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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by blondemomints on February 12, 2003, at 19:41:40
Without making this an extremely long post, I'll try to get to the point. There is a history of mental illness in my family and my sister was diagnosed manic depressive/bipolar after trying to hang herself 6 years ago. After undergoing ect and months of hospitalization, she "gets through" life only while taking her lithium & paxil combo.
I've always been what most people call a "moody" person, I tend to roller coaster with my moods and actions. I've seen many doctors, including psychiatrists who have all told me I can't be diagnosed as bipolar because I don't fit the criteria for the diagnosis. I've never been one to stay up all night or work on things for days without sleep (like I've seen my sister do); nor have I ever gone out and spent an enormous amount of money @ one time, etc. when I couldn't afford it (another habit of my sister's). Therefore the doctors say I can't be truly diagnosed as bipolar.
The symptoms I have had for over 20 years include (but are not limited to) irritability, anxiety, depression,isolation, loss of interest in sex & activities,happy & upbeat @ times then I can plummet for no apparent reason, insomnia and a general feeling of unhappiness. I've never really felt happy (at least for any length of time I don't think) unless it has been with the aid of alcohol or medication. (And alcohol is out because I quit drinking socially about 3 years ago).
I've tried EVERY anti-depressant on the market with temporary results from some of them and disasterous results from many. The one that helps the most with my anxiety and sleep is Serzone but does nothing for depression and moodiness.
I drag through life each day, wondering why I am the way I am. Can a person be bipolar but not show all the "classic" symptoms??? Do I have some other type of mental illness???
Does anyone have any insight??? I'm all ears, waiting to hear your thoughts and appreciative if you've taken the time to read this post!
Posted by TommyTommy on February 12, 2003, at 21:05:42
In reply to Am I bipolar or just moody???? Please read!, posted by blondemomints on February 12, 2003, at 19:41:40
Upon hearing what you've described about your symptoms, it sounds to me that you definitely have some form of a lingering depression. I wouldn't classify it as Bipolar which is really just another name for manic deppressive. I would consider maybe Bipolar II but that also has really bad low depressions followed by an occassional level of hypomania or "slight elevation of happiness." Your bound to find one med that will work for you. I tried many meds until I finally had success with Effexor and Depakote together. The Effexor being the AntiDeppressant and the Depakote being the mood stabilizer of which I really feel keeps you exacty how is says and that is stabilized.
Good Luck,
Tommy
Posted by Rainee on February 12, 2003, at 22:52:45
In reply to Am I bipolar or just moody???? Please read!, posted by blondemomints on February 12, 2003, at 19:41:40
What you have described is close to the way I am and I have been told I'm bipolarII.
I just try to look at as a mood disorder and for no apprent reason I can go up or down. More downs than ups though. Prozac sent me into a mild hypomania that a doc told me defined my bipolar. other words it convinced her because I appear so different all the time.Rainee
Posted by PuraVida on February 13, 2003, at 0:58:22
In reply to Am I bipolar or just moody???? Please read!, posted by blondemomints on February 12, 2003, at 19:41:40
A lot of theorists are saying mild bipolar has a lot of similarities as GAD. I've been going through the same thing myself, and I'm not sure if I'll ever know! I seem to have a cycle of higher mood that comes with a certain anxiety, and when I get fed up with the anxiety, I get depressed. I do suppose the mood stablilizers have helped - Nuerontin, now Topomax.
Question for you: I have posted this several times here and never gotten a response, so I hope you can help me out. You said you gave up drinking 3 years ago, and I am considering doing the same. It is a big part of my social life, but I am giving it a try for awhile. I would really appreciate it if you could let me know how you think not drinking has affected your life, and especially your moods. Like I said, I would really apprecicate your thoughts -
Thanks -
PV
Posted by michael73 on February 13, 2003, at 1:41:15
In reply to Am I bipolar or just moody???? Please read!, posted by blondemomints on February 12, 2003, at 19:41:40
Please check out this web site - psycheducation.org. It's a bipolar site - it's the best site I've visited on any disorder. Lot's of information on the unipolar-bipolar spectrum. Michael73
Posted by judy1 on February 13, 2003, at 10:04:38
In reply to Am I bipolar or just moody???? Please read!, posted by blondemomints on February 12, 2003, at 19:41:40
It sounds as if you have a cyclothymic disorder, which is on the bipolar spectrum but doesn't have the symptoms to qualify for bipolar 1 (mania), bipolar2 (hypomania) or bipolar 3 (mania with meds). Studies have shown that there is about a 1% bipolar 1 rate, 1% bipolar 2, and 5% bipolar spectrum. Low dose AEDs or lithium may help even out your moods, although I would go for klonopin and see how that works. best of luck-judy
Posted by blondemomints on February 13, 2003, at 18:00:25
In reply to Re: Am I bipolar or just moody???? Please read! » blondemomints, posted by judy1 on February 13, 2003, at 10:04:38
Posted by blondemomints on February 13, 2003, at 18:21:52
In reply to Re: Am I bipolar or just moody???? Please read! » blondemomints, posted by PuraVida on February 13, 2003, at 0:58:22
> A lot of theorists are saying mild bipolar has a lot of similarities as GAD. I've been going through the same thing myself, and I'm not sure if I'll ever know! I seem to have a cycle of higher mood that comes with a certain anxiety, and when I get fed up with the anxiety, I get depressed. I do suppose the mood stablilizers have helped - Nuerontin, now Topomax.
>
> Question for you: I have posted this several times here and never gotten a response, so I hope you can help me out. You said you gave up drinking 3 years ago, and I am considering doing the same. It is a big part of my social life, but I am giving it a try for awhile. I would really appreciate it if you could let me know how you think not drinking has affected your life, and especially your moods. Like I said, I would really apprecicate your thoughts -
>
> Thanks -
> PVHi PV
I know for a fact that my decision to stop drinking all together affected my life, for the better. I was a social drinker but when I would drink, I would drink to get high as a kite. Needless to say I would pass out and not remember things I had done or said. I would feel like crap the whole next day and then my whole weekend would be shot. Problem was all my friends revolved around the drinking scene. Whether we were on the water in the summer or the slopes in the winter, alcohol was always involved at some point. I realized I could not have just a couple of drinks and take a while to drink them but I could out drink alot of my male friends (and I'm not trying to brag about that either). I suppose I have an addictive personality and I could see a potential long term problem looming. (I was a happy drunk though from what I've been told, not a mean one thank goodness!)
Bottom line is I got sick and tired of being sick and tired every weekend. And I think the man upstairs was trying to tell me to quit because it got to the point where everytime I would drink I would get violently sick. I mean whether I had 2 or 10 drinks, no matter what I was very, very sick and would feel horrible for the entire next day.
My decision to stop drinking has given me a clear head, a settled tummy and the peace to know I will wake up without a hangover or headache from over-indulgence. I'm glad I woke up before it was too late, I feel sure I could have died from alcohol poisioning at one time or another. Plus the combination of any meds I was on and alcohol didn't mix and could very well have some effect on my brain today, ya know?
I wish you well on your decision. It's not easy when all of your social situations involve alcohol and you feel like you need to partake in order to fit in....I know my friends "rode" me hard for a long time with comments like "Girl, you're no fun anymore, come on have a drink!!" (blah-blah). But I carried around my water or cola knowing I would have a much better time without the alcohol in the long run.
Hope this post helps in some way....God Bless You
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