Why does a doctor think he knows more about how a condition affects you when he has never experienced it?

Question: Let's say for instance "Bi-polar". If he has never experienced it himself then how can he proclaim he is an expert on how it effects different people? I know they have studied people for many years;some with the same symptoms. I only feel that a doctor can come up with the right diagnosis if he has studied the same person over a period of time; not just a quick visit of 15-30 minutes to a councelor or a therapist. Yes, sure doctors go to school for several years to learn what they know but so did a lot of other doctors with the same degree. Some doctors don't agree on the same diagnosis. I guess what I'm trying to say is when a person with a degree thinks they have the answer on Yahoo questions; I think we should take this into consideration, but I feel we need to examine the situation ourselves.

Answers:
I never believe that anyone on y/a is a doctor, psychiatrist, or similar health care professional when they say they are. It's unethical, and not something a competent one would do. More likely, it's someone who just thinks they know a lot and are lying about their qualifications.

In many respects I agree with you that no one can give a very good diagnosis based on a 15-30 minute chat. There are a lot of illnesses that have similarities, and some that are frequently overlooked when they are not blatantly obvious in presentation. That said, there are a lot of indications that can be identified in a short, open conversation, especially if the person being treated has a history with the illness. How they responded to prior meds is one of those things, as well as their experiences with major life events. The suckiest thing about mental illness is that you cannot always be the best judge of your own mental functioning. In no way is that to suggest that you should just trust a "doctor" on the face of it! But, it is a good reason to have a therapist as well. They take more time with you and can be an advocate when needed.

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do you think you know more than a doctor?If so get yourself toa doctor now!

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