Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 564237

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can someone describe agitated depression please

Posted by spriggy on October 7, 2005, at 18:50:54

Anyone know how to describe it?

I am having a horrible time with anxiety mixed with depression- I don't know if it's simply the anxiety causing me to be depressed or it's both or vice versa.

I am definitely agitated, I am definitely super anxious, my mind is racing, and I am feeling depressed.

Of course, I am still dealing with physical sickness too, so who knows' which is which anymore.

I am just tired.

 

Re: can someone describe agitated depression please » spriggy

Posted by Phillipa on October 7, 2005, at 19:14:58

In reply to can someone describe agitated depression please, posted by spriggy on October 7, 2005, at 18:50:54

Spriggy, i am dealing with the same thing. I seriously thought all your mental, physical problems were over. What have I missed? And the Boards have been so empty I think a lot of others feel the same. I wonder if it has anything to do with the change in seasons and cold weather coming? Fondly, Phillipa

 

Re: can someone describe agitated depression please » spriggy

Posted by 4wd on October 7, 2005, at 21:04:53

In reply to can someone describe agitated depression please, posted by spriggy on October 7, 2005, at 18:50:54

> Anyone know how to describe it?
>
> I am having a horrible time with anxiety mixed with depression- I don't know if it's simply the anxiety causing me to be depressed or it's both or vice versa.
>
> I am definitely agitated, I am definitely super anxious, my mind is racing, and I am feeling depressed.
>
> Of course, I am still dealing with physical sickness too, so who knows' which is which anymore.
>
> I am just tired.

I know, Spriggy. Me too. I feel exactly the same. Scared to death, agitated, constant rumination (mostly over meds, and possible meds and how none of them work and what will I do). Sometimes depression at the same time. Sometimes, just anxiety. If I take Klonopin, the anxiety is buried (though I can still feel it under the surface) and the depression is foremost.

What meds are you on? What's your Dx?

marsha

 

Re: can someone describe agitated depression please

Posted by spriggy on October 7, 2005, at 23:27:39

In reply to Re: can someone describe agitated depression please » spriggy, posted by 4wd on October 7, 2005, at 21:04:53


i'm not on any meds for mental health; I have tried Lexapro, Paxil, Wellbutrin, Lamictal, Depakote, Seroquel, Xanex, Ativan, and Klonopin.

I *think* my main problem is unbearable, overwhelming anxiety (my mind feels like it's on constant "high alert" and overtime) which then makes me depressed because I literally feel trapped in my own mind when this hits me.

I don't do this EVERY day- but it comes in waves.. Then when it's gone for a while, I think I'm all better, so when it returns again, I feel even more discouraged.

My diagnosis: Well, I don't think I've ever been properly evaluated.

My gp suspected I was "bipolar" because of my response to SSRi's and my family history- sent me to a psychologist who evaluated me and concluded I was not bipolar just had an anxiety disorder.

When I was on Lexapro I went through horrific rapid cycling daily (sometimes hourly) until I became completely and utterly suicidal for the first time in my life. WEnt into the psych ward for 4 days until the psychiatrist concluded I didn't have a mental disorder, I was experiencing akathasia from the Lexapro.

So I have no clue what's wrong with me. I think I'm scared to really know.

I am physically sick as well; Epstein Barr, possible lupus, fibromyalgia, etc..

So could those health conditions be creating this? I don't know. I have fevers EVERY single day lately- I feel like I have the flu by about 2-3 in the afternoon every day.

My anxiety peaks when the fevers are there.

I am tired of being sent to specialists, doctor's, who continue to either guess or just give me a new diagnosis.

I am feeling nearly helpless right now to be honest.

I've battled this off and on for a year (which I know for some of you that's nothing considering the length of your battles) but when all this began last Christmas, I REALLY believed I'd be over it by now.

And given my family history, I am terrified that "whatever" this is that's wrong with me, is here to stay.

 

Oh, for Pete's sake! » spriggy

Posted by Racer on October 8, 2005, at 1:58:31

In reply to Re: can someone describe agitated depression please, posted by spriggy on October 7, 2005, at 23:27:39

> So could those health conditions be creating this? I don't know. I have fevers EVERY single day lately- I feel like I have the flu by about 2-3 in the afternoon every day.
>
> My anxiety peaks when the fevers are there.
>
> I am tired of being sent to specialists, doctor's, who continue to either guess or just give me a new diagnosis.
>
> I am feeling nearly helpless right now to be honest.
>
>

Of course you're feeling helpless with all this going on and no doctor taking the time to treat this properly. [grinds teeth] This just irritates the bejaybers out of me, and you should point me in their direction and stand back.

You're getting daily fevers? And that's when your anxiety is worst? That's a symptom right there that suggests to me -- quite strongly -- that you're dealing with a PHYSICAL problem, not psychiatric. I'm miserable to be around with a fever, because it sends my psychiatric symptoms into overdrive: I get much, much more hypervigilant (which is hard to do, considering my general state of alertness), and scared of half the world around me (as in, the bookshelves start to look frightening), and certain sure that my world will end by the end of Tuesday next. That's related to the fever. It sounds as though your doctors are looking for the psychological or psychiatric when they should be looking at your physical symptoms and how they fit together.

OK. Off my soapbox now. What does your doctor say about the daily fevers? Those fevers are damaging to your body, you know. Are they being taken seriously?

I'm sorry you're goign through this, and hope it improves soon.

 

Re: can someone describe agitated depression please

Posted by blueberry on October 8, 2005, at 7:58:29

In reply to can someone describe agitated depression please, posted by spriggy on October 7, 2005, at 18:50:54

Your symptoms sound a whole lot like mine. I was diagnosed 2 weeks ago with bipolar, and that I am currently in a dysphoric mania cycle, where depression, anxiety, agitation, and feeling like you're going too fast, are all mixed together at the same time, and where moods and symptoms fluctuate throughout the day. It is very easily misdiagnosed as anxiety and depression or akathisia.

I think I need a higher dose, but I must admit that on the very first day depakote extended release 500mg brought me down from going 1000mph, and lifted me up from the depths of hell, and eased anxiety, all at the same time. So that was pretty good proof that it was indeed a type of mania...a scary kind where every psychiatric thing you can thing of is all mixed together.

The lexapro might have induced mania cycling that was mistaken as akathisia.

Since there are no mood stabilizers in your history, that might be worth looking at. I resisted trying them for 10 years. Anyway, a simple trial of 500mg to 1000mg depakote extended release for just one week could tell you what your true diagnosis is. It works very fast with very few side effects. No long trial needed.

 

Would a FP dr. prescribe depakote? for trial? (nm) » blueberry

Posted by JaneB on October 8, 2005, at 8:51:19

In reply to Re: can someone describe agitated depression please, posted by blueberry on October 8, 2005, at 7:58:29

 

blueberry... and racer

Posted by spriggy on October 8, 2005, at 12:39:05

In reply to Would a FP dr. prescribe depakote? for trial? (nm) » blueberry, posted by JaneB on October 8, 2005, at 8:51:19

I actually have been on mood stabilizers; depakote and Lamictal.

Racer, they want to send me to a rheumatologist now but I have no insurance (waiting for it). My doctor believes it is lupus but wants a specialist to diagnose it for certain.

I suppose either Lupus or Epstein barr would explain the fevers. I don't know about the anxiety though.

 

Re: can someone describe agitated depression please » blueberry

Posted by 4wd on October 8, 2005, at 15:48:35

In reply to Re: can someone describe agitated depression please, posted by blueberry on October 8, 2005, at 7:58:29

> Your symptoms sound a whole lot like mine. I was diagnosed 2 weeks ago with bipolar, and that I am currently in a dysphoric mania cycle, where depression, anxiety, agitation, and feeling like you're going too fast, are all mixed together at the same time, and where moods and symptoms fluctuate throughout the day. It is very easily misdiagnosed as anxiety and depression or akathisia.
>

Blueberry,

Do your symptoms follow a regular pattern? Like are you always anxious in the morning, depressed in teh afternoon and okay at night? Or is it different on different days? Does it switch back and forth and back again all within one day? Does Klonopin or another benzo control the "going too fast" feeling?

I feel that my anxiety causes a lot of my depression. I mean, when you are that agitated and racing and scared and don't know what's causing it, who wouldn't be depressed. Are you doing well on the Depakote? What else are you on?

Marsha
> I think I need a higher dose, but I must admit that on the very first day depakote extended release 500mg brought me down from going 1000mph, and lifted me up from the depths of hell, and eased anxiety, all at the same time. So that was pretty good proof that it was indeed a type of mania...a scary kind where every psychiatric thing you can thing of is all mixed together.
>
> The lexapro might have induced mania cycling that was mistaken as akathisia.
>
> Since there are no mood stabilizers in your history, that might be worth looking at. I resisted trying them for 10 years. Anyway, a simple trial of 500mg to 1000mg depakote extended release for just one week could tell you what your true diagnosis is. It works very fast with very few side effects. No long trial needed.

 

Re: blueberry... and racer » spriggy

Posted by 4wd on October 8, 2005, at 16:25:16

In reply to blueberry... and racer, posted by spriggy on October 8, 2005, at 12:39:05

> I actually have been on mood stabilizers; depakote and Lamictal.
>
>
>
> Racer, they want to send me to a rheumatologist now but I have no insurance (waiting for it). My doctor believes it is lupus but wants a specialist to diagnose it for certain.
>
> I suppose either Lupus or Epstein barr would explain the fevers. I don't know about the anxiety though.


What about Lyme disease? I have read it can cause significant neurological symptoms, including depression and anxiety. A course of the correct antibiotic might help. I think Doxyclycline is what is used.

Marsha

 

Re: blueberry... and racer » 4wd

Posted by Phillipa on October 8, 2005, at 17:23:06

In reply to Re: blueberry... and racer » spriggy, posted by 4wd on October 8, 2005, at 16:25:16

Marsha, I have chronic lyme's disease. Do you think it's responsible for my anxiety and depression? I do have the racing thoughts so bad I can't read or even remember the Lord's Prayer. Fondly, Phillipa

 

Re: can someone describe agitated depression please » spriggy

Posted by Phillipa on October 8, 2005, at 17:24:27

In reply to Re: can someone describe agitated depression please, posted by spriggy on October 7, 2005, at 23:27:39

Spriggy, I thought you're ANA was normal? Fondly,Phillipa

 

Re: blueberry... and racer » Phillipa

Posted by 4wd on October 8, 2005, at 22:11:37

In reply to Re: blueberry... and racer » 4wd, posted by Phillipa on October 8, 2005, at 17:23:06

> Marsha, I have chronic lyme's disease. Do you think it's responsible for my anxiety and depression? I do have the racing thoughts so bad I can't read or even remember the Lord's Prayer. Fondly, Phillipa

Yes, I do think it could be. I know I have read stories about people with undiagnosed Lyme disease who thought they were going crazy until they finally got a proper diagnosis and got it treated.

I thought you could treat Lyme disease and make it go away with a long course of strong antibiotics. Has your doctor not done this?

Marsha

 

Re: blueberry... and racer » Phillipa

Posted by 4wd on October 8, 2005, at 22:29:11

In reply to Re: blueberry... and racer » 4wd, posted by Phillipa on October 8, 2005, at 17:23:06

> Marsha, I have chronic lyme's disease. Do you think it's responsible for my anxiety and depression? I do have the racing thoughts so bad I can't read or even remember the Lord's Prayer. Fondly, Phillipa

Here's some info/links

http://www.mentalhealthandillness.com/Articles/LymeDepressionAndSuicide.htm

http://realindy.com/lyme.htm

http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/3fc1a.htm

The last link is the best.

Marsha

 

Re: blueberry... and racer » 4wd

Posted by Phillipa on October 8, 2005, at 23:20:06

In reply to Re: blueberry... and racer » Phillipa, posted by 4wd on October 8, 2005, at 22:29:11

Marsha thanks, I've had MRI's, spinal taps, and longterm antibiotic tx. They say I will always test possitive for having had the disease. But it's supposed to be in active now. I know I have arthritis crunching bones and back pain. Fondly, Phillipa

 

Agitated depression

Posted by Declan on October 9, 2005, at 19:44:25

In reply to can someone describe agitated depression please, posted by spriggy on October 7, 2005, at 18:50:54

I suppose every agitated depression is different. If I had to define what was, you know maybe, central to my mother's agitated depression I'd say that it was an experience beyond amelioration. Once I accepted that there was nothing I could do to help her things improved between us. I realised that my moves to help were (understandably) motivated by my need to reduce the pain of it all. So I let it wash over me and make me feel awful, having accepted that somehow she was trying to communicate a terrible feeling of distress in oblique nonrational ways. Which meant being quiet with it for a bit. I'd limit myself to a couple of hours a time.

So Spriggy, you have lupus, allergies, candida, is that right? Something physical going on for sure. By the way Mannatech Ambrotose (and anything it's in) worsens my insomnia if taken after lunch.

Declan

 

Re: Agitated depression Phillipa » Declan

Posted by spriggy on October 9, 2005, at 23:02:39

In reply to Agitated depression, posted by Declan on October 9, 2005, at 19:44:25

Phillipa, my last ANA count was 1:40- it was still positive but so low it wasn't considered to be much. But from what my doctor says, you don't always have a high ANA count ( I did have three high ones and the fourth was the low one).

It wasn't until I got the "malar" (butterfly) rash that he felt certain it was lupus- but he wants to send me to a rheumy to get definite diagnosis.


I have been literally been diagnosed with the following since the beginning of the year (when my fever's first started): Hypoglycemia, Epstein Barr, Fibromyalgia, Asthma, Allergies, Goiter in thyroid, and most likely lupus.

They did a test for Lyme's in May and it was negative. THey also tested me for TB, Lymphoma's, Leukemia, MS, etc..


I can't believe I have a 5-6 physical diseases SUDDENLY just pop up. I was healthy, running 4 miles per day, rarely ever sick before this started.


When all this began- my mental health went whacho with it. Anxiety like I've never known, Akathasia from SSRi's, depression, and at one point agraphobia from my anxiety (which is SOOO not like me because I am a real people person).


I want to know WHAT in the world is really wrong- I occasionally go through times when I feel just fine (no fevers, no anxiety, no fluish symptoms), and then WHAM it comes back and it seems worse when it returns.

I'm just tired of this. I want to be well again; physically and mentally.

 

Re: Agitated depression Phillipa » spriggy

Posted by Phillipa on October 9, 2005, at 23:14:38

In reply to Re: Agitated depression Phillipa » Declan, posted by spriggy on October 9, 2005, at 23:02:39

Spriggy, I know. I am beginning to think the anxiety and agoraphobia come from having so many doctors tell us there are so many things wrong with us and they don't know. With me it was neck the age of 78yr old so don't run or tilt head back you may become paralazed. The lymes was positive and all that tx, the rheumatologist saying I had a little of all autoimmune diesease, the OBGYN telling me I had to take synthetic hormones and I couldn't. The bad pdoc putting me on disability saying I shouldn't work when I could. It seems doctors just have to find something wrong with you. I'm not going back to have a mamogram. Last one required a biopsy, to say benign calcification. They all have to justify why they're charging our insurance companies. I forgot diverticuli, and I'm sure I left others out of yeah herniated disc. Which healed itself and they said I needed vioox and steroid shots. No wonder we feel the way we do. So again I say let's move to Babbleland. Fondly, Phillipa

 

Re: Agitated depression Phillipa

Posted by Phillipa on October 9, 2005, at 23:18:12

In reply to Re: Agitated depression Phillipa » Declan, posted by spriggy on October 9, 2005, at 23:02:39

Spriggy, I forgot fibromyalgia, Renauds, Sjornes, Ellis Daniel?, hypothyroidism, tested for MS. Chronic fatigue syndrome. Fondly, Phillipa

 

AGITATED DEPRESSION

Posted by med_empowered on October 10, 2005, at 9:53:43

In reply to Re: Agitated depression Phillipa, posted by Phillipa on October 9, 2005, at 23:18:12

hey! I haven't really heard that diagnosis being used much anymore--I've seen it a lot in literature from the 60s and 70s, though (that's what they used the old neuroleptic+antidepressant combos for). Anyway, one recent article I did read on it suggests that "agitated depression" should be re-conceptualized as a sort of bipolar "mixed-state". Since bipolar disorder is now seen as producing "mixed-states" and "dysphoric mania" as well as the more classical euphoric mania and pure depression, this makes sense. Apparently, lots of people who meet the criteria for "agitated depression" also meet the criteria for bipolar II disorder, and sometimes variants of bipolar I or bipolar NOS. Plus, agitated depression can often be complicated by psychosis, and whenever you have depression with psychotic symptoms (especially in younger patients), the likelihood that the person currently has, or will develop, a form of bipolar disorder is pretty big. I was actually told by one doc that certain mood episodes were "agitated depression"...and I was told by another doctors that they were "actually" mixed-episodes (I think its kind of funny how shrinks feel free telling me what I'm experiencing and feeling after talking to me for like 10minutes.) Anyway, to sum it up--agitated depression might be a sort of high-anxiety, low-grade mixed-episode that belongs in the bipolar spectrum...if psychosis is part of the picture, the likelihood that the episode is from bipolar disorder and not unipolar depressive disorder increases. In my case, my "episodes" have resulted in diagnoses ranging from bipolar II to bipolar NOS to schizophrenia to unipolar depressive disorder.

 

Re: Agitated depression Phillipa » Phillipa

Posted by 4wd on October 10, 2005, at 22:35:56

In reply to Re: Agitated depression Phillipa » spriggy, posted by Phillipa on October 9, 2005, at 23:14:38

Phillipa, why couldn't you take synthetic hormones? What happened when you did? I am wondering my hormones I take are contributing to this horrible depression and anxiety myself.

marsha

 

What does a mixed state feel like? (nm)

Posted by 4wd on October 10, 2005, at 22:38:21

In reply to AGITATED DEPRESSION, posted by med_empowered on October 10, 2005, at 9:53:43

 

Re: Agitated depression Phillipa » 4wd

Posted by Phillipa on October 11, 2005, at 17:14:19

In reply to Re: Agitated depression Phillipa » Phillipa, posted by 4wd on October 10, 2005, at 22:35:56

Marsha, they made me feel horrible and more anxious. Fondly, Phillipa


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