Posted by Leighwit on June 4, 2002, at 18:16:16
In reply to Re: Help-I think might be Bipolar » JennyJen, posted by Ritch on June 3, 2002, at 23:10:55
> Jenny,
>
> .... You said you didn't have any hypomania to report about. Well... you have got to have that one to be BPII. ....>Mitch
Mitch,
I'm confused. I looked up BPII again and see that a hypomanic period requires "four days of expanded mood to meet the criterion." It sounds like it's a "positive" vs. a "negative" mental state. I have angry outburts, but I don't meet that DSM-IV criterion ~ I've never had a manic episode ~ as in a state of increased energy and productivity wherein less sleep is required.
I am, however, tomorrow starting Topomax, (I already tried Lamictal you might recall ~ can't take it because of rapid-fire weight gain) to address dysthmia, and/or irritable temperament. The Pdoc mentioned cyclothymia, but I can't recognize any patterns. I used to be hyperthymic I think ~ having at one time been a very happy workaholic/overachieving executive. That was nearly ten years ago. Now I'm lucky if I can comprehend the business section of the morning paper.
Anyway--does it make any sense to you for someone without mania to take mood stabilizers?
Laurie
poster:Leighwit
thread:108496
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020602/msgs/108670.html