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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by MJC on October 5, 2002, at 21:39:45
I've just been reading over articles concerning being Hyper Manic. This is what my Doctor now claims that I am. It's just a really confusing cycle to try and pinpoint exactly what kind of anxiety disorder I have in order to treat it.
Anyways, for a person that is hyper manic it says that that person is always going through highs and lows. I've been through depression before (after my Mom's death for a number of years) but I can honestly say I haven't been depressed for an extended period of time in over two years. However, my anxiety is through the roof. It's always there, it's just that some days are better than others. On my good days (without medication) I just have this feeling like the world is going to end and that I'm being physically and mentally torn apart. On my bad days I have viscious panic attacks. I don't seem to have any lows though, or any periods without at least some anxiety. Could I possibly by hypermanic? Or is there something else that we're skipping over all together?
At first we thought it was GAD, but my anxiety is way too severe to be that. Then we thought that I had a mild form of aspergus syndrome (high-functioning autism). After going to a conference with my Doctor and hearing her talk to her Colleagues about it, we're both certain that it can't possibly be that either. In the past, when I was sort of well, I had absolutely no problem functioning like a normal person. Through my College years I even tutored students with learning disabilities for about 2 years. Therefore, I can communicate fairly well with other people. When I talk to people, I don't talk "at" them, but I talk to them. The only real sign that it could have been Aspergers Syndrome was because I tend to go through phases. I'll get interested in a little hobby and then follow it obsessively till it tires me out. Once I've learned just about everything there is to learn about it, I move on to something else.
One other point to add, this is something that I've just recently found out since my Mother has been deceased for almost 8 years, she suffered from a bi-polar disorder as well. She was mildly manic depressive. Meaning that she didn't extremely jump to highs and lows but she did have many peaks and valleys. For example, when I was young, fell, and hurt myself, my Mother instinctly panicked, started crying hysterically, and had to get my Dad home from his job (which was about 20 minutes away) in order to drive "us" to the hospital: me to get stitches, her to get sedated. The doctor that is now treating me also treated her in the past, more for depression without medication, but she did take note of her mood swings. Some days she would come in and be absolutely happy, everything was fine in the world. Other days she would be absolutely miserable and close to tears though everything was as fine those days as they were the days in which she seemed overly happy. I know sometimes that these kind of disorders are passed on through the genes.
Any recommendations on this would be greatly appreciative. I'm really interested in find out the root cause of exactly what I'm suffering from so that I know what I'm dealing with. This disorder has become almost too much to bear; at the moment I'm basically out of work being supported by an absolutely wonderful and understanding family and basically being freed from any source of stress untill I'm able to get this disorder underneath my control. My Doctor has also been wonderful and has been explaining in detail exactly what she thinks is going on here, at which point I tend to spend a couple of days doing my own research on it.
So if anybody knows a few things that I'm missing out on here, I know I must be missing a hell of a lot since I was never interested in this type of thing untill it basically consumed my life. Anyways, any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
Mike
Posted by madison88 on October 6, 2002, at 1:17:05
In reply to Anxiety Disorder -- Please Advise, posted by MJC on October 5, 2002, at 21:39:45
it sounds like you are describing two different disorders. Manic depression is having high and low moods, being depressed at times and being elated (or sometimes irritated)at times. An anxiety disorder would be a separate problem. If you have both manic depression, and are "hypermanic," and have an anxiety disorder, then these two disorders would be comorbid, meaning that you have both and experience both together. Manic depression is usually treated with medication, it is suppose to be highly genetic, so if your mother were manic depressive, then it is likely that this is also part of the problem for you.
It sounds as though you also suffer from anxiety. generalized anxiety disorder can be very severe. the "general" part of the term means that it is part of everything you do, it is there in all situations and about all things. now, if you were anxious just about having panic attacks, then you would have panic disorder. GAD can include panic attacks, it just has to be about more than just panic attacks. I have obsessive compulsive disorder. it is an anxiety disorder, but also involves thoughts that won't go away. certain words and phrases repeat in my mind over and over again. i get interested in a subject, and can't stop thinking about it for a long time. i have mostly obsessions, but people with the disorder also can have compulsions, where they repeat actions over and over in attempts to stop the anxiety. The obsessions in my case are about all sorts of things, from the name of a street to the fear of getting hit by a car. if you constantly think about death, and just death, it isn't OCD. The repeated thoughts have to be about more than just one subject.
that was quick overview of some of the anxiety disorders. anxiety is best treated by both medication and talking therapy. Manic depression really takes medication, therapy doesn't help as much with it. when your mother got really upset when you fell, that is anxiety, not manic depression. it sounds as if there are two disorders at work in your family. manic depression and some kind of anxiety disorder. it could be GAD, which can be very severe, it isn't just a disorder for less anxious people.
i really hope you get the help you need. medication and therapy togther can totally change your life for the better. i have been treated for anxiety (OCD), depression, and mood swings for the last two years, and i can't believe i was as bad as i was before i got help--meds and therapy. good luck!
Posted by ivy on October 9, 2002, at 16:33:33
In reply to Anxiety Disorder -- Please Advise, posted by MJC on October 5, 2002, at 21:39:45
Can you explain more of your symptoms, how is your sleeping, eating, going outside and into public, is that hard for you? I have GAD and it is very severe, I could have a panic attack everyday if I wasn't on medication. It sounds like you need to go to a different doctor. I think they misdiagnosed your mother and they might be misdiagnosing you. Being misdiagnosed is one of the worst things. I hope things work out for you. I know they can.
Posted by tom_traubert on October 13, 2002, at 19:22:52
In reply to Anxiety Disorder -- Please Advise, posted by MJC on October 5, 2002, at 21:39:45
Hey Mike,
Sounds like you're going through some real tension. I can't speak for your diagnosis, but I can offer practical suggestions to decrease anxiety. "Don't Panic" by Dr. Reid Wilson is an excellent book that deconstructs the way anxiety works. I've owned a copy for about ten years now, and it has really helped.
Also, how is your physical condition? Do you exercise? If not, think about starting. You can sweat off so much of the daily bullshit--you'd be surprised. It sure saves my ass. More importantly, have you ever had your thyroid checked out? If your thyroid's out of whack, SO ARE YOU. A couple of blood tests can check the hormone levels. I'm not a doctor, but I've known some people with hyperthyroidism who have benefited (and slowed down)from medication. Could be a possibility--if you run "thyroid" in any web search engine you'll learn more.
Just a couple ideas... hope it helps. Good Luck.
Posted by judy1 on October 14, 2002, at 10:54:50
In reply to Anxiety Disorder -- Please Advise, posted by MJC on October 5, 2002, at 21:39:45
Hi Mike,
As someone with both disorders- bipolar 1 and panic, I get the general impression that you are suffering from an anxiety disorder. As another poster pointed out- your mother reacted to a situation (anxiety), when my son fell off his bike requiring 11 stitches, I fell apart too- any mother would. Bipolar is all about mood swings not tied to anything, although stress can set them off, I had a psychotic manic episode after a close relative died (not a depressive one as you would expect). A way to play both sides is to take klonopin- a benzo used for panic but also fairly effective as a secondary mood stabilizer. If you do indeed have a mild form of bipolar with hypomanic symptoms or are perhaps cyclothymic (where symptoms aren't severe enough to qualify for bipolar) then you should see an improvement with klonopin w/o moving to the heavy mood stabilizers. As far as therapy- I would be dead w/o it- it is the backbone that treats my bipolar disorder- the only exception being if I am psychotic, then I will not respond. Hope some of this helped- judy
Posted by MJC on October 14, 2002, at 21:39:03
In reply to Re: Anxiety Disorder -- Please Advise » MJC, posted by judy1 on October 14, 2002, at 10:54:50
I'm currently taking 1.5mg of Clonazepam (Klonopin) a day. I'm taking this along with Effexor XR, 75mg every 36 hours. It's working well for my anxiety, but, I'm still cycling like crazy. I'll be extremely wired for maybe 2 days, then depressed and feel like crying over nothing for about a day, then I'll feel like I'm on extacy and just coasting and glowing for about a day or two.My Dr. is suggesting that I try out Epival (Depakote) which I'm going to start on this week.
Posted by Dinah on October 15, 2002, at 7:43:46
In reply to Re: Anxiety Disorder -- Please Advise, posted by MJC on October 14, 2002, at 21:39:03
I think mood stabilizers are wonderful for this sort of thing, especially with an activating AD like Effexor. I take very low dose Depakote and find it very useful.
Posted by Dr. Bob on October 15, 2002, at 21:41:24
In reply to Re: Anxiety Disorder -- Please Advise, posted by MJC on October 14, 2002, at 21:39:03
> I'm currently taking 1.5mg of Clonazepam (Klonopin) a day...
Sorry if it's confusing, but the board that focuses on medication is Psycho-Babble, with just one "Psycho". Here's a link:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20021012/msgs/123828.html
Bob
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