluation done by a different psychiatrist? Does anyone know?

I don't see any reason why you cannot challenge the DX see a new psychiatrist and fully explain your situation/past.
I don't know much about bi polar I must admit, but if you have been fine for four years it would be a shame not to be able to join the peace corps.
All you can do is see the psyc and ask.

kansasgal wrote:Hi all,


But now I have a diagnosis for Bipolar I made while I was a minor, and I do not believe I'm Bipolar. I'm trying to apply for the Peace Corps, but Bipolar I automatically would disqualify me. And they will look into all my medical background, so I cannot decline to answer.

"Medical background" keyword medical.

Real Disease vs. Mental “Disorder”

Psychiatric disorders are not medical diseases. There are no lab tests, brain scans, X-rays or chemical imbalance tests that can verify any mental disorder is a physical condition. This is not to say that people do not get depressed, or that people can’t experience emotional or mental duress, but psychiatry has repackaged these emotions and behaviors as “disease” in order to sell drugs. This is a brilliant marketing campaign, but it is not science.