Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 577594

Shown: posts 1 to 24 of 24. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

Can Someone Explain Soft Bipolar?

Posted by Phillipa on November 10, 2005, at 21:07:17

Okay when my old pdoc said I may be bipolar ll. I googled it and came up with soft bipolar. Am I correct in interpreting this to mean a depression with anxiety that doesn't respond to antidepressants or antianxiety meds? But does respond to mood stabalizers. Currently on trileptal, small dosee luvox, valium l5mg. If this is so what are your personal recommendations for a med combo? I know we're individuals but need some guidance. Thanks guys, Fondly, Phillipa

 

Re: Can Someone Explain Soft Bipolar?

Posted by Lucia Francisca on November 10, 2005, at 21:27:13

In reply to Can Someone Explain Soft Bipolar?, posted by Phillipa on November 10, 2005, at 21:07:17

Hi Phillipa. If you were diagnosed as bipolar II, I always understood Bipolar II, which is what I've been diagnosed with, as somewhat less severe than bipolar I, in that, instead of the "manias" of bipolar I, Bipolar II has hypomanias, which are less severe than the manic shopping sprees, gambling, or etc... Hypomania is more the rapid thoughts, irritability, pressured speech, just feeling elevated, etc. My many pdocs and therapists over the last 5 years have gone between a diagnosis of unipolar major depression for me and bipolar II. I was on an antidepressant for the last 5 years, celexa and then lexapro. it worked well for the depression but i still had a lot of irritable, insomniac periods. my pdoc currently just started me on seroquel about 2 weeks ago. i must say i feel really good. i'm sleeping a lot better. seroquel is an atypical antipsychotic they use for bipolar ii now. I guess it's what they call a mood stabilizer. but i think it's newer than the old mood stabilizers like lithium and depakote. it's not supposed to be as cumbersome to use, i.e. don't need to get blood tests. i hope it works ok for me in the long run. sorry if i haven't really answered your question. just thought i'd share my own experiences with this creature called bipolar ii.

 

Re: Can Someone Explain Soft Bipolar?

Posted by Racer on November 10, 2005, at 23:05:35

In reply to Re: Can Someone Explain Soft Bipolar?, posted by Lucia Francisca on November 10, 2005, at 21:27:13

My dear Dr CattleProd was talking about this recently, said that he'd been to a conference where they were saying that everyone with both depression and anxiety was really bipolar II. Or Bipolar III. Or Bipolar IV.

Lucia Francisca is correct -- BP II is bipolar with hypomanias rather than full blown mania. The new thing with anxiety/depression is not the DSM criteria.

As for how to treat it, I can't help you there. I know dang little, when you come right down to it. But I hope the little I could offer is helpful to you.

 

Re: Can Someone Explain Soft Bipolar?

Posted by Phillipa on November 10, 2005, at 23:58:58

In reply to Re: Can Someone Explain Soft Bipolar?, posted by Racer on November 10, 2005, at 23:05:35

That's exactly what my google search revealed. only difference was treating it with mood stabalizers like trileptal, lamictal, depakote, lithium. Fondly, phillipa

 

Re: Can Someone Explain Soft Bipolar?

Posted by SLS on November 11, 2005, at 6:43:39

In reply to Re: Can Someone Explain Soft Bipolar?, posted by Racer on November 10, 2005, at 23:05:35

Recent article:

--------------------------------------------------

The Dark Side of Hypomania

While working on the American Psychiatric Association’s latest DSM version of bipolar disorder (IV-TR), Trisha Suppes MD, PhD of the University of Texas Medical Center in Dallas carefully read its criteria for hypomania, and had an epiphany. "I said, wait," she told a UCLA grand rounds lecture in April 2003, "where are all those patients of mine who are hypomanic and say they don’t feel good?"

The DSM defines hypomania as "a distinct period of persistently elevated, expansive, or irritable mood," but the overwhelmingly standard misconception is one of unadulterated exuberance. Ask your typical patient about hypomania and he or she will fondly recall those life-of-the-party and unbelievably productive moments and reply, "if only I could put it in a bottle and sell it." And a psychiatrist off the record may add, with a hint of envy, "if only I could buy it."

But what about road rage and other destructive behaviors? The DSM recognizes "mixed" states in mania where highs and lows simultaneously run riot in the brain, but nowhere does it acknowledge a parallel phenomenon in hypomania. Does mixed hypomania exist and how common is it? Dr Suppes decided to find out. The results of her seven-year investigation appear in the October Archives of General Psychiatry.

Drawing from patients in seven clinics associated with the Stanley Foundation Bipolar Treatment Network, Dr Suppes and her colleagues gathered prospective data on 908 bipolar patients (most by far with bipolar I). Of 14,328 visits by patients, 1,044 involved hypomania. Examinations of the patients in this state found that the majority (57 percent) "met criteria for mixed hypomania."

By "mixed hypomania," patients must have met the researchers’ threshold for at least mild hypomania (corresponding to a YMRS score of 12 or greater) combined with at least mild depression (corresponding to an IDS-C score of 15 or greater).

Patients with bipolar I were far more likely to experience hypomania than those with bipolar II, though the likelihood of mixed states within each diagnosis remained about the same. Women were significantly more likely to experience mixed states than men (72 percent vs 42 percent). Women in the study with no hypomania had a 41 percent probability of experiencing depression. This increased to 66 percent with mild hypomania and 81 percent with moderate hypomania, then dipped back to 67 percent with severe hypomania.

Although there was no association between hypomanic and depressive symptoms in men, the authors of the study concluded that "men are far more likely to be irritable and agitated when hypomanic."

Dr Suppes and her colleagues observe that one reason bipolar II patients are misdiagnosed with depression is "the expectation that hypomania is predominantly euphoric." Patients tend not to report mixed episodes and psychiatrists often fail to ask the right questions. The result, they say, may lead to inappropriate treatments, such as antidepressant monotherapy which may induce increased cycling.

Read on …

Dysphoric Hypomania

The unofficial title of Dr Mood Spectrum belongs to Hagop Akiskal MD of the University of California, San Diego. Entering "mixed" to his name on PubMed turns up 47 published articles. His latest one, in the October Bipolar Disorders, reinforces Dr Suppes’ study and adds new insights.

From a sample of 320 bipolar II patients, Dr Akiskal and frequent collaborator, Franco Benazzi MD of the Hecker Outpatient Center (Ravenna) focused on 45 who presented with both hypomania and major depression. This meant that euphoric mood was absent. Instead, hypomania was based on the often overlooked DSM criteria for irritable mood plus four hypomanic symptoms.

The authors define this hypomania-major depression double-whammy as "dysphoric hypomania," which roughly corresponds to Dr Suppes "mixed hypomania," but sets a higher threshold involving more severely ill patients.


Comparing these patients to the "pure" bipolar II patients in the study found that those with dysphoric hypomania experienced more agitated depressions by a wide margin (86.6 percent vs 5.8 percent) and evidenced more atypical features (such as mood reactivity). Hypomanic symptoms included racing thoughts, distractibility, being more talkative, excessive risky activities, and increased goal-directed activity. Women were more likely to experience dysphoric hypomania than men.

Clearly, these individuals require urgent attention. Unfortunately, say the authors of the study, this "dark facet" of hypomania "is likely to be relegated to the domain of erratic personality disorders."

Based on their previous work and the work of others, the authors propose a continuum of mixed states that includes:

DSM-IV mixed state (dysphoric mania).
Mixed mania (mania with a few depressive symptoms).
Dysphoric hypomania (hypomanic episode plus full major depression).
Depressive mixed state (major depressive episode plus a few hypomanic behaviors. A landmark 2001 study by the same authors found at least two hypomanic symptoms in 73.1 percent of bipolar II depressions and 42.1 percent of unipolar major depressions. Three or more hypomanic symptoms were found in 46.3 percent of bipolar depressions and 7.8 percent of unipolar depressions.).
Agitated depression.
Think road rage, tall, venti, and grande, potentially dangerous in any brew. How safe are you?

 

Re: Can Someone Explain Soft Bipolar?

Posted by SLS on November 11, 2005, at 7:27:14

In reply to Re: Can Someone Explain Soft Bipolar?, posted by SLS on November 11, 2005, at 6:43:39

Absent from the description of mixed-state hypomania or dysphoric hypomania is the symptom of anxiety. I'm not sure anxiety can be used to differentiate between bipolar and unipolar affective disorders.


- Scott

 

Re: Can Someone Explain Soft Bipolar?

Posted by laurenjb on November 11, 2005, at 13:07:36

In reply to Re: Can Someone Explain Soft Bipolar?, posted by SLS on November 11, 2005, at 7:27:14

I recently consulted with a pyschopharmacologist who suggested I might fit within what they're calling "bipolar spectrum disorder" AKA soft bipolar, which some experts are labelling many people who were previously thought to have treatment resistant major depression (like me). His recommendation, which I am taking, is to use mood stabilizers instead of (rather than in addition to, which I have tried in the past)ADs and so far, so good. I'm on Lamictal (125mg, going up a little every week to 200mg) and Klonopin -- no ADs for the first time in about 8 years. As others on the board have said, I think the Dx matters a lot less than whether or not a treatment works. Just my two cents -- hope it helps. Take care, Lauren

 

Re: Can Someone Explain Soft Bipolar?

Posted by Lucia Francisca on November 11, 2005, at 14:09:23

In reply to Re: Can Someone Explain Soft Bipolar?, posted by laurenjb on November 11, 2005, at 13:07:36

Wow, thanks for the update on revisions to the DSM. I haven't even heard of those revisions yet! In my experience, I was on antidepressants--Celexa and Lexapro--for 5 years. I was elated the severe depressions got better, but I was still irritable and insomniac and anxious at times. Now I wonder if the AD meds caused the rapid cycling the studies and y'all have mentioned. Maybe. Now, on Seroquel, the mood stabilizer, I feel a lot better, less irritable. Maybe my pdocs diagnosis was right and I do need a mood stabilizer rather than AD. Thanks for the interesting information, all.

> I recently consulted with a pyschopharmacologist who suggested I might fit within what they're calling "bipolar spectrum disorder" AKA soft bipolar, which some experts are labelling many people who were previously thought to have treatment resistant major depression (like me). His recommendation, which I am taking, is to use mood stabilizers instead of (rather than in addition to, which I have tried in the past)ADs and so far, so good. I'm on Lamictal (125mg, going up a little every week to 200mg) and Klonopin -- no ADs for the first time in about 8 years. As others on the board have said, I think the Dx matters a lot less than whether or not a treatment works. Just my two cents -- hope it helps. Take care, Lauren

 

Re: Can Someone Explain Soft Bipolar? » SLS

Posted by Glydin on November 11, 2005, at 16:52:27

In reply to Re: Can Someone Explain Soft Bipolar?, posted by SLS on November 11, 2005, at 7:27:14

> I'm not sure anxiety can be used to differentiate between bipolar and unipolar affective disorders.

I agree with you on that.

I feel very confused overall with this trend – not saying it’s not correct – it just requires a major paradigm shift. This information is interesting as I have several people who have informed me their diagnosis has changed to BP II after years of being diagnosed with unipolar depression with anxiety as a large component. I’m not sure what to make of it – it almost appears to me to be a misnomer and muddies some already muddy waters.

There is so much crossover use of psychoactive meds. I’m not really sure what all this all means in the scheme of treatment. Most folks who present with what appears to be a unipolar depression with anxiety problem are going to receive a first line treatment with an AD and an antianxiety med ….. I would think. It would only be after untoward effects or lack of response that other treatment options would be introduced –still following the same protocol for change of the treatment plan.

Still leaves me confused.

 

Re: Can Someone Explain Soft Bipolar? » Glydin

Posted by Phillipa on November 11, 2005, at 17:51:09

In reply to Re: Can Someone Explain Soft Bipolar? » SLS, posted by Glydin on November 11, 2005, at 16:52:27

Pdoc said it was because of 81/2yrs of depression, anxiety. Which has changed over the years from panic attacks at age 24 to thryroid disease and after menopause anxiety internal. No shaking hands but racing thoughts, tiredness, insomnia with valium, depression afraid of going places alone or being home alone. So she thinks trileptal will work to stabalize moods. Internist I saw today said luvox is for OCD right? So I wonder why I'm even on this med? Fondly, Phillipa

 

Re: Can Someone Explain Soft Bipolar? » Phillipa

Posted by Glydin on November 11, 2005, at 18:37:25

In reply to Re: Can Someone Explain Soft Bipolar? » Glydin, posted by Phillipa on November 11, 2005, at 17:51:09

It's still a bit confusing to me. I hope in your case, it's a correct DX and the way to go in terms of treatment and that this works out great for you. I understand your treatment plans over the years have not, at times, been helpful at all.

I think I just question the criteria cited in articles. It almost appears that a "normal, good functioning" period (blessed if we experience one) is looked at as pathological in the presence of depression and anxiety findings. Maybe I'm not understanding it correctly - that could be a good bet.

I do hope it works out for you and as an aside from another post in regard to Klonopin being a narcotic where you mentioned the level of inpatient controls on some meds versus others, I so wanted to say:

"Who's got the keys and who wants to count?"

(an inside joke I hope you get)

 

Re: Can Someone Explain Soft Bipolar? » Glydin

Posted by Phillipa on November 11, 2005, at 19:23:25

In reply to Re: Can Someone Explain Soft Bipolar? » Phillipa, posted by Glydin on November 11, 2005, at 18:37:25

Glydin, the last night I worked made my first med mistake. I was of course overworked and acting as charge, doing all admissions, care plans, etc, and to top it off I took the keys home. Believe it or not I'd never made an error before. At least it was not an important one. No harm done. But it made me realize my anxiety was high. Only to find out my TSH was 22. After that was corrected inpt as old old pdoc insisted it was anxiety. He knew he'd made a mistake and asked me if I wanted to continue working. Like a wimp I said no. Been on Disablity since. How he ever got it I'll never know but it was the worst thing he could have done. If only I'd gone back to work. No agoraphobia, afraid to be alone. But now I'm hoping the referral kind of from Scott will yield a correct dx and treatment. Charlotte has large hospitals and in the week I've been here I been in ER, had colonoscopy. Seen internist that didn't think I was crazy when I said I had no smell or taste. Said he had a couple of other pts who had the same thing. When he heard I had chronic lyme's disease he thought that was the cause. An x-ray of spine to rule out tumor suggested by the gastroenterologis, multiple blood work as I have an elevated ANA. Said I never should have been treated by an infectioon control specialist. Said a rheumatologist would be better so referring me to one. All I can say is the medical sytem here is superb to the Beach. And believe it or not I still have the keys. They forgot to ask for them back. But they are only the ones that gain access to the unit. Drove back with the keys immediately. Wonder if anyone else will figure this out? Between you and me huh? Fondly, Phillipa

 

Re: Can Someone Explain Soft Bipolar? » Phillipa

Posted by Glydin on November 11, 2005, at 20:53:13

In reply to Re: Can Someone Explain Soft Bipolar? » Glydin, posted by Phillipa on November 11, 2005, at 19:23:25

Ah key stories... I think we all have good ones. I've took 'em home before myself. Drove them back at 2 AM AND took them on a transport call once, too - that was a major deal but at least I returned with them without having to drive them back in. They are things we laugh about AFTER sufficent time passes.

It's good to hear you are getting good care. Boy, you are getting the top to bottom treatment, but that's a good thing. Gotta check it all out.

Again, I hope it goes better than you can imagine...

 

Re: Can Someone Explain Soft Bipolar? » Glydin

Posted by Phillipa on November 11, 2005, at 22:11:06

In reply to Re: Can Someone Explain Soft Bipolar? » Phillipa, posted by Glydin on November 11, 2005, at 20:53:13

Glydin, me too. And if you ever want to talk more Babblemail me. Fondly, Phillipa

 

Re: Can Someone Explain Soft Bipolar?

Posted by cache-monkey on November 11, 2005, at 23:13:24

In reply to Re: Can Someone Explain Soft Bipolar? » Glydin, posted by Phillipa on November 11, 2005, at 17:51:09

Hi Phillipa,

Luvox's only "on-label" use in the US is for OCD, but it's basically just another SSRI and has been used as an antidepressant in Europe for years.

As far as soft-bipolarity, it's such an amorphous thing. Some p-docs believe that you're in the BP spectrum if multiple ADs don't work or make you worse in some capacity. And the symptoms of anxious-depression overlap quite a bit with mixed-state/dysphoria, e.g. racing thoughts on top of low mood.

Jim Phelps, who runs a site on BPII (www.psycheducation.org) doesn't see a symptomatic difference between BPII and GAD:
http://www.psycheducation.org/depression/Anxiety.htm#GAD

I'm struggling with this issue myself: "am I BP II/II"? And the worst is that different docs have different diagnosis.

I think that trying mood stabilizers is a good thing. If they work, they work, and it sort of doesn't matter what you actually "are". One thing to keep in mind is that you probably don't be dosing accoring to standards for classical BP if you're trying to get at BPII. I.e. start lower and go slower. This is especially true for the anti-convulsants, which (except for Lamictal) tend to have more impact on the manic, rather than depressive, side of things.

Good luck Phillipa, and hang in there.

Best,
cache-monkey

> Pdoc said it was because of 81/2yrs of depression, anxiety. Which has changed over the years from panic attacks at age 24 to thryroid disease and after menopause anxiety internal. No shaking hands but racing thoughts, tiredness, insomnia with valium, depression afraid of going places alone or being home alone. So she thinks trileptal will work to stabalize moods. Internist I saw today said luvox is for OCD right? So I wonder why I'm even on this med? Fondly, Phillipa

 

Re: Can Someone Explain Soft Bipolar?

Posted by snapper on November 11, 2005, at 23:56:24

In reply to Re: Can Someone Explain Soft Bipolar?, posted by SLS on November 11, 2005, at 7:27:14

> Absent from the description of mixed-state hypomania or dysphoric hypomania is the symptom of anxiety. I'm not sure anxiety can be used to differentiate between bipolar and unipolar affective disorders.
>
>
> - Scott

Hi Scott, how are you. Best as possible I hope!
I concur with you as far as anxiety. I truly believe in 5 to ten years "they" Dr.'s Clinicians,et. al...will be gin to realize that BP II , or BP I or III or what ever they want to so neatly tuck in to the dsm-IV or upcoming version dsm-V, they will ultimately realize that with the beast we are all dealing with is a large common denominator of not just agitated depression, or mixed or what evr or merely refractory in nature but a beast that needs serious and urget care > It to me is a bi-polar "Spectrum" and the idea has much to subsatiate its chaos it creates in at least my brain and I am sure many if not milllions of others brains. I feel like I am in Park and need to go 100 miles an hr, all at the same time. I am miserable most of the time. My only personal refuge is ..Music, low stress, sleep, and Alcohol (and not suggesting any one use that funky little molecule) but we all know "we" do and it is only a short term answer. I am now 5 days sober but At least it took care of my very constant companions of severe Social Anxiety, my incessant thought processes and lossened me up to where i could function. Too bad they can't put liqour in a pill...Sorry I have strayed..see what it does. We surely know the animal we are dealing with but treating it( not just BP II) but the "Spectrum" is surely horrible , frustrating and tedious. Not just for the care givers but us patients , obviously as well. How else could a "soft BP II'er write this essay and feel sucidal at the same time..? Well many of us know very well it happens and Dr's. Don't seem to know exactly what to do. I have failed every single Mood Stabilizer so far, and of course my illness has taken on different colors over the last several tears ,however you-we, the Dr.s look at it It clearly just sucks.. Anxiety is a bitch. Have a great trip my friend We value your input and knowledge on this board and be safe .
Snapper

 

Re: Can Someone Explain Soft Bipolar? » Phillipa

Posted by snapper on November 12, 2005, at 0:11:49

In reply to Re: Can Someone Explain Soft Bipolar? » Glydin, posted by Phillipa on November 11, 2005, at 17:51:09

Hi, Phillipa, I have over the last year or so folllowed your posts and you are always so nice, supprtive and sweet. I will also add that we are all in good company here. A lot of the same symtomology runs rampant through this special place called "Babble" I don't think it is fair for a dr. to just say "LUvox is for OCD" I have OCD, panic,constant brain fog, dizziness, de-realization etc GAD and all the crap that goes with the soft bi-polar "label". However LUvox was just the first SSRI that was FDA approved to treat OCD..with the drug , Anafranil being the first effective tca for this condition... I have taken Effexor 300 to 375 mg as my main AD for the last 11 years ..it does not cut the job anymore for my GAD/OCD symptoms or depression...etc. But that being said..I beleive any SSRI or me-too type drug has the potential to treat these general conditions. Samples, Samples, Samples and marketing, marketing , $$$ and more marketing .... In any case what ever You, myself or Scott or any of us are feeling or "not feelng" , I know we all beleive we desperately need relief.... I push my self everyday and I hate leaving the safe confines of my little apartment but at the same time I crave human interaction and am horribly agitated and anxious 85 to 90 % of the time I am out. I am on 600mg Tri-leptal and I switch between K and Valium (just recently) dep. on mucle spasms and psychic tension and it barely does the job. I am not giving up. I honestly get feeling more suicidal from the agitation at times than I do from the depression. Soon we shall find relief. Best to you
Snapper

 

Hey this is a very good thread ...lets keep it up

Posted by snapper on November 12, 2005, at 0:32:19

In reply to Re: Can Someone Explain Soft Bipolar?, posted by cache-monkey on November 11, 2005, at 23:13:24

.......and i will add that is no wonder that I have been on over 60 some psych meds in the last 15 years.......Dr. phelps site is supurb.If only Dr.'s here there or where-ever we live, would not just say.....oh you should'nt believe everything you see or hear or read on the net" crap it infuriates me!!!We ARE THE PATIENTS..THEY ARE THE Dr.s and it has been said many times before on this site..If we or you etc don't like them and are not taking into consideration that we are smart..are the ones experiencing this living nightmare then we should do our best to "fire them" and find ones who are more open and appreciable of the fact that that it is good to have patients that are pro-active in thier treatment plan...they WORK for and with us..we are NOT thier loyal subjects. Too bad so many of them have the "God complex"---when we try to tell them we are F&*ing miserable they say things like ..go to church, get out more often ..make some new friends,excercise.. get a hobby, they just really don't get it... get a girlfriend etc..(which are all great suggestions) I would if I could... I do however think that is changing!! Ok rant over... Tired, irritable, awake, depressed, motivated, un-motivated and frustrated, fatigued and hyper at the same time, mixed or not....etc
ps: Glydin or whoever said that BPII/GAD has a serious potential overlap is spot on!! __Depressed but still want to do things but the intense body crippling anxiety that makes me want to jump out of my skin___ , is right on... I just left a thread on this topic a few days ago and got no response but. Like I said ..hope we can keep this thread going.
Snapper

 

Re: Can Someone Explain Soft Bipolar?

Posted by SLS on November 12, 2005, at 7:07:06

In reply to Re: Can Someone Explain Soft Bipolar?, posted by snapper on November 11, 2005, at 23:56:24

Dear Snapper,

Thanks for the kind sentiments and flattering comments.

> and of course my illness has taken on different colors over the last several tears...

Interesting typo.

:-(

I don't remember if you tried Nardil, but that sounds like it might be a good drug for you when combined with a small-medium dose of an AP like Zyprexa, Seroquel, or Abilify.

What do you think?


- Scott

 

Re: Can Someone Explain Soft Bipolar?

Posted by CK1 on November 12, 2005, at 10:59:10

In reply to Re: Can Someone Explain Soft Bipolar? » Phillipa, posted by snapper on November 12, 2005, at 0:11:49

Who cares what if its soft bipolar, bipolar 3, recurrent depression, or depression with racing thoughts. If AD's alone do not work, according to many docs, bipolar should be seriously considered. The fact that you've only been treated with SSRI after SSRI for the past 8 years is simply awful....good pyschiatrists would have never gone this route because it simply hasn't worked and WON'T.
Philippa, I don't see any reason for you not to get treated as a "bipolar" with mood stabilizers and AD's! I think you're on the right track. My cousin and aunt both didn't respond to SSRI's alone and are doing very well on mood stabilizers and SSRI's together. The SSRI's that caused agitation before the mood stabilizers now actually work! Strange, but true.
Mood stabilizers take much longer to work than SSRI's, sometimes up to 3 months to get fully stable. Also, during the first month or two, they might make you more depressed, but my doctor said don't worry about that.

In my case, I responded well to Paxil for 3 years and it stopped working, then tried 4 SSRI's and they each had horrible side effects. During my first appt with my new pdoc about a month ago, he stopped me in the middle of my speech and said "bipolar". Paxil worked great for a few years, but it will never work again unless I'm stabilized on a mood stabilizer first. I'm just on a mood stabilizer now and will be for the next month until I get my mood swings under control (feeling great one week and bad the next).

Philippa, don't automatically reject that you're bipolar. It isn't any worse than plain old depression and anxiety and the SSRI's alone haven't worked for you so you NEED to try a different strategy if you ever want to get better. I thought PaulBWell's comment was very rude, but, in essence, he was correct. If you continue taking SSRI's only, you really are wasting your life :)

 

Re: Can Someone Explain Soft Bipolar? » Phillipa

Posted by Nickengland on November 14, 2005, at 15:02:46

In reply to Can Someone Explain Soft Bipolar?, posted by Phillipa on November 10, 2005, at 21:07:17

Hi Phillipa,

You might find this book interesting if you want to learn about soft Bipolar..

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0595348246/drbobsvirte00-20

Kind regards

Nick

 

Re: Can Someone Explain Soft Bipolar? » CK1

Posted by Phillipa on November 14, 2005, at 22:39:16

In reply to Re: Can Someone Explain Soft Bipolar?, posted by CK1 on November 12, 2005, at 10:59:10

Hi Nick, thanks for the link. It does sound a lot like me. Hopefully the new pdoc a friend of Scott's using in Charlotte can shed some light. I'll be seeing an assiociate of his Google www.eastoverpsych.com. I'm seeing Dr. Wallace on Dec 22. Love your friend, Phillipa

 

Re: Can Someone Explain Soft Bipolar?

Posted by Phillipa on November 14, 2005, at 22:40:35

In reply to Re: Can Someone Explain Soft Bipolar? » CK1, posted by Phillipa on November 14, 2005, at 22:39:16

Oops should have been to Nickengland. Sorry CKl. Fondly, Phillipa

 

Re: Hey this is a very good thread ...lets keep it up

Posted by rabble_rouser on November 18, 2005, at 15:16:40

In reply to Hey this is a very good thread ...lets keep it up, posted by snapper on November 12, 2005, at 0:32:19

Hello everyone,

Amazed to read what you are discussing. After nearly two decades of being 'depressed', my peppered history of inexplicable moments of 'up' in between the long, long downs(especially recently) and long list of very un- unipolar sysmptoms led me to believe I may be bipolar. Everything you are discussing seems to make perfect sense.

When I was on effexor I was like an unstoppable force - unbelievably confident but often going too far. Also had occasional anxiety and sleep disruption. I have read this is a typical bipolar response to effexor.

Can it be treated without meds?

Ross


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