Posted by Ron Hill on June 2, 2003, at 9:57:04
In reply to Re: Would this be considered hypomania? » Ron Hill, posted by katia on June 2, 2003, at 1:11:11
Hi Katia,
> when you say bipolar cycling, do you mean basically "moodiness"? I feel hypomanic, but have never been given the dx. I am alternating b/t feeling inspired and wanting to write a book to feeling so agitated that I want to crawl out of my skin; especially if triggered like at a bright supermarket or stores/banks, where I have to wait in line; and then finally to feeling depressed and have crying bouts. It's been going on for the past month since starting on Serzone.
It sounds like you might be cycling between a slightly euphoric hypomanic, a dysphoric hypomanic, and a depressive mood state. But I’m NOT a pdoc. Is it possible that the Serzone is causing (or contributing to) your mood instability? This condition (AD induced hypomania and/or cycling) is often referred to as bipolar III (provided no symptoms are present without the AD).
Please read the following information. It is on Dr. Phelps' web site and it discusses the controversy surrounding BP patients taking antidepressants:
http://www.psycheducation.org/bipolar/controversy.htm
It seems to me that job-one should be to get your dx nailed down. Then invest the time required on the net to research treatment options for your particular disorder. Start this process by spending the ten bucks required to take this on-line diagnosis screening test. The results will likely be insightful and well worth your time and money. Bear in mind, however, that it is just a screening test.
http://www.mentalhealth.com/p71.html
If the ten bucks is too hard to come up with right now, then fill out this free bipolar questionnaire:
http://www.psycheducation.org/depression/MDQ.htm
Katia, I’m not speculating that you are, but if it turns out that you are bipolar, then a good place to start your research is by looking at the following document. Don’t be intimidated by the size of the document; just read bits and pieces of it. In particular, begin by scanning the sections that addresses treatment/medication recommendations. Lithium and Depakote are the first-line moodstabilizers recommended in the document.
http://www.psych.org/clin_res/bipolar_revisebook_index.cfm
If you need help, we’re here for you. Problems are just solutions waiting to be found.
-- Ron
poster:Ron Hill
thread:102831
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030530/msgs/230760.html