Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 780540

Shown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

Bipolar and Anxiety related??????

Posted by Phillipa on September 3, 2007, at 12:03:30

Just heard that if someone has panic and anxiety that it's related to bipolar is this true? As my anxiety was just dx'd again as PTSD. Confused again. Thanks Phillipa

 

Re: Bipolar and Anxiety related??????

Posted by Justherself54 on September 3, 2007, at 14:22:27

In reply to Bipolar and Anxiety related??????, posted by Phillipa on September 3, 2007, at 12:03:30

It is related, for me anyway..I've always suffered from anxiety and have will have panic attacks if not on an AD

 

Re: Bipolar and Anxiety related?????? » Phillipa

Posted by polarbear206 on September 3, 2007, at 15:42:12

In reply to Bipolar and Anxiety related??????, posted by Phillipa on September 3, 2007, at 12:03:30

> Just heard that if someone has panic and anxiety that it's related to bipolar is this true? As my anxiety was just dx'd again as PTSD. Confused again. Thanks Phillipa

Not necessarily in all circumstances. What is the origin of you PTSD diagnosis? Bipolar *can* present with anxiety, panic, agitation, anger, insomnia and not just the euphoric hypomanias and manias that lay people are inclined to think. Go to http://www.psycheducation.org/depression/frames

Polarbear

 

Re: Bipolar and Anxiety related??????

Posted by rskontos on September 5, 2007, at 15:09:02

In reply to Re: Bipolar and Anxiety related?????? » Phillipa, posted by polarbear206 on September 3, 2007, at 15:42:12

I have been following this thread because I have anxiety, and have had several panic attacks. I have severe depression that I was being treated with an AD that didn't work. I haven't tried another because I am anxious about them since the first didn't work. I have been in some therapy but........ she says I have let me see if I can spell it right dissociation. When I read up on it, it sounds just like how I feel but sounds like I need more help than I am getting at the time. I have highs and lows like bi-polar or a mood disorder. My questions for you guys is where should I go to get help. So far the doctor that prescribed the AD I think is out of her league. I think the therapist is good but she is only available every two to three weeks and maybe I need more help than that. Is it reasonable to want more help. If so, where is the best place to start? Or should I just try lexapro and see if it helps me stablise more. I just want to retreat from the world again. I dont want to deal with it anymore.

 

Re: Bipolar and Anxiety related?????? » rskontos

Posted by polarbear206 on September 5, 2007, at 18:16:43

In reply to Re: Bipolar and Anxiety related??????, posted by rskontos on September 5, 2007, at 15:09:02

> I have been following this thread because I have anxiety, and have had several panic attacks. I have severe depression that I was being treated with an AD that didn't work. I haven't tried another because I am anxious about them since the first didn't work. I have been in some therapy but........ she says I have let me see if I can spell it right dissociation. When I read up on it, it sounds just like how I feel but sounds like I need more help than I am getting at the time. I have highs and lows like bi-polar or a mood disorder. My questions for you guys is where should I go to get help. So far the doctor that prescribed the AD I think is out of her league. I think the therapist is good but she is only available every two to three weeks and maybe I need more help than that. Is it reasonable to want more help. If so, where is the best place to start? Or should I just try lexapro and see if it helps me stablise more. I just want to retreat from the world again. I dont want to deal with it anymore.

You need to find a psychiatrist who specializes in mood disorders. Your therapist many be able help you out. When did your troubles start? Have you had any childhood traumas that warrent a diagnosis of a dissociative disorder? It can get complicated treating this, esp. if you have a mood disorder on top of this. That's why you need a experienced, reputable p-doc. Keep a detailed diary of you moods, sleep patterns, energy levels, etc.. Arm youself with knowledge and do some research for a better understanding of your condition. When did you symptoms occur? What happens when you take an AD?

Polarbear

 

Re: Bipolar and Anxiety related??????

Posted by finelinebob on September 7, 2007, at 11:04:27

In reply to Bipolar and Anxiety related??????, posted by Phillipa on September 3, 2007, at 12:03:30

> Just heard that if someone has panic and anxiety that it's related to bipolar is this true? As my anxiety was just dx'd again as PTSD. Confused again. Thanks Phillipa

My last 2 pdocs (one in Michigan, now in NYC) both diagnosed me as having "Bipolar Spectrum Disorder". One for the next DSM, they're still trying to define it. I think, personally, it's coming from the medical community facing up to the comorbidity of depression and anxiety and thinking "Hey, maybe there's one disorder here, not two". So, for BSM as it has been explained to me, the "poles" are depression and anxiety.

Other identifying criteria that I was shown by the 1st pdoc who sugggested I was "bipolar" were:
-- lack of response or negative reactions to SSRIs
-- a least 1 manic episode triggered by an SSRI
-- good response to atypical anti-psychotics
Can't remember the rest ... it was a list of like 10 things besides a depression disorder diagnosis concomitant with an anxiety disorder diagnosis ... but I was fitting about 80% of the profile really, really well.

So, if this is some new type of bipolar ... if that makes docs treat me as if my biological sources of my depression and anxiety are two sides of the same coin and need to be addressed synergistically rather than separately ... then I'm all for it.

flb

 

What did you pdoc recommend? (nm) » finelinebob

Posted by JaneB on September 8, 2007, at 10:04:29

In reply to Re: Bipolar and Anxiety related??????, posted by finelinebob on September 7, 2007, at 11:04:27

 

Re: What did you pdoc recommend? » JaneB

Posted by finelinebob on September 8, 2007, at 20:26:53

In reply to What did you pdoc recommend? (nm) » finelinebob, posted by JaneB on September 8, 2007, at 10:04:29

I had already gotten off of SSRIs before the Mich. pdoc suggested bipolar spectrum as a dx. I was on nortriptyline and clonazepam already (and ritalin for ADD), so he added a mood stabilizer -- zyprexa at first. That combo worked wonderfully ... except that my triglycerides shot up over 900. Not good. So we switched to lamictal, which didn't work as well but did provide a lot of relief: I was pretty crippled at the time by some serious PTSD-related anxiety.

Fast forward a couple years (January of this one) and I have another "life event" that kicked my PTSD back into overdrive. My NYC pdoc added abilify and upped my lamictal dosage. Again, there was a noticeable improvement. Not as good as before January, but I've got a lot of recovery still left to do from that.

 

Re: Bipolar and Anxiety related??????

Posted by rskontos on September 14, 2007, at 15:18:26

In reply to Re: Bipolar and Anxiety related?????? » rskontos, posted by polarbear206 on September 5, 2007, at 18:16:43

You need to find a psychiatrist who specializes in mood disorders. Your therapist many be able help you out. When did your troubles start? Have you had any childhood traumas that warrent a diagnosis of a dissociative disorder? It can get complicated treating this, esp. if you have a mood disorder on top of this. That's why you need a experienced, reputable p-doc. Keep a detailed diary of you moods, sleep patterns, energy levels, etc.. Arm youself with knowledge and do some research for a better understanding of your condition. When did you symptoms occur? What happens when you take an AD?

Polarbear, thanks I just realized you responded to my post. I had childhood traumas that did result in this diagnosis. I think I still dissociate as a adult. I feel so cut off from everything and have often wondered why I don't feel more. I didn't realize what I did until the therapist explained it nor did I connect the childhood trauma. It went on for so long that I just got used to the feelings of unconnectedness ( is this a word) anyway. I don't feel bound to the physical world sometimes and what has been disagnosis as partial seizures I am now wondering about as my reality or my connectness with it will fade and I will wake up to reality minutes later. But everyone else doesnt' know what happened. This use to happen alot when I was younger and faded as I got older and has re-surfaced. It is increasing with frequency. I am trying to figure out what causes it and I don't know. It is during stressful times but not extreme stress, maybe more like very busy times. I am even experimenting with trying to bring them on to see if is mental or a seizure experience. The neurologist has me on topomax to prevent them but even with the dosage high they come so that is why I wonder. I have no energy now either, I am depressed, I fatigue easy, I just want to sleep. I force myself though the day. I want to read or sleep and just escape. I do think I need to find a p-doc that specializes in mood disorders. I have not seen my therapist in while because during one of my high mood I didn't think I need her any more. Ha. What a joke. She though has a very limited schedule and I probably need one that has more time. She is good though. The only AD I have taken was not good, it left me numb, although at the time I was a basket case, my daughter just left for college and all I did was cry and it helped that but it bottled up my feelings too much. All my emotions came out too strong I think and I couldn't control them and the AD controlled them too much. Then it brough on a severe gastro issue that I just now recovered from. I think maybe I need another AD cymbalta just wasn't right. But only now can I think about another because with my level of fear and anxiety I have been fearful of taking something else. I just I fear almost everything. Not cleaning my house, not having energy, being alone, being with people, see a p-doc, not seeing a p-doc. If I didn't have this site I might just go crazy. It got so bad while I was tapering off cymbalta I almost did something bad but stopped because I have a 14 year old son that needs me. Thank God for him it keeps me partially sane. And my daughter, she is 19 I can't harm myself because of them. I won't do that to them. My mom didn't think that way unfortunately. Anyway, thanks for answering my post. rk

 

Re: Bipolar and Anxiety related?????? » rskontos

Posted by polarbear206 on September 17, 2007, at 13:14:22

In reply to Re: Bipolar and Anxiety related??????, posted by rskontos on September 14, 2007, at 15:18:26

> You need to find a psychiatrist who specializes in mood disorders. Your therapist many be able help you out. When did your troubles start? Have you had any childhood traumas that warrent a diagnosis of a dissociative disorder? It can get complicated treating this, esp. if you have a mood disorder on top of this. That's why you need a experienced, reputable p-doc. Keep a detailed diary of you moods, sleep patterns, energy levels, etc.. Arm youself with knowledge and do some research for a better understanding of your condition. When did you symptoms occur? What happens when you take an AD?
>
> Polarbear, thanks I just realized you responded to my post. I had childhood traumas that did result in this diagnosis. I think I still dissociate as a adult. I feel so cut off from everything and have often wondered why I don't feel more. I didn't realize what I did until the therapist explained it nor did I connect the childhood trauma. It went on for so long that I just got used to the feelings of unconnectedness ( is this a word) anyway. I don't feel bound to the physical world sometimes and what has been disagnosis as partial seizures I am now wondering about as my reality or my connectness with it will fade and I will wake up to reality minutes later. But everyone else doesnt' know what happened. This use to happen alot when I was younger and faded as I got older and has re-surfaced. It is increasing with frequency. I am trying to figure out what causes it and I don't know. It is during stressful times but not extreme stress, maybe more like very busy times. I am even experimenting with trying to bring them on to see if is mental or a seizure experience. The neurologist has me on topomax to prevent them but even with the dosage high they come so that is why I wonder. I have no energy now either, I am depressed, I fatigue easy, I just want to sleep. I force myself though the day. I want to read or sleep and just escape. I do think I need to find a p-doc that specializes in mood disorders. I have not seen my therapist in while because during one of my high mood I didn't think I need her any more. Ha. What a joke. She though has a very limited schedule and I probably need one that has more time. She is good though. The only AD I have taken was not good, it left me numb, although at the time I was a basket case, my daughter just left for college and all I did was cry and it helped that but it bottled up my feelings too much. All my emotions came out too strong I think and I couldn't control them and the AD controlled them too much. Then it brough on a severe gastro issue that I just now recovered from. I think maybe I need another AD cymbalta just wasn't right. But only now can I think about another because with my level of fear and anxiety I have been fearful of taking something else. I just I fear almost everything. Not cleaning my house, not having energy, being alone, being with people, see a p-doc, not seeing a p-doc. If I didn't have this site I might just go crazy. It got so bad while I was tapering off cymbalta I almost did something bad but stopped because I have a 14 year old son that needs me. Thank God for him it keeps me partially sane. And my daughter, she is 19 I can't harm myself because of them. I won't do that to them. My mom didn't think that way unfortunately. Anyway, thanks for answering my post. rk

RK,

I can really relate to the kid going off to college. My one and only left to start his freshman year at Penn State. I started to get emotional about it the week before he left. It was double the emotions, (that time of the month).

Sounds as if you are not benefiting from the Topamax and it is pulling you down. Getting your moods under control will help keep these episodes of feeling disconnect at bay. Do you have a diagnosis of bipolar spectrum disorder? I wondered if this was looked into, since you stated that the cymbalta made you feel flat and then high? Were you taking this when you were "high" and told your therapist you didn't think you needed her? What are all the meds you have tried and your experiences while on them? What are your symptoms when you are off of meds? Sorry for all the questions.

Polarbear

Polarbear

 

Re: Bipolar and Anxiety related??????

Posted by rina on September 17, 2007, at 13:47:52

In reply to Re: Bipolar and Anxiety related?????? » rskontos, posted by polarbear206 on September 17, 2007, at 13:14:22

Sometimes the anxiety can come when I least expect it and sometimes it's a result of tension, stress or a particular life situation going on. Be that it may, what helps for me is keeping a journal including how I feel when it happens, what's going on during and how long it lasts also how it affects me physically i.e sweating,claminess,nervousness etc. Also, I keep a mood chart as well. That way when I have my appointment with my pdoc we can better address how to deal with the issue. Hope you feel better.

 

Re: Bipolar and Anxiety related??????

Posted by rskontos on September 18, 2007, at 17:52:17

In reply to Re: Bipolar and Anxiety related??????, posted by rina on September 17, 2007, at 13:47:52

The journal for my moods is good. I had a rough night after letting my feelings out so I thank you guys for responding. It is hard for me to tell others how I am feeling as I feel so crazy. I have denied for so long how I really feel. No I just have the dissocative disorder diagnosis from the therapist, anxiety and severe depression along with it. I think I might be bi-polar but no one has diagnosised it as of yet. I made a neuro appt. but she can't see me until the 5 of Oct. I had a migraine today too of all things so maybe the topamax is pooping out. But you know depakote, at 750 mg. and lamictal I don't remember how much didn't help my moods but maybe I wasn't on them long enough. Depakote made my IBS really flare up so I quit it. Lamicatal make me just plain feel bad but I might think about trying it again if the p-doc suggests it. I really want to find one that has some experience with mood disorders since that would cover the dissocative I think and bi-polar along with the anxiety and depression. Today I just feel bad. I couldn't sleep and today I have a migraine. I finally got my headache gone and now have that drained sluggish let down after a migraine feeling. Hopefully tomorrow will be better. Thanks for answering because I have cried today, felt bad after opening up yesterday, felt numb, had to go to the dentist and worn my sunglasses through the entire visit. At least they understand migraines and were ok and worked quickly. I am going to start the journal to see if it helps with when I see the doctor. My anxiety is very high now, and those zone out episodes have me freaked out too and worried about the next one. Sometimes they might be partial seizures sometimes I don't think so, or they replace panic attacks. I upped the topamax back too 200 mg until I see the neuro or get something to replace it or something for the anxiety. Thanks again RK

 

Re: Bipolar and Anxiety related??????

Posted by rskontos on September 18, 2007, at 18:06:22

In reply to Re: Bipolar and Anxiety related?????? » rskontos, posted by polarbear206 on September 17, 2007, at 13:14:22

Polarbear, actually no I wasn't on cymbalta when I decided I didn't need my therapist. I didn't tell her I just haven't called her back when I missed a session. I have since called her and her voice mail says she is on vacation. I left a message telling her I was sorry and messed up and to call me. I will see if she does. I understand your situation with your son. I my dauhgter is now a sophomore and it was a little easier this year. Not great but easier. I think you are right about my moods and getting them under control. It would help with the anxiety too and depression I think. It is amazing at my swings. I have not taking many meds for depression, a ton of seizure drugs but not for mood disorders so they were being looked at for that reason and I never knew they were used for this purpose. But they didn't seem to help my moods which swung while on them and the dosage for seizure control is usually higher than most things so you think they would help for mood control but maybe it was too high for that and backfired. I don't know. I have had topamax, still on, depakote, DHE, hydro, vicodon cant spell it, imitrex, gosh so many I can't remember them all, I should have kept better records. Loads of painkiiler since one doctor thought that was a good way to go for migraines but they don't work, I replaced him. But no one I ever saw did I confess about the depression until my daughter left and I had my first panic attack and got really scared because after that one I had another one and the depression hit hard and I couldn't get out of bed. I went to my gp and see gave me cymbalta. I was on it 6 months but I got really sick on it and wound up in the hospital due to collitis. I had to taper slowly off of it and that was extremly hard. It was like de-toxing. I reacted hard to cymbalta. It was like having the flu only really bad. Brain zaps, no energy, rages, crying jags, brain zaps, body aches, and lots more two bad rashes that I nearly drove me crazy. And the partial seizures or brain zone out started and I went to the neuro. This is why I wouldn't start another AD and elected to have therapy instead to try no meds. But I don't think it is working altogether. Sorry for the book. I applaud those that are afraid to try different meds because I am scared shi_less to try more and scared not to. Catch 22 situation. Again, thanks for listening. I sound crazy to myself. But it helps to talk it out and my husband doesn't get it.


This is the end of the thread.


Show another thread

URL of post in thread:


Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ


[dr. bob] Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD, bob@dr-bob.org

Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.