Posted by BygoneBeSpade on September 16, 2013, at 13:38:47
In reply to Drugs for Rages, in context of mood disorder, posted by BygoneBeSpade on September 13, 2013, at 11:49:36
I wanted to ask a question: I was reading the "soft signs" of bipolar and it was written in places that multiplicity of moods- like episodes of irritability followed by episodes of rage followed by depression is an indicator of bipolarity. However, I'm a bit confused about how unipolar and bipolar are distinguished (I've never thought about my episodes as "moods" but always as a combination of rage and depression) as I've heard it said that severe aggression can be associated with depression. So I wanted to know if the rages I described can be part of unipolar depression, as the unipolar vs bipolar issue is confusing me a lot? Dr Maurizio Fava of Harvard Medical School describes "anger attacks" in unipolar depression which can include irritability and physical aggression like throwing/destroying objects. However I wanted opinion whether the rages I describe could be such 'anger attacks' because in his studies, it is said that antidepressants like Sertraline can amolierate this 'anger attacks'. If however it is bipolar, I guess antidepressants are not ideal.
I also wanted to add that I also experience sleep issues when not on meds, desire to stay awake at night and sleeping in morning when exhausted (so sleep reversal). I'm not sure if I have experienced racing thoughts, in fact during rages I feel the opposite as if my thoughts are numbed and I can't think at all, and have to even force myself when speaking in the agitated anger. Sometimes during depression though I have my mind filled with a million thoughts with songs playing in my mind while I'm thinking thoughts/daydreaming about things I want to do in life and those thoughts excite my mind.
Sorry if this sounds like I'm asking too many questions, but I'm really confused about the issue of unipolar anger attacks vs bipolar dysphoria and whether I should trial antidepressants and would PLEASE like some clarification, if anyone would be so kind.
poster:BygoneBeSpade
thread:1050600
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20130828/msgs/1050776.html