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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 Tony P on October 10, 2008, at 18:10:00
I am somewhere on the rapid-cycling BP spectrum -- certainly BP III, cyclothymic. I usually know when I'm actually hypomanic -- but by that time I don't care! A counselor asked me a good question yesterday: what are the warning signs and the behaviours that precede a hyopmanic episode. I didn't have an immediate answer -- I hadn't really thought about it.
Excessive stimulants &/or some AD's are obvious triggers. Staying up after midnight working on the computer seems to be a trigger, but maybe it's actually a consequence of a process that's already started.
I would be very interested to know what other people find are early warning signs that a (hypo) manic episode may be impending.
Tony
Posted by Justherself54 on October 10, 2008, at 19:20:02
In reply to Hypomanic warning signs??, posted by Tony P on October 10, 2008, at 18:10:00
For me it's a sudden increase in energy, more talkative, wanting to stay up later and later, shopping becomes very appealing..and an inner restlessness...took me awhile to recognize the signs..too few and far between now :(
Posted by Phillipa on October 10, 2008, at 20:53:54
In reply to Re: Hypomanic warning signs??, posted by Justherself54 on October 10, 2008, at 19:20:02
Want to share just a touch of it? Phillipa not trying to be funny.
Posted by cloudydaze on October 11, 2008, at 0:27:18
In reply to Re: Hypomanic warning signs?? » Justherself54, posted by Phillipa on October 10, 2008, at 20:53:54
Yes definately more talkative, and for me, anxious and a bit agitated at times, or other times a bit elated for no apparent reason. Also insomnia.
Posted by Tony P on October 19, 2008, at 16:02:04
In reply to Re: Hypomanic warning signs??, posted by cloudydaze on October 11, 2008, at 0:27:18
Talkative for sure for me. I'm more usually a silent Sam. I'm not sure if it's an early warning sign or if it means I'm already hypomanic.
Once I get to shopping (unnecessary), staying up all night writing music, etc., I'm already there.
Had an experience last week that was a bit discouraging. Had a pair of good, fairly normal days Monday & Tuesday; saw my counselor, attended a group for people with concurrent disorders, got together with some friends for coffee (I had decaff!) and went home feeling really good, but not (I didn't think) manic. I can't rememeber how late I stayed up (certainly past midnight), but next day I crashed. Slept all day, couldn't make myself wake up, missed a rehearsal; continued the same pattern the next day, cancelled a dentist appointment, read & dozed alternately all day & night. Probably only snapped out of it Friday because I got an urgent call to come in to work at my volunteer job.
Does that mean I'm doomed to a couple of down days every time I feel even normally good? Point of information: I also have addicition disorder, as it's politely called these days, and I'm only 90 days clean, so some emotional rollercoasting comes with the territory.
But maybe it's time to look at mood stabilzers again - I was on Lamictal by itself a few years ago, and doing OK in a controlled environment (community living). Everything I take now is either an SS/SNRI, a dopamine agonist, or a stimulant, with the exception of clonazepam 3 mg/day & a little Seroquel at night (when I make myself take it). So my current med regime certainly keeps the major depression at bay, but it may be a set-up for the hypomanic rollercoaster I'm on lately.
Meds aside, it would be nice to know the night before whether I need to set two alarms, the clock radio, and the SAD lamp & the coffepot on timers in order to get out of bed before 8:00. I have to get a job very soon, for obvious financial reasons, and I just can't feel confident of arriving by 9:00 AM 5 days a week based on my current track record.
Any more thoughts, anyone?
TP
Posted by cloudydaze on October 20, 2008, at 23:20:09
In reply to Re: Hypomanic warning signs??, posted by Tony P on October 19, 2008, at 16:02:04
For me its hard to predict...usually I can't predict hypomanic, it just happens so fast. But for me, usually hypomania leads to mania...but not all the time. Like, if i forget my meds for a few days...which happens a lot, cuz i'm scattered...I will start to feel hypomanic. If i start taking my meds again, sometimes it will curb the mania, but not always.
maybe it would be a good idea to keep a journal of your moods? Then maybe you could see a pattern to your cycles?
I personally like Lamictal a lot because i have had no side effects and it works. I've been on 4 or 5 other antipsychotics that didnt help and had nasty side effects, so I'm a bit biased on Lamictal...heh.
Posted by Tony P on October 25, 2008, at 15:15:28
In reply to Re: Hypomanic warning signs??, posted by cloudydaze on October 20, 2008, at 23:20:09
So Monday I was feeling good after a session with my GP (who has a really encouraging chair-side manner). An hour later, I'd spent $200 on a new pipe, a humidor & fancy pipe tobacco, and $120 on CDs (second-hand, at that), and I was very chatty with the shop clerks (which is not my usual style). Then up all night on the computer. So I think those two warning signs are abundantly clear for me.
I think I will start journalling -- I have an excellent workbook called "Your Depression Map" (Patterson, Randy J., 2002: New Harbinger Publications, Oakland CA) and I've been meaning to start working through the exercises for a while now.
Off to see my favourite psychologist now -- sure am glad to have him available, as pdocs are few & far between at the moment.
Tony
This is the end of the thread.
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