Posted by SLS on October 30, 2005, at 6:38:24
In reply to What nuerotransmitters active in Mania?, posted by rjlockhart98 on October 29, 2005, at 23:30:12
> I know dopamine is,
That was one of the prevailing thoughts for many years. I really don't know what modern neuroscience has to say on the subject.
> Serotoin has got to be in there....
SSRIs can precipitate mania, so why not?
> I classify attacks in catagories
> 1. High Alert state
> 2. Anxiety High state
> 3. Panic feeling
> 4. Mania with Panic.
> 5. Mania.Nice classification system!
> I dont want to be on medication that will dull me out, i would HATE that.
I know. That is one of the reasons it takes so much time to search for the right drugs to act as anti-manics or mood stabilizers.
> I want to know how to self stablize myself by self talk, knowing inbalances.
That's a tough one. With the degree of mania that you describe, I don't know how much success you will have treating it psychologically. I am not going to discourage you from trying it, but I think you ought to set some limits as to how many self-destructive manic events you allow yourself to have before bringing in medication. Actually, I found that hypomania is somewhat flexible psychologically. My manic state would heighten or lessen depending on my particular circumstance or thought process. Get to know your manic "themes". What thoughts and feelings appear consistently when you are at your most manic. Which thoughts tend to runaway with themselves. You need to be able to become aware of and recognize manic thinking and take control overseeing your thoughts and behavior. To some degree, you can change the way you feel by changing the way you think. You might have some luck using CBT to identify unrealistic thoughts and avoid unwelcomed behaviors. Relaxation exercises are important too.
Mania can be like a fire. Once it is kindled, it grows and takes on a dynamic of self-perpetuation. Sometimes, the only way to put the fire out is to use a somatic medical treatment like drug therapy.
Which drugs have you considered to treat the mania?
Which drugs do you feel are mind-numbing?
If Klonopin doesn't help to put out the fire, you might benefit from Zyprexa as an acute treatment. Most people don't describe it as being mind-numbing, and it can actually bring greater thought clarity. Depakote would probably be the anticonvulsant mood stabilizer with the best chance of controlling the mania. There is quite a selection of other drugs to work with. It is difficult to believe that none of them would make an acceptable treatment.
Try not to be too embarrassed. I have done some pretty bizarre things while in manic states. I am much more embarrassed by my manic behavior than by my depressed behavior because it occurs while I have absolutely no self-control. It is also very stark and visible to others and does not leave their memory so quickly.
So, what's the plan?
- Scott
poster:SLS
thread:573234
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20051024/msgs/573297.html