Wa ‘Alaikum Salaam,

 

Being diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder or any serious physical illness can be very difficult to accept. Part of this process of acceptance is dealing with the changes and the denial of the diagnosis. This is especially true for psychiatric diagnoses due to the stigma that exists around having mental health problems. What makes it worse is that there is no clear way to diagnose the illness such as a blood test as in the case of diagnosing physical ailments.

 

Periods of extreme happiness followed by extreme sadness are characteristics of Bipolar Disorder. Although what you have written seems to be consistent with this, obviously, a more thorough assessment should be carried out by the psychiatrist to formally determine a diagnosis of Bipolar. There is also the option to get a second opinion from another psychiatrist if you really don’t feel like the diagnosis of Bipolar is correct.

 

Psychiatric medication can, indeed, have some very severe and undesirable side effects. There are alternative means to manage psychiatric illness although it is certainly recommended to use medication at least just to stabilise the condition before trying anything else out.

 

It might not feel like it, but there are also some positives in this situation. Try and see things from your family’s perspective. It must have been quite distressing for them to see you behaving in this unusual way, shouting in the middle of the night for no apparent reason. Wouldn’t you be concerned if you saw someone behaving that way? They obviously care about you very much to take you to get help from a psychiatrist rather than just abandoning you.

 

Due to the stigma around mental health, many families desert the one with a problem, but your family have stepped forward to help you, alhamdulillah. This means that they will probably be around to support you through any difficulties. It is this kind of support that can help anyone facing a trail through it with more ease than facing it alone without support. Whether you have Bipolar or not, you do say you are very unhappy. Good relationships with your family will see you through this period of unhappiness, in sha’ Allah.

 

May Allah (swt) bring you and your family comfort in each other and guide you to happiness once again.