Posted by cloudydaze on July 16, 2006, at 21:38:24
In reply to Snap-Out of Psychotic Depression??, posted by Anne-Charlotte on January 10, 2006, at 9:38:32
I agree, it sounds very much like bipolar. From what I've read and been told by my psychiatrist, sometimes people with bipolar disorder can suffer very severe depressive episodes that can cause "temporary psycotic episodes". I have experienced this myself. I was delusional, and had both auditory and visual hallucinations. I felt like a puppet who was made to do things. I felt detached from my body at times. Once when i was at school, i forgot where i was and even who i was for a few hours. I lost myself. I wandered around campus until i remembered that it was nighttime and i was supposed to go home. I cut myself because i heard someone or something tell me to do it, and later i didn't remember doing it, but saw the scars...
It's a very confusing and frightening experience, and I don't blame anyone for not wanting to medicate. For me, the medication was worse than the symptoms. Many anti-psychotic drugs have nasty side effects. I went through about 6 of them...until i started having really scary symptoms like high Blood pressure and facial spasms...eventually (in about six months i think) the psychotic episode passed. thankfully, i have never had another episode, at least not a severe one.My diagnosis was "temporary psychotic episode" which actually made me quite relieved because i thought i was schizophrenic. Apparently it's not uncommon.
> Has anyone heard of someone just snapping out of a severe depression with psychotic elements?? Presuming that it is a bio-chemical thang, how would this work?? My brother was diagnosed with severe depression about 7 months ago, refused medicinal treatment continually throughout the ordeal (and an ordeal it was, for all of us, with cutting episodes and an obsession with suicide...) with the exception of a few doses of Theralin and Stesolid, from which we felt he actually became worse, ie aggressive and hostile.... Subsequently, around two months ago, the depression developed psychotic elements, that is to say delusions, yet he continued to refuse treatment due to severe fears of prescription medication. ! As of three days ago, he is flying high. He feels subjectively great, has much energy and has been having a 'flash of brilliant work'- stating that he has not written with such insight and ease in nearly a year (he is a writer). From what I have read, this sounds like it could be a bipolar type disorder for which I believe he would need treatment. However, after nearly 8 months of attempting to convince him to be treated for his depression, I certainly can't envision his attitude to such being any more receptive, especially since he feels better than great. I am hesitant to confront him.
> Is it possible that he is in fact in remission from the depressive episode; that his mind and body have simply healed, so to speak? Maybe the illness has run it's 'due course'? I certainly hope so, and would appreciate hearing from anyone with any insights on the matter.
> Thanks,
> Anne-Charlotte
>
poster:cloudydaze
thread:597527
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20060704/msgs/667610.html