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!
poster:madison88
thread:1226
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20020829/msgs/1229.html