That is a lot to take in Jlin - I'm glad that you get to keep your gender. I've noted that you obviously also get to keep your sense of humour! 

I can imagine all this could seem pretty overwhelming. The question is, does it change anything? As far as I can tell you are still the same person, just with some explanations about why you are the person you are. How do you see these diagnoses affecting your life so far?

Wow, you've got me beat :3

It's amazing how words can affect one, especially from 'authority figures' :3

If they try you out on Ritalin, it can be wonderful stuff.

For one ADHD and bipolor are labels for being different.  PTSD is iikely the result of others not accepting  who you are, and others forcing you to be something you are not. 

In my experience healthy living when you are different requires you to make  accomadations for being different, and to live in a way that exploits your natural abilities that result from being different.  BTW it's not only ADHD and biplor that makes one different, but being a women, being outside the poitical mainstream, or any other mainstream.  

It might be too late to change your past, but it is not to late start feeling happier.  In my opinion the thing you have to do is eliminate in your life those who drag you down, and make friends with others who are different and who value difference, and can also understand you better.

Are congrats in order? ;) ....I prefer the old labels - "artistic", "complex" etc. Labels are socio-ecomic too. You can be more "quirky", "eccentric", or even "difficult" if you are rich. A label is useful to know which drugs and approaches are needed.
I need daily meds for bipolar 2, or I don't function well enough to work. Sucks, but there isn't any choice in my case.
My label has been useful in that I'm not jerked around by my brain chemistry anymore.
Hope your labels help you to feel better.

(FYI -- "Bipolar II Disorder is defined by a pattern of depressive episodes shifting back and forth with hypomanic episodes, but no full-blown manic or mixed episodes.")

Now I had to look up 'hypomania"...sheesh, the shrinks and insurance companies really need a name for everything, don't they?

I wonder if they have a name for "Positive outlook" or "Alive" or "Enjoys tea"?

"Sense of Humour Disorder Spectrum"

:3

"Adores Kittens Syndrome"

Perimenopause, had to look that up! Yes, that does seem to have an affect on your moods, not to mention (in my case) horrid hot flashes.
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Are any meds being recommended for the bipolar?

jlin, it's not too late.  You weren't born with all those conditions (I certanly hope you didn't have perimenopause as an infant!).

Actually hearing the diagnoses can be difficult, but you knew something was wrong.  Go ahead and take a bit of time to feel your emotions about the labels.  Don't forget though, that the labels will allow you to deal with the issues that you have been having.

Alex, Thank you for this:

"In my opinion the thing you have to do is eliminate in your life those who drag you down, and make friends with others who are different and who value difference, and can also understand you better."

it does seem a bit harsh to "eliminate' anyone, but I have had to see less of misogynists et al, over my lifetime and more of people who give me room to breath.

And I thank everyone for their input. 

Socially, I am at an inpass.  I am middle aged  and women at middle age are as employable as women after WW2.  - even women at the top of their game are having to put it out there to be considered equal to men at the top of their game at this age.

For those of us who have floundered, been abused by being lost or whatever, the issue of middle age is multifaceted.  I explain it as "everyone else gets a sports car and I get a rock."

Still, the diagnosis and labels do give me a form of being. I have not discovered where to be.  I can't possibly be the person that my doctor and the people who refuse to employ me imagine I can be.  They imagine that 50 year old women can just fade into masturbation and self satisfaction through basket weaving, I think - being a good mother, wife, grandmother. Or  Form your own business and shut up.

I will think more of this/ Inanna, yes, I am sort of interested in stimulants; but as a person who used to self-medicate and loved psilocyban the best, and used coke to be calm with, I think that maybe I have some issues with stimulants.  Also, the drugs were what touched off the bipolar PTSD drama which made me a leper for a decade; and which I don't get to leave behind me, it seems.

So much to think about, thank you.

Sending soft thoughts to you, jiln...you have a lot on your plate.  I think we all know, honestly, what is best for us and right for us when we stop the noise and have a quiet visit with ourselves.  Best wishes to you on your journey...

Sending you good wishes, jlin.  And good luck on your job search (if you are currently searching)  I have a job now, but I simply despised the process of trying to find a job.  It is so demoralizing to get rejected over and over again.   But remember you only need ONE job.  And sooner or later you will get one.  

I found the Emotions Anonymous group helped me a lot with (regular) depression. I only attended for a year or two, but it made a huge difference. It helped me see life differently.
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It was better than psychiatrists (at least for me, I would not generalize that, you might have a good therapist).
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I've been on full strength anti-depressants since about 1983.
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I'll keep you in my prayers.

Jiln -- where did you get that number of diagnosis in one week? 

Great ideas

Dear Pinga -  Essential Guide to Cynacism in relation to anything jlin says.  Actually made me laugh this time.  Thanks for your interest.

Here's a short story version:

One week isn't really a fair assessment.  My doctor has been privately assessing me over the past year, while I have had my daughter's plantars warts treated weekly.  I have been,  in his words, "struggling to remain centered."  Two weeks ago, he administered a series of tests, but this was when I had asked him to and after I had been discribing symptoms, past mental health diagnosis, et al.   We achieved some dual diagnosis, but I have also been discussing this for the past several months with a variety of people who, some even qualfied to make judgmenets.

The only surprise to me was the bipolar spectrum diagnosis, as I have successfully skirted that one for a couple of decades.  And after reading more about it, I think that it is correct with regard to the function of bipolar spectrum to shizoidaffective disorder/ptsd and self medicating my ADHD/bipolar spectrum disorder . . . it all works out. 

And it is a pity that I have had to be so fearful of the psychiatric profession due to their ignorance and willing to overdrug into absolute idiocy anything that moves, and I honestly felt, at one time that my fears were unjustified and I let myself be vulnerable to a couple ( who were not Dr. Abrahm Hoffer) who overdrugged me and then told me I was manipulative.  I didn't even know that manipulative came into the sypmptomology, but I guess everyassholemisogynist has his secret special mission when it comes to women and mental health. 

My doctor has listened to my long tale about psychiatrists and has agreed not to send me to one.  I have had several years of therapy and a win over ptsd psychosis using orthomolecular medicine (with Dr. Hoffer). talk therapy, exercise, meditation and he is willing to work with me acknowledging this. 

And I am more trusting of his motivations, as he has expressed that I can struggle through without medication if I am willing to alter my lifestyle to just being an artistic being.  His wife is like this, but you know, I don't have a doctor for a husband and I need to work, so I am willing,  if necessary, to find a medication that works.  We are still working on that as I have not  completely read up on everything yet.    

The one thing that I can see is that it will inform me in how I raise my daughters.  It is no longer a question of psychosis being a thing which will affect them if they abuse their mind/bodies with drugs/alcohol.  It is now more of a matter of accuratly assessing the degree to which an LD can lead to  ADHD will lead to bipolar spectrum disorder.

i was yakking with S, my friend from the former soviet union and who used to room with my dad (my parents took in people from time to time -- one of their success stories is this young man who was quit angry and rebellious all the time -- now he works for a local software company, is married and has adopted his dead sister's daughter...) aboot me being put on referral to look at me having some form of Bipolar disorder and he chuckled and said that society is built around the Bell Curve -- the state wants an ordered and understandable society so those who don't fit into the middle are given labels so as to keep order...

He then gave examples of some people with Downs Syndrome, one of whom is a professor...

I have to say that the intro questionairre that I took for the Bipolar Disorder, I had trouble answering some of the questions...the Depression Questionairre was easier :3

Hi, Jiln.:

When I was 47 I was diagnosed with major depressive disorder and ADHD. Meds helped, but I still couldn't get things together - my pastoral visits sucked, people were upset because I couldn't maintain eye contact, and I couldn't relate to people's emotional needs. I never could read other people's facial expressions and I show little expression on my face. Guess what? You guessed it, diagnosed at 60 years old as a high-functioning Autistic, with Asperger's Syndrome, one of the Autism Spectrum Disorders. 

The worst thing is the isolation - I can't be with people without agitation . even family, although I crave companionship. As well, my schedule is strange ( I walk 3 km every morning between midnight and 3 a.m.. There is a very welcoming United Church down the street, but I'd never be able to handle an hour service without self medication (420)

I'm not thrilled with psychiatrists, but psychologists can be helpful. Also, there are good meds out there. Hang in there. Get a schedule going, so you aren't sleeping when you should be awake. Try some temp services - minimum wage working in factories, but sometimes the jobs aren't too bad.

Don't count on the church for support - we still haven't learned how to accept and help those with mental illness and developmental disorders.

Hi Northen 

Welcoem to WC.  

I also have an ASD, (PDD NOS). I think it might be interesting to start open ended discussions with others in the Autism Spectrum, about things from coping as an indiviudal to deal with strtegies around church.