Posted by helenag on January 6, 2004, at 16:16:52
In reply to hypomania, posted by Lyrical13 on January 5, 2004, at 22:22:46
I was very interested in your post; can identify with your "activities." I also go on spurts of house projects and spending sprees, but have a smaller pocket book. What am I saying??? I often "nickel and dime" us to those levels. I have sewing projects started and not finished, cans of paint bought, yards of material and trim. I've come home from work at 10pm and commenced to paint. Have spent hours and hours doing projects non-stop. After these feverish spells, I would crash into depressions.
The worst hypomanic spell I ever had was when I was on geodon. It threw me into a mania spell--I hardly slept, even though the stuff made me feel like I had a zombie woof behind my eyes after I took it. When the doc took me off it, I crashed so bad, I had to be hospitalized.
What I want to ask you, and of course, out of politeness I mean no disrespect but am asking out of curiosity and for my own diagnosis' sake: do you at all have any history of alcohol abuse?
My pdoc considered rapid cycling for me but then turned about and told me that the original depression/GAD and alcoholism stood, and that he saw borderline traits in me. He believed that alcohol use caused the mood swings. However, my mood swings were swinging way before I ever became an alcoholic.
I don't argue with my pdoc because I am an alcoholic and can't argue that fact. The meds I am on have stabilized my moods well. (topamax 300mg) (effexor xr 300mg) (seroquel 75mg)
But you know, my pdoc told me I made myself sick with my actions and emotions. That you can change your brain chemistry that way. I am still smarting from that "assessment." I don't think that he would have ever had said that if I wasn't an alcoholic.
Further, I was in the hospital six times between April and December. I am sure the insurance company was talking steady to him...like why is this woman not getting well?
I would really be interested if any other folks out there who are dual-diagnosed (as it's said in the trade) could share their experiences. Do you feel that your doctors look down on you because of your addictions?? I am in recovery, and I do have a rocky one, though it is progressing far better than it has in the past.
Well lyrical 13, didn't mean to get off track in responding to your post, but it sure hit a nerve with me. Thanks for sharing.
poster:helenag
thread:13781
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040105/msgs/297262.html