Posted by banga on January 3, 2005, at 14:05:25
In reply to Re: Those are hypomanias » banga, posted by Ritch on January 3, 2005, at 9:51:59
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> No problem, thanks for printing the info. I've read that before. I suppose I'm curious about the "qualitative" aspects of the symptoms more than the "quantitative". Without meds I've definitely exceeded the "4 day limit", even the "1 week limit", but the intensity was low enough that I could still drive (maybe 10-15mph over the speed limit), get work done, talk to people on the phone (get hung up on a couple of times though). Another thing I might mention is the "atypical" nature of it. I did get a dx a few years back from a neurologist that simply put me down as "atypical bipolar". The continuousness requirement of the "episodes" I think can be misleading. It is kind of like the breaker box is generally running hot for a week or so, but you only have to go and reset a breaker here and there for a few days in a row, but you don't get pitched into jail or get fired, etc......
Also, in terms of "episodes" and impairing functioning, you have to ask what about cumulative effects on life? If I look across my life and how much the cumulative effect of my depressive episodes and anxiety has had on my life....even if most of the time I was "functioning" (getting to classes, etc.) the quality of my achievements suffered, as did my confidence to push forward certain life and career goals.... if I look back at what I could have done if dysthymia and anxiety didnt seep away my abilities and confidence, where my life owuld be today...
( and that's ignoring the fact that I have in fact been at times extremely impaired and even hospitalized--just I believe even if I didnt have these episodes, the lifelong drag on my life would still have been present)
so does one call that "impairing" life significantly or not?
But on a side note, if people are hanging up on you at certain times, I would consider that affecting your social life quite a bit, even if it is temporary....
poster:banga
thread:435630
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050103/msgs/437237.html