![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 22 of 22. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Girlnterrupted on November 2, 2005, at 6:45:53
When one AD worked wonders for me, one of my doctors concluded that I was 'hypomanic,' but I disgreed with her.
The story is: I had chronic depression ever since I can remember. I went on Celexa and it cured the depression and basically transformed me into a different person.
When Celexa pooped-out, I saw like 4 different psychiatrists. One of them, after hearing my account of how Celexa turned my life around, concluded that I had been hypomanic during that year, and that it was not a good thing. I was shocked to hear that. How could it not be good to be happy, social and active? I didn't spend my money, take risks, or get into dangerous situations, like manic people do. How could she know whether it was hypomania, or just my real personality, minus the depression?
When she asked me to describe my experience, this is what I said:
Overnight (2 weeks into Celexa) I became extremely happy. I woke up with a feeling of well-being, balance and happiness to be alive. I did NOT want to die at all, something that I had been thinking about and wishing everyday for the last whole year.
People outside reacted very positively to me. Some people said I was very charismatic--I had never been told that in my whole life. Usually I was told I was quiet and introverted. Now I was extroverted and outgoing. I was very very talkative and I laughed very easily and made people laugh. I came up with really funny things, I ALWAYS had something to say, comments would just spring up my mind and I felt so creative and full of life.
Other people told me "Hey, you will end up running this place by yourself" when I was at work. That's just how full of energy and happiness I felt and how I transmitted it to others.
The emotional energy I had was actually contagious. I recall how people around me would get so happy just by being around me for a few minutes. They would start laughing and picking up my enthusiasm, and it was amazing how contagious it was.Even in my dreams I was overwhelmed with happiness. I began dreaming really often about flying. I would just take off, and I would propell myself very high in the sky. People would watch me in amazement, but nobody but ME could fly. It was great, even while asleep I was happy.
My doctor concluded it was hypomania. That was a WHOLE year. Can hypomania last that long without a single interruption? I told her it wasn't, and that it was probably my real 'me,' and that the old 'me' was just a depressed version of me. How could my real 'me' be unhappy, depressed and apathetic 100% of the time?
I was simply acting like one of those really outgoing, energetic girls, and there are quite a bunch of those out there. Or what, are all those girls hypomanic too? I doubt it. So why would this be hypomania in me, but normalcy in another person?So I was wondering how can anyone tell between hypomania and simply an outgoing/extroverted/charismatic personality?
And if this was in fact hypomania, I wouldn't hesitate in going hypomanic again. Does anyone know how to induce it? I mean, if hypomania saved my life from an imminent suicide, I swear to god I'll go hypomanic any minute.
Any info on this would be greatly appreciated.
Posted by Chairman_MAO on November 2, 2005, at 8:22:52
In reply to Hypomania-- a solution to TR Depression?, posted by Girlnterrupted on November 2, 2005, at 6:45:53
Hypomania? If you weren't involved in any directly or indirectly self-injurous behavior, making bad decisions, overly agitated, etc., I'd say that what you were experiencing was MENTAL HEALTH.
This puritannical, hyengic brand of medico-philosophical outlook is all too common in our culture (read: the base of dime-a-dozen psychiatry).
Keep in mind that a lot of people in the healing professionals have streaks of codependency in them and are often ailing themselves, so to hear such a tale may inspire outright jealousy in them. Get back to that place however you can--that's where peace is.
Posted by Chairman_MAO on November 2, 2005, at 8:26:01
In reply to Re: Hypomania-- a solution to TR Depression? » Girlnterrupted, posted by Chairman_MAO on November 2, 2005, at 8:22:52
I should add that it seems--for unknown reasons--that after seven months my response to phenelzine all of a sudden strengthened to this level. Given how many years I've been ill for, I am fully aware that this could disappear at any time. I only hope that if it does, it is 1 year from now (although it could easily go for 10 or 20 if I'm lucky and work on bettering myself in life) intstead of 1 week or 1 month. I need enough of a break to become autonomous from my parents, at least!
Posted by Nickengland on November 2, 2005, at 9:11:20
In reply to Hypomania-- a solution to TR Depression?, posted by Girlnterrupted on November 2, 2005, at 6:45:53
Hi Girlnterrupted,
To help answer your question based upon my own experiences with severe depression and hypomania (I'm bipolar) to be perfectly honest I don't think hypomania is a solution to severe depression.
The main reason being is the usual pattern which follows hypomania - is severe depression - then from there it is hypomania - then again it is severe depression. So the solution (based on my own experiences) is that when using hypomania to combat the depression ~ (I did that naturally without any drugs involved and it didnt quite work) is that the solution, unfortunately is in effect creating its own problem in the background and so the cycle continues if you get what I mean...
>I had chronic depression ever since I can remember. I went on Celexa and it cured the depression and basically transformed me into a different person.
>When Celexa pooped-out..
>One of them, after hearing my account of how Celexa turned my life around, concluded that I had been hypomanic during that year, and that it was not a good thing. I was shocked to hear that. How could it not be good to be happy, social and active? I didn't spend my money, take risks, or get into dangerous situations, like manic people do. How could she know whether it was hypomania, or just my real personality, minus the depression?
It could well be that you was experiencing (the good feelings etc) although that felt so good, like the real you ~ they were drug induced by the celexa, until the effects no longer worked, which could warrent a bipolar 3 diagnosis from what I understand..basically meaning that you wouldn't normally have these hypomanic symtoms, had it not been for the SSRI drug, the down side is that the drug can't keep its effect indefinitely (when inducing hypomania) - when the drug pooped out did you slip back into depression?
>Some people said I was very charismatic
>Now I was extroverted and outgoing.
>I was very very talkative and I laughed very easily and made people laugh.
>I came up with really funny things, I ALWAYS had something to say, comments would just spring up my mind and I felt so creative and full of life.
>That's just how full of energy and happiness I felt and how I transmitted it to others.
>Even in my dreams I was overwhelmed with happiness. I began dreaming really often about flying. I would just take off, and I would propell myself very high in the sky. People would watch me in amazement, but nobody but ME could fly. It was great, even while asleep I was happy.
All these symptoms are of a similar nature to that of hypomania (not full full-blown mania) but hypomania. One way to think about them is to possibly reverse them and they would seem like depressive symptoms - kind of like extreams of mood, on the bipolar spectrum, high, low etc, but importantly because the drug induced them. Just like (reversed, a drug could induce depressive symptoms)
>I didn't spend my money, take risks, or get into dangerous situations, like manic people do.
Thats good!...that kind of explains the 'hypo' side, meaning less than mania. Although when I was hypomanic, I did all of those things unfortunately!
>My doctor concluded it was hypomania.
I think your doctor could well be right, although he/she could be wrong, the thing is saying you was hypomanic is one thing, like in my case I clearly was, but there was no drugs involved making me hypomanic to induce it, and a family history of bipolar, whereas with yourself *if* you was hypomanic, it was induced by the antidepressant from what I can see of your account on here..
>That was a WHOLE year. Can hypomania last that long without a single interruption?
As long as the drug was having its effects then yes, I think so, although of course very now again the symptoms would have varied. My hypomanic experience lasted nearly half a year, uninterrupted - I was functioning well etc until the crash..
>How could my real 'me' be unhappy, depressed and apathetic 100% of the time?
I was simply acting like one of those really outgoing, energetic girls, and there are quite a bunch of those out there. Or what, are all those girls hypomanic too? I doubt it. So why would this be hypomania in me, but normalcy in another person?Hypomania, can be tricky because it can feel like, why is it an illness to feel great?!...but feeling great - like all those energic girls, they're not actually hypomanic...unless they're all manic depressives...
In a sense hypomania or mania, is as serious a medical conditon as severe depression, sometimes the consequences of the hypo/mania can be even more serious than the depression.
>So I was wondering how can anyone tell between hypomania and simply an outgoing/extroverted/charismatic personality?
Sometimes if the hypomania is mild, its not that easy to tell, and if its very mild, then it may not be that serious, just similar to mild depression, although, the best people to be able to tell is a qualified psychiatrist ;-) and also close friends and relatives who notices the sudden shifts in mood.
>And if this was in fact hypomania, I wouldn't hesitate in going hypomanic again.
If when it was lasted reported that when you was hypomanic and then 'it' or the celexa pooped out, you slipped into depression, then I would strongly suggest that you consider that *if* you want to go hypomanic again, you face a high chance of the depresion again, also theres a kindling theory that the more episodes you endure, the more you can endure in the futre and the harder the illness is to treat, eg, requires more drugs for stabilisation..
>Does anyone know how to induce it?
Others may answer, but to my own experiences, I won't as I would feel I could be saying to someone how you induce severe depression, if you know what I mean..
The main treatment, if your symptoms are that of hypomania, then swinging to depression ~ are mood stabilisers, it can take some time finding the balance, but its possible, with the right medication(s)/supplements :-)
Kind regards
Nick
Posted by Declan on November 2, 2005, at 13:53:06
In reply to Re: Hypomania-- a solution to TR Depression? » Girlnterrupted, posted by Nickengland on November 2, 2005, at 9:11:20
How on earth are you going to know if it's hypomania or profound gratitude for liberation? It wouldn't bother me too much. For that year your mood was stable. Unless there's some argument for taking mood stabilizers now it's kinda academic. In spite of what Nick said I'd go for a little hypomania, if that's what it was. You never know, you might die before the depressive part kicks in (just kidding).
Declan
Posted by SLS on November 2, 2005, at 14:20:38
In reply to Hypomania-- a solution to TR Depression?, posted by Girlnterrupted on November 2, 2005, at 6:45:53
Hi.
For someone in your position, hypomania is not something psychiatrists should be afraid of. If they can get you hypomanic, the battle is all but won. All that is left to do is to add an antimanic or mood-stabilizer and voila...
Why bother with mood stabilizers at all?
1. Prevent depression
2. Augment antidepressantsAs someone has already explained, if you are truly bipolar II with hypomania, preventing the hypomania might also prevent the depression that often follows. Bipolar disorder is a disease of oscillation. The neurobiology in bipolar disorder seems to shift from one pole to the other unless this oscillatory progression is interrupted medically.
I think it is important to diagnose properly your affective disorder. As C_M suggested, perhaps what others characterize as "hypomania" is really your euthymia - normal. In your case, diagnosis can be made in one of two ways: retrospectively or prospectively. If your current doctor observes hypomania in the future, whether spontaneous or as the result of treatment, this would be prospective. This might not happen for quite some time. However, an accurate retrospective examination of your history using life-charting might be the only way to reveal bipolarity. Again, the importance of descriminating between unipolar and bipolar will be the basis upon which one chooses whether or not to use mood stabilizers as part of therapy. Sometimes, a bipolar depression being treated with an antidepressant will not remit until a mood stabilizer is added.
Now that I have given you a good reason to treat the hypomania should it actually occur, I will also argue in favor of allowing a hypomania to continue uninterrupted. This does not apply to people who oscillate between depression and hypomania, but rather, to people who spend all of their time in hypomania. If the hypomania is not dysphoric and allows the person to function (or hyperfunction) in life without leading to self-destructive behavior, it is sometimes best left alone.
If Lexapro makes you hypomanic - use it, but search for a mood-stabilizing regime to interrupt the cycle into depression. In my opinion, euthymia is the goal in your case, not hypomania. However, hypomania might be the first step along the way.
- Scott
Posted by Sonya on November 2, 2005, at 15:11:54
In reply to Hypomania-- a solution to TR Depression?, posted by Girlnterrupted on November 2, 2005, at 6:45:53
I just want to add my 2 cents. Your description of your experience almost exactly mirrors mine from May 2004. But I was only in that "better than well" state for one month on Celexa but then crashed into another depression the following month. I'm now on Wellbutrin along with a low dose of Depakote and again feeling VERY GOOD (could be called hypomanic, IMHO), but I'm not concerned about dropping into another depressive state because the mood stabilizer hopefully will keep that in check. For now, I'm just enjoying my new and improved personality.
So you may be able to get back to that great new you with the addition of a mood stabilizer.
Best of luck.
Posted by Nickengland on November 2, 2005, at 15:40:43
In reply to Re: Hypomania-- a solution to TR Depression? » Girlnterrupted, posted by Sonya on November 2, 2005, at 15:11:54
I must admit, it is very tricky with the experiences of hypomania - and then with the feelings of feeling on top of the world, generally feeling really good etc..
Going by my own experiences though, 'the feel good factor' hard to explain but it was alittle more than just feeling great in myself, although i've havent had full blown mania or psychotic symptoms, I think my hypomania was about as extream as it gets.
On the reverse, one way to look at it might be like thinking... "man, for quite a while I felt alittle down" but then you wouldn't consider it deep severe depression - you was just basically feeling down like everyone does to a certain extent.
Then you can think... "man I was feeling great for quite a while" but you wouldn't consider it a form of mania - you was just feeling good, like everyone does to a cetain extent.....the thing is with hypomania, well I guess i'm writing from my own experience, but it was alittle more than just feeling good.
Wish I could share some of my experiences with hypomania - but it says at the top "What you say may conceivably be used against you." lol I'm afraid I can't add much more.
Kind regards
Nick
Posted by Nickengland on November 2, 2005, at 16:26:23
In reply to Re: Hypomania-- a solution to TR Depression?, posted by Nickengland on November 2, 2005, at 15:40:43
Might as well add just alittle more :-)
Just to say, perhaps there is some kind of trend appearing within the bipolar 'hypomania' diagnosis which is not such a good thing. I know over here, it was (and perhaps still is) the case that a farily large percentage of people were going to their GP reporting depressive symptoms, without much hessitation the GP's were simpliy diagnosising 'depression' and then prescribing people anti depressants and that was that so to speak. There was alot of coverage in the newspapers about this...GP's just giving out antidepressants, without first seeing if there was other causes involved etc. This is mainly due to just the crap NHS health system.
I wonder if it could be that on the flip side, for whatever reasons involved that doctors might be kinda keen just to give out a 'hypomania' diagnosis and medicate.
This is quite interesting about hypomania...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypomania
I can relate to some of that, especially in that I only need very low dosages of mood stabilisers - compare that to my mother who has/had full blown mania (ect back in the 60's etc) shes now extreamly stable on lithium, but she has higher dosages compared to me.
Hope you manage to work this out Girlnterrupted, I think you will in time and hopefully, it wasn't hypomania - but still get the feel good factor back :-)
Kind regards
Nick
Posted by Nickengland on November 2, 2005, at 17:51:04
In reply to Re: Hypomania-- a solution to TR Depression?, posted by Nickengland on November 2, 2005, at 16:26:23
Last one lol
Just finished reading this....very interesting..
http://www.mcmanweb.com/treat_hypomania.htm
Kind regards
Nick
Posted by sailor on November 2, 2005, at 23:03:12
In reply to Re: Hypomania-- a solution to TR Depression?, posted by Nickengland on November 2, 2005, at 17:51:04
We need to be wary of labels...to merely give something a name is not to change or explain or clarify that particular "thing" at all. Pretend for a moment that the label "hypomania" did not exist. Then you would not have to even think about whether that's what you "really have" or whether it's even a problem. Go with your gut: you're feeling good, you have some idea of what's helping you to feel that way, so why not stay with it until future events compel you to consider a change of course. Don't borrow trouble; if it aint broke, don't fix it.
Just some thoughts outside the realm of professional jargon to help give perspective. Best Wishes. Sailor
Posted by Nickengland on November 3, 2005, at 5:12:39
In reply to Re: Hypomania-- a solution to TR Depression?, posted by sailor on November 2, 2005, at 23:03:12
I agree thats true, knowledge within the labels can help with the overall treatment outcome of feeling better though..
Perhaps if it was "feeling good - a solution to (not treatment resistant ;-) feeling down.... most definitely!
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/___(down) no good :-(.....`````(up) too much :-O........ ~~~~~~~~ just right? :-)
I guess the title just struck me alittle, I've had depression nearly kill me, I've had hypomania indirectly nearly kill me. At the same time i've had some of the best experiences of my life with my 'up's. With people with destructive mania, treatment resistant mania, I wouldn't think depression would be a solution - I think we're all on the same track, in that the solutions we're looking for at the end of the day is sound mental health.
Kind regards
Nick
Posted by SLS on November 3, 2005, at 9:37:02
In reply to Re: Hypomania-- a solution to TR Depression?, posted by sailor on November 2, 2005, at 23:03:12
Hi Sailor.
I'm just acting as a devil's advocate.
> We need to be wary of labels...
Why?
> to merely give something a name is not to change or explain or clarify that particular "thing" at all.
Of course it does. We need some way to organize our world. Labels and categories serve this purpose. As such, giving something a name helps to explain and clarify our understanding of a "thing" as best we can at any given moment in time. If a "thing" can be understood, it might be possible to change it.
> Pretend for a moment that the label "hypomania" did not exist.
Pretend for a moment that the label "Nazi" did not exist.
> Then you would not have to even think about whether that's what you "really have" or whether it's even a problem.
Yup. Without a name, perhaps Neonaziism would escape notice and not be a problem. However, it would still REALLY exist.
> Go with your gut:
Going with one's gut still requires cerebral processing of information. It is but the visceral response to the thoughts that are being evaluated. Sometimes these visceral feelings resonate with the right decision, sometimes not. I favor deliberation over impulse when making decisions. If a choice "feels" right immediately, it should also pass the test of time to feel right in the long term. Deliberation can only help to reinforce the favor of one choice over another.
> you're feeling good, you have some idea of what's helping you to feel that way, so why not stay with it until future events compel you to consider a change of course.
Because a future change, if not acted upon preemptively, might lead to a paroxsymal event for which there is no time to act upon. Mania and depression represent "real things" for which prophylaxis is probably the best course of action.
> Don't borrow trouble; if it aint broke, don't fix it.
It might be broke, but without outward signs of pathology. By the time symptoms appear, the degree of biological deterioration might portend of a protracted episode of illness. Thankfully, we have labels to help categorize disease so that one can recognize that remission is not necessarily a cure, and that vigilence in treatment is the only way for which remission might persist. We give diseases names so that we know how to treat and what to expect.
- Scott>
> Just some thoughts outside the realm of professional jargon to help give perspective. Best Wishes. Sailor
Posted by neuroman on November 3, 2005, at 10:57:00
In reply to Hypomania-- a solution to TR Depression?, posted by Girlnterrupted on November 2, 2005, at 6:45:53
Hi,
If that's hypomania I'll take it. I'm not bipolar. I have one miserable pole. I would think that after years of feeling like this if I were to feel good (that is to say "normal") I'd probably be singing and dancing and hugging strangers in the street. To a medical professional that might suggest hypomania or mania or insanity, but in fact would just be an expression of joy for having gotten my life back. It certainly doesn't sound as if you were doing yourself or anyone else any harm. Indeed it appears to be to the contrary. I don't know if anyone is truly qualified to know what one's reaction to being "liberated" from depression should be.
Once again I've never experienced mania or hypomania. I'm pretty much a complete flatline. Whatever it was that you experienced, as you've described it, seems pretty appealing to me. Anyway, good luck...
By the way, thanks to your post I'll be adding Celexa to my "Medications to Consider" list. :-)
Paul
Posted by Nickengland on November 3, 2005, at 12:01:18
In reply to Re: Hypomania-- a solution to TR Depression? » Girlnterrupted, posted by neuroman on November 3, 2005, at 10:57:00
This is interesting..
Examining the underdiagnosis of BD naturally leads to a discussion of how broad the spectrum of bipolar diagnosis should be. Clinical and genetic data suggest that nonclassic parts of the bipolar spectrum (that is, BD II, NOS, and cyclothymia) may be more common than classic type I manic-depressive illness (21). In fact, as Grof has suggested, classic type I manic depressive illness may differ in many respects from less typical forms of bipolar illness, especially in being more lithium-responsive. It is this classic syndrome that Ketter has called “Cade’s disease.” Figure 1 suggests a possible conceptualization of these conditions on the affective spectrum. Bipolar spectrum conditions exhibit less severe mania, but they are not less severe in terms of depressive symptoms. Apart from the major morbidity and substantial suicide risk that these depressive symptoms present (3), varieties of BD produce unstable lives, failed careers, high divorce rates, and stormy biographies. Hence, we believe that the entire bipolar spectrum needs to be aggressively diagnosed and treated.
The problem of BD underdiagnosis is partly (although not entirely) related to failure to recognize bipolar spectrum states such as hypomania, assuming a version of the spectrum beyond full mania is accepted. Because hypomania is the only major DSM-IV diagnosis in which the essential criterion of social and occupational dysfunction is not required (and in fact, one must rule out significant social and occupation dysfunction), many clinicians find hypomania to be a difficult condition to diagnose. Thus, hypomania is mainly distinguished from mania based on function, rather than symptoms. Because the term “significant” is deliberately vague, psychiatrist identification of hypomania is not reliable (24). Given this situation, hypomania may be underdiagnosed as “normality,” and mania may be underdiagnosed as hypomania.
Also, the complete focus on polarity found in the diagnostic schema of DSM-III/IV obscures the relation between bipolar and highly recurrent forms of unipolar depression. BD is diagnosed when mood elevation is present, and its place in the diagnostic schema implies a totally separate illness. However, phenomenologic studies dating back to Kraepelin put primary emphasis on illness course and considered cycling to be as important as polarity. Cases of recurrent depression may be more likely to have genetic characteristics and treatment responses similar to those encountered in BD (3). Patients presenting with mainly depressive symptoms may exhibit other clues to possible bipolarity, and these are outlined in Table 1.
Given the debate and confusion surrounding the bipolar spectrum, we propose here a heuristic definition based on these clues (Tables 1 and 2). We propose placing all versions of bipolar illness apart from BD I or II in a single category, labelled “bipolar spectrum disorder (BSD).” This is in contrast to others who have suggested types of bipolar illness (III-VI) beyond BD I and II (21,25). We envision that this BSD diagnosis might replace the current nonspecific DSM-IV diagnosis of BD NOS. We heuristically define BSD as a diagnostic category that possesses several of the potential signs of bipolarity listed in Table 1, with greater weight given to family history and antidepressant-induced manic symptoms (26). Even in patients that have not spontaneously experienced a manic or hypomanic episode, we suggest that BSD can be diagnosed if they have MDEs with several signs of bipolarity (Table 2).
http://www.cpa-apc.org/Publications/Archives/CJP/2002/march/inReviewCadesDisease2.asp
Kind regards
Nick
Posted by Iansf on November 3, 2005, at 12:36:56
In reply to Re: Hypomania-- a solution to TR Depression? » Girlnterrupted, posted by neuroman on November 3, 2005, at 10:57:00
> Hi,
>
> If that's hypomania I'll take it.I will too. It's absurd to label a general enjoyment of life and people as hypmania, especially since your mood didn't go up and down during the year the med was working. I don't think a year of feeling good followed by the return of depression could reasonably be categorized as bi-polarity. If your mood changed every other year with regularity, maybe it could be considered some idiosyncratic form of manic-depression, but it doesn't sound like that's the case.
I experienced a similar feeling when I was on Prozac. It lasted two years, and I so miss that experience. Unfortunately, I had to sleep a minimum of 10 hours a night - and my body actually craved more. Plus I got the well-known diminution of sexual feeling, ability and desire, and I was a bit more detached than I was comfortable with. But for me, it was the first time in my life I experienced pleasure in simply being alive. Until then, I honestly didn't believe it was possible. And how I crave being back in that state.
Posted by Nickengland on November 3, 2005, at 12:58:07
In reply to Re: Hypomania-- a solution to TR Depression?, posted by Iansf on November 3, 2005, at 12:36:56
I don't understand something, if you have unipolar, a depressive mental illness that is bad enough.
It can feel like you have to climb a mountain to achieve your mental state again.
If you have/had hypomania, it means not only do you have a depressive disorder, but you also have and added 'illness' so to speak. Why would anyone want to have more to cope with.
Having bipolar disorder is not only climbing a mountain to come out of depression, but also it can be similar to being a Trapeze Artist, constantly trying to find the right balance, between many different emotions.
Lets not glorify hypomania - when in fact where not probably talking about hypomania if thats the case....lets glorify feeling good and a good sense of mental health though by all means. But if anyone wants to have manic depression vs depression then consider this.
Lithium - Blood tests, side effects compared to antidepressants which mean you have to have blood tests to check liver function, check your thyroid, it can also alter the entire function of your kidneys as well as many other side effects. I had to have an ECG heart tracing done before I could start even taking that medication when I tried it. Its pretty heavy stuff so to speak.
Anticonvulsants - Again, the most common ones used mean that you have to have blood tests to check your liver function because of serious side effects.
These drugs quite literally "shut down" parts of your brain, electrical activity etc, so I was told by various doctors when I began taking epileptic drugs and reported how I felt...which wasnt that good. Shall I stop the medication to experience hypomania again?....I'm afriad I wouldn't be able to post though as the depression that follows means that I just would have the energy.
Antipsychotics - I'm not personally familar with, but know they carry serious potential side effects.
Unipolar depression. You find a state of being up where you once was, or where you want to be ~ but in all honesty do you really want to give yourself another illness to contend with? Pros and cons, speaking with experience, I wish I never had bipolar disorder, although yes i've experienced some fantastic highs, but you pay a very, very high price for them in many many aspects of your life.
Nick
Posted by SLS on November 3, 2005, at 14:47:07
In reply to Re: Hypomania-- a solution to TR Depression?, posted by Iansf on November 3, 2005, at 12:36:56
> It's absurd to label a general enjoyment of life and people as hypmania,
Who did that?
Oh, yes. I remember now. It was a doctor.
Doctors always like to sabotage their patients quest for health and happiness. It's part of their Hypocritical Oath. Right?
How can we know what information this doctor had to work with in reaching his decision?
- Scott
Posted by CK1 on November 3, 2005, at 15:16:33
In reply to Re: Hypomania-- a solution to TR Depression?, posted by Iansf on November 3, 2005, at 12:36:56
Girl,
The same thing happened to me on Paxil. I became sooo confidant, cocky, and happy. People gravitated towards me because I was so jovial and comical. I felt like this for a year and a half on Paxil and then it died off to feeling "good." There is a fine line between feeling "too good" and just "normal" and this needs to be addressed. If an SSRI makes you feel GREAT for an entire year and then poops out now nothing works, there is a serious chance you're bipolar.
Medications poop out significantly more in bipolar people as I know many people who have had sustained benefit from an SSRI for 10 years or more. Poop out is fairly common, but normally someone can simply go on to the next SSRI and feel good again.
In retrospect, I think I felt a little "too good" on Paxil and a lot of my friends spoke to me about being nicer to people and less cocky. I went up to new york for a summer to photograph and thought I was going to become a famous photographer and shoot for Vogue Magazine in the next two years. I slept MUCH less, sometimes 5 hours a night and felt great in the morning, went out and partied 4-5 days a week, etc. Things were great, but there is such a think as "too great" and this never lasts. This one year of happiness you spoke about sounded pretty darn good. Maybe you felt 10 degrees BETTER than normal for that year!In the past 10 months, I've been treated as someone with social anxiety/depression/ADD, and nothing is "clicking" and, worse yet, the SSRI's are making me jittery and agitated.
I believe I've been barking up the wrong tree with regards to my treatment. DIAGNOSIS IS KEY! If you are indeed bipolar and you are put solely on AD's, chances are you'll never get better and, if you do, it won't be for long.
I put off the notion that I have bipolar for the past few months because I didn't want to accept it, but all signs point towards it. My response to AD's alone, treatment resistance, SSRI SUCCESS followed by poopout, etc. Poop out alone should "hint" at the possibility of bipolar.
Anyway, food for thought. It's been 3 years since something has worked and you haven't even considered the bipolar diagnosis??? I'd find a new pdoc!
Posted by sailor on November 3, 2005, at 15:31:45
In reply to Re: Hypomania-- a solution to TR Depression?, posted by sailor on November 2, 2005, at 23:03:12
Labels revisited...Attention SLS!
I am a 58 year old man with a 30+ year history of unipolar depression, major depression, endogenous depression, treatment resistant depression, refractory depression, intractable depression, etc. More than a dozen different P-docs over the years have weighed in with other impressions of possible ADD, primary sleep disorder, borderline hypothyroidism, mercury poisoning (from dental amalgams), and yes, even Bi-polar disorder without mania!
I only know for sure that attempts to correctly diagnose me have not yet yielded help except for temporary periods, and those often accompanied by SE's ranging from annoying to debilitating. I believe my experience is not uncommon, and that the science of psychiatric diagnosis and treatment "applys" to only a fraction of sufferers. I am not a cynic and I am not angry. And I continue to research the field, primarily through this board, out of desperation.
I continue to have hope--suicide or other forms of giving up have not been an option--but I must honestly say that I am not optimistic for a "breakthrough" in my lifetime. I would love to be surprised.
Meanwhile, I'm stuck with the uneasy feeling that I don't really know what's wrong with me or what might "fix" it. Time is running out. Or, quoting Jack Nicholson: "What if this is as good as it gets?"
Still kickin', for now. Sailor
Posted by SLS on November 3, 2005, at 20:28:19
In reply to Re: Hypomania-- a solution to TR Depression?, posted by sailor on November 3, 2005, at 15:31:45
Hi Sailor.
> Still kickin', for now. Sailor
Just in case you ever want to stop kicking, I'll try to be there to give you a kick myself.
No surrender.
:-)
- Scott
Posted by sailor on November 4, 2005, at 7:01:06
In reply to Re: Hypomania-- a solution to TR Depression?, posted by sailor on November 3, 2005, at 15:31:45
Scott--thanks--you have a good heart and a brilliant mind. I fully understand that those two things alone do not bring "happiness" when you feel just plain crappy in other ways. I really am a sailor, BTW. This AM I leave on a 400 mile trip across the Gulf to deliver a 35' sailboat. Even when you're depressed it's nice to see dolphins swimming alongside the boat by moonlight 100 miles offshore. I've had worse jobs! Take care. Sailor
This is the end of the thread.
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