Posted by Larry Hoover on March 26, 2005, at 22:08:27
In reply to Re: explain the difference, posted by Phillipa on March 26, 2005, at 17:55:48
> Not to upset anybody, but I wish I could experience a hypomanic state. It happened to me once I think when i was restarted on Luvox. Of course it could have been that I was involved in a new venture. I would actually look forward to getting up early too, and was happy! My pdoc said I didn't know what it was like to feel "normal". If that was normal, then I must always be depressed. This is a very informative discussion and I'm learning a lot! Thanks to everyone, Fondly, Phillipa
Then you're a lot like me.
If your "normal" is not zero on that scale of -10 to +10, that does not mean that you can't have another pattern of mood swings superimposed upon that.
I have a dysthymic temperament, a stable, slightly depressed "normal" (for me) state. Perhaps a -2 or -2.5. Superimposed upon that are some major swings into the big minus numbers, with the occasional foray up to around zero. I used to think I was BP2, thinking I achieved hypomania, but I have been convinced by my medical caregivers that they have never seen evidence of hypomania (excluding an episode triggered by medication). It feels like hypomania to me, because it's better than my normal -2.
Some doctors call this dysthymia with superimposed major depression "double depression".
Lar
poster:Larry Hoover
thread:475528
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050326/msgs/476060.html