Posted by Trev on May 2, 2003, at 13:55:50
Hey, I've had this illness for the last 8-10 years of my life. Just a year ago I came into contact with pdocs, being diagnosed as either bipolar 2 or atypical depression. I'd like to hear if anyone else has had my symptoms, cause I haven't read about one although my present pdoc says there are more of us.
The trouble is, my long "depressions" can only be described as an extreme lack of mental energy. Most days I haven't dressed myself, not finding myself something to eat before hours after I started to feel hungry. Some hypersomnia as well.
But I don't feel tired physically. There's been no sadness, nothing of what most people think about when they hear about depression. Except for what you could expect when faced with reactions from those close to me when I stopped taking exams etc. Not that I'm emotionally blunted either, I just have a rather stable mood, "depressed" or otherwise.
At any point during this time I've felt like I could be up and about the next day, reading and studying for 12 hours. When sitting still, I really can't tell the difference, feel the difference between a state of depression or non-depression. But when depressed, when I want to stand up, start reading, make myself coffee, it just stops. It stops. After doing very little I have to take a break.
Between these depressions I've had a couple of good periods when I've had a lot of energy, working very long hours 7 days a week. But without feeling very different. More focused and interested, but who wouldn't be when shifting input from daytime television to academic reading material.
Anyone else who can relate to this?
I've already tried SSRI, which I'm still taking, and Mianserin, which I've quit taking. I'm now trying lamictal which had a good initial effect that has mostly gone away by now. Still upping the dose though so who knows.
I'm interested in knowing what kind of medication people with similar symptoms have had success with. That would help a lot!
Regards Trev
poster:Trev
thread:223857
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030429/msgs/223857.html