Posted by Garnet71 on January 31, 2009, at 13:40:28
In reply to Bipolar II + Anxiety = dysphoric hypomanias?, posted by detroitpistons on January 31, 2009, at 8:52:39
Hey Detroit.
I have/had a similar situation with the depression and anxiety; laced with the irritability or impatience.
I quit taking SSRIs about 10 days or 2 weeks ago; the irritabilty has diminshed and I have not felt better in many months. Starting to feel more like myself moodwise; my inner 'sparkle' is coming back - but the anxiety has also returned; my symptoms are mostly physical though. I don't feel mental anxiety, if that makes any sense (I am not saying this isn't derived from my brain, it's just that I don't notice the anxiety until I get the breathing problems/hypoxia symptoms - then I am aware I have anxiety).
Sometimes I think I had too much seratonin in my brain - from the SSRIs (was taking Zoloft but also started Wellbutrin) - as the cause or irritability. I know Wellbutrin causes irritability in some - but it did not seem to make these symptoms worse from when on just the Zoloft. I only can guess though.
Only a month ago or so, I went to a new PDoc who prescribed me Lamictal. I can only assume he suspects I am bipolar II. He seemed to jump to a conclusion right away when I mentioned my family history (grandmother with schitzophrenia; bipolar sister; abusive father; ill brother). I can tell a lot from observing a person's body language, eyes, etc., that when speaking of the family history, he seemed to make his mind up; of course I do not know for sure..I did not know his thoughts about my treatment, despite my asking many questions, until I got home and looked into Lamictal and found out what it was prescribed for. I never got the script filled or went back to him.
In the past, I've never experienced mania either. Never had a diagnosis of Bipolar before; only suspect new PDoc thinks I have it. Of course I realize this is only 'discovered' after people have been treated for say, depression, for a number of years.
What I want to say though, aside from telling you my experience, is that if you read about Bipolar II - it seems anyone in the entire population has it. I question the diagnosis itself. Technically, you could say I am experiencing hypomania right now. Just yesterday I was thinking about this while in class. When I was joking with friends, and talking about going out and other things (things I didn't feel inclined to do just 2 weeks ago while under the influence of SSRI & Wellbutrin) - I realized my mood and behavior was just like theirs. Normal peoples'. Everything I was doing was so normal; I feel so much more like myslef. Loving music again,blasting the radio in my care- when I wasn't the least bit interested in listening to music for months on end. Irritability is diminshing too. So - a doc might say my behavior is 'hypomania' - but I say it is just being NORMAL. I compared my relapsed confidence with others', my mood, well-everything, and I think I is more 'normal' now then when not 'hypomanic'. But because I have been entangled in the mental health system - I could be said to have Bipolar II. Am I making any sense?
As for the irritabilty and impatience I have experienced in the past - when not under meds, I was under a lot of heavy, chronic stress at the time. Wouldn't that be normal? I also was rather type A- very ambitious and was accomplishing a lot at the same time. I'm not so sure that is part of an 'illness'. Of course, years of chronic stress has caused major problems - but I look back and see my reaction as normal, rather than part of "bipolar II"
Sometimes it even sounds like astrology. Look at any sun sign personality description(I am Scorpio) - and it is so easy to say "that sounds like me". That's what I think sometimes of psychiatric diagnoses - the DSM.
So-I question people being diagnosed as Bipolar II, rather than having other underlying issues or just a personality no more or less unique than any other's.
Effexor ruined my sleep quality. It also ruined my sex life at the time more than any other AD; I would never take it again, although I hear it helps some who aren't helped by other meds.
I think in general, those of us with anxiety and depression tendencies are difficult to treat. About the Bipolar II, I'm not so sure I would trust that diagnosis w/o further insight and experimentation. I think once you are seen through the psychiatry lens, rational, common sense conclusions can be missed.
poster:Garnet71
thread:877319
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20090104/msgs/877378.html