Posted by Leighwit on June 5, 2002, at 9:04:22
In reply to Re: Help-I think might be Bipolar » Leighwit, posted by Ritch on June 5, 2002, at 0:30:46
Mitch,
What you've written below about your experience with irritable mood compared to the DSM-IV is illuminating and helpful. Thanks for the directions to and around mentalhealth.com also.
I have the same experience you describe. If low-dose Depakote works for you, perhaps Topamax will work for me. God knows Wellbutrin alone isn't the answer.
Thanks very much,
Laurie> Laurie,
>
> Go to www.mentalhealth.com and click on the "disorders" menu and click on bipolar disorder. Then go to BipolarII and then the American Description. You will see that it
> mentions:
>
> "A distinct period of persistently elevated, expansive, or *irritable* mood, lasting throughout at least 4 days, that is clearly different from the usual nondepressed mood."
>
> So, it can be marked by irritability, but
> it still needs to last at least four days or so.
>
> I never stay pissed off that consistently. I tend to blow my fuse over shorter spans of time as well. However, I do notice that many antidepressants and prednisone have triggered hypomanic episodes and brief hostility episodes that have *recurred* on a daily basis for several days in a row. I just didn't wake up pissed, or necessarily go to sleep that way, but I inevitably got really upset and angry every day about something or other. I might have had ruminative angry thoughts for a good part of any given day as well. I was told once that I might simply have recurrent major depressions, and that I am just antidepressant sensitive with a tendency for short-fusedness. I was told "Intermittent Explosive Disorder". But, I don't think that is techically a DSM-IV condition (anyone feel free to correct). I found that low-dose Depakote works great for the explosive temper spells *and* hypomania.
>
> Mitch
poster:Leighwit
thread:108496
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020602/msgs/108754.html