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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by janejj on April 28, 2002, at 20:23:17
Hey,
I'm wondering how you know if your antidepressant is making you manic ? Sometimes i worry that my behaviour is a bit crazy and i seem overly happy. Mind you I don't really mind after having lived for 22 years with Dysthmia. I'm on 40mg Prozac.
Thanks Jane
Posted by CtrlAlt n Del on April 28, 2002, at 22:42:59
In reply to How do you know if you're getting manic ?, posted by janejj on April 28, 2002, at 20:23:17
> Hey,
>
> I'm wondering how you know if your antidepressant is making you manic ? Sometimes i worry that my behaviour is a bit crazy and i seem overly happy. Mind you I don't really mind after having lived for 22 years with Dysthmia. I'm on 40mg Prozac.
>
> Hi Jane,Hmmm
Usually someone else notices , there are online tests -Dr.Ivan Goldberg's site.%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Posted by IsoM on April 28, 2002, at 23:52:56
In reply to How do you know if you're getting manic ?, posted by janejj on April 28, 2002, at 20:23:17
Jane, I don't know you so can't offer an unbiased opinion of what would be hypomanic for you or just delirously happy after 22 years of depression.
Personally, there's been times that others, who didn't know me well, wondered if I wasn't slightly manic but I can tell inside myself. Some days, life seems so sweet & bright & sometimes those days will stretch to weeks. I know that it's more my perception of life than anything external, but on such days, I can feel quickly grounded when I hear something bad on the news, so I know it's not hypomania. I can be serious when I needed & I don't feel a rise in irritation that a manic person feels when an obstacle arises.
I think after many years of fighting depression, many of us develop quite a unique view of life - we can sometimes have a bizarre sense of humour. So when things do improve, our reactions can seem a little much, even to ourselves.
If your happy craziness can swing to irritation & frustration when something gets in your way, it's possible that it may be a sign of hypomania. If you're just silly happy, & it's not bothering you or anyone else, enjoy it.
Posted by jay on April 29, 2002, at 3:18:52
In reply to How do you know if you're getting manic ?, posted by janejj on April 28, 2002, at 20:23:17
> Hey,
>
> I'm wondering how you know if your antidepressant is making you manic ? Sometimes i worry that my behaviour is a bit crazy and i seem overly happy. Mind you I don't really mind after having lived for 22 years with Dysthmia. I'm on 40mg Prozac.
>
> Thanks JaneHi Jane:
Well, after coming off a very nasty dysphoric manic spell this past week, I would say look for the 'roller-coaster' symptoms. Maybe keep a chart or diary, and I found I had some absolutely "perfect" good times, then straight crashed into negative, vegetative depression within a day. Super high...then super low.
I found that when I was 'manic', on the 'high' end, I was just bursting with life, thinking I had everything solved within a day. But, I also became very irritable, short-tempered.
I'd say overall, look for sudden changes in your character, and I found sleeping patterns quite indicative of mania and deep depression.
Anyhow...that's just me, but keep a close eye on yourself, and ask others around you if they see any changes.
Best wishes...
Jay
Posted by Ritch on April 29, 2002, at 10:16:20
In reply to How do you know if you're getting manic ?, posted by janejj on April 28, 2002, at 20:23:17
> Hey,
>
> I'm wondering how you know if your antidepressant is making you manic ? Sometimes i worry that my behaviour is a bit crazy and i seem overly happy. Mind you I don't really mind after having lived for 22 years with Dysthmia. I'm on 40mg Prozac.
>
> Thanks Jane
Jane,Dreamer's suggestion about other people noticing (an objective reality check), is probably the best indicator. If you get responses from others like: "I wish I had some of what you are on!", stuff like that-it could be just a mild *hypo*manic reaction to the Prozac. If you are still sleeping fairly OK and you can sit still for more than a few minutes that's a good sign. If you become *manic* I doubt if you would have posed a relatively simple question-You probably would have written up a two page post and touched on a dozen or two subjects without any closure to it. If the Prozac is making you just a little happier than you would like (that sounds so odd!), you could always reduce the dosage. Maybe 20mg/day would keep dysthymia away without feeling concerned about hypomania. I get very striking hypomanic reactions to SSRI's. All I do is turn the dose down and it subsides.
Mitch
Posted by judy1 on April 29, 2002, at 11:30:43
In reply to How do you know if you're getting manic ?, posted by janejj on April 28, 2002, at 20:23:17
Well manic usually lands you in the hospital and not posting on Dr. Bob's site. I agree with everyone here that other people will make remarks and you sleep 3-4 hours/night and not feel tired and talk too much and spend too much and so on (unless it's dysphoric). Just enjoy it, and I'm really happy for you- Judy
Posted by JohnX2 on April 29, 2002, at 22:56:24
In reply to How do you know if you're getting manic ?, posted by janejj on April 28, 2002, at 20:23:17
> Hey,
>
> I'm wondering how you know if your antidepressant is making you manic ? Sometimes i worry that my behaviour is a bit crazy and i seem overly happy. Mind you I don't really mind after having lived for 22 years with Dysthmia. I'm on 40mg Prozac.
>
> Thanks JaneIts probably easy to think you are manic (probably more
like hypomanic--mild manic) after a prolonged depression
lifts.Manic is generally severe. Another state called hypomania
is a more mild form of manic.Like ctr-alt-delete says, others would notice.
If they say you are happy that's OK. :-)
Major warning signs of impending doom (things that
might goof up your life):- You find yourself talking too much. Your "screen" for
what is right and wrong to say melts away..
- Spending sprees
- Risky/silly business ventures, poor investment judgement
- sexual indiscretions..
- making way too snappy decisions.
- racing thoughts.
- goofy sleep patterns
- feeling/acting belligerentEnjoy your happiness. Make it contagious.
-John
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