Just browsing and asking a question

I have been being treated for panic disorder for nearly 12 years.  Recently, out of nowhere, my pdoc prescribed me with Abilify, and is labeling my condition as bipolar.  She has taken away my meds that help with the panic disorder, aside from Klonopin, and Ambien to sleep due to my insomnia.

I guess my question is, I don't see anything in me that is bipolar.  I do get mood swings.  I get angry at the panic disorder.  I get happy when I am not having a panic episode. I get sad when I have reason to...I AM HUMAN, and I thought these were emotions.

I don't know if I am in bipolar denial or what, but I feel that my pdoc was quick to make this diagnosis and for no real reason.

I guess my real question is what are the symptoms, I guess, of bipolar?

Thanks in advance...and I apologize for my frustrations!

I was officially diagnoses several years ago and my Doc said on average it takes about 5 yars to get an accurate diagnosis of BiPolar because BP can resemble ADHD and even Borderline Pers. Disorder.  I've had all 3 of those at one time or another until my Dr. put me on first Tegretol then Lamictal (both for epilepsy) and since then all the symptoms impoved immensely. My symptoms??  A long history of being very impulsive, making sudden, rash actions decisions with no thought, spending money like crazy, binges with promiscuity, alcohol, risk taking...those are examples of a manic or hypo-manic phase.  The othere end of the scale would be depression lasting for days or even months----depending on how the BiPolare "cycles"  Some folks go through only a few manic episodes in a year and then some go through RAPID CYCLING where they go from from depression to manic seemingly every few days or weeks.  Really, a person can only get the proper diagnosis after a long history is taken alot of qustions asked and even trying specific meds for bipolar ( the anti=epilectic because they slow down the wild electrical activity in the brain, balance it out) It takes alot of self-observation, reading books on bipolar versus other disorders and a good good communication with your Dr/ therapist.  Seems to me that Abilify is now the "drug of choice" or "medicine du jour" in that it is popular (supposedly!!) and maybe too many docs are using it just because.......Abilify is a Neuroleptic, kind of like Seroquel or Risperdal just not as strong and fewer side effects.  It is usually given to increase the effectiveness of an antidepressant such as Paxil or Zoloft.  I take 2mg of Abilify but I'm not sure about it yet.  I know so much because I always ask questions, do research, read up and keep a journal of my moods etc and ask people how they see I'm doing and then observe myself and yes, it IS alot of work but that's how much I want to be better mentally.  I wonder how old you are.  Take care, let us know how you're doing