Backstory: I have a lot of personal experience with Bipolar Disorder because I was diagnosed with BP as a child and took mood stabilizers for years (they didn’t help). Children cannot be diagnosed with BPD (now there is MMDD). I also exhibit some symptoms and my father does. I also volunteer in laboratory studying Bipolar. 

I met this girl in one of my psych classes and we became friends partially due to my disclosure of having a mental illness. She tried to self diagnose herself for like 6 months (ADHD, then Bipolar) before she saw a clinician who started prescribing mood stabilizers.

I just honestly think she’s just being a hypochondriac. It’s frustrating to me because as someone who spent the first half of there life as a sick person with a major mental illness, I don’t see that she is impaired. I was unable to work, still really struggle to have friendships with others and wouldn’t be able to attend school without enormous support and accommodation. My behavior is much better, but I still really struggle with my mood and emotions. 

I don’t know if I’m being irrational, or need to be more empathetic. I don’t know why anyone would want to have a major mental illness like BP. I feel like she doesn’t really understand what it means to have a major mental illness. I worry that over diagnosis leads people to discredit those who really struggle.

Mostly just venting to the only place I knew I could truly voice my thoughts on this issue. What should I do? Can anyone relate? 