Posted by Emmeline on November 6, 2002, at 20:01:49
In reply to Re: I need help w/ diagnosis, posted by Emmeline on November 6, 2002, at 19:49:19
Oh my goodness!!!! I just read my post; I think I forgot to click on the panel requesting that my words be viewed in English. I just changed the option from Spanish to English, so I hope this time my message appears as written! > Hi Brandymac. I just typed a reply to your message; it's been about 20 minutes and my reply has yet to appear, so I must have done something wrong. I'll try and duplicate my last message. I have my master's degree in counseling, and based on what I know professionally, as well as what I'm reading as I sit here flipping through my copy of the DSM IV (a diagnostic manual), I thought I'd let you know my opinions.
>
> << But, aside from the symptoms I listed above, and t he ones in question are: I have always had bad mood swings>>
>
> I don't have enough information from you here, but cyclothymia (a midler version of bipolar disorder) is possible. Cyclothymia is characterized by rapid mood changes. On the other hand, mood swings and irritability are often manifestations of depression and anxiety.
>
> <<I have irrational thoughts like someone is watching me while I'm in the shower>>
>
> You may be worrying that you have paranoid schizophrenia, but based on the information you provided, this diagnosis doesn't seem realistic. Irrational thinking such as this may simply be manifestations of your anxiety disorders and depression.
>
> <<or that I have some terrible disease and everytime the phone rings i think it's my doc calling to report bad news(what is this?)>>
>
> This is your GAD.
>
> <<I'm a perfectionist. Small, every day tasks, like cleaning the house become overwhelming for me b/c #1-I dont have the energy or motivation, and 2-once i start cleaning i cant stop-in other words i cant just "straighten up", i have to scrub the whole entire house from top to bottom or It will drive me crazy thinking about everything that I didnt clean. >>
>
> We have a winner here: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). This diagnosis is very commonly found in individuals with anxiety disorders.
>
> <<On top of all of this, If something (even really stupid stuff) bothers me, I get so pissed off about it I think about it and obsess at how I can get back at the person for what they did to me. This is actually starting to disrupt my sleeping patterns.>>
>
> This sounds like manifestations of your depression and (as yet undiagnosed) OCD.
>
> <<I have so many thoughts that go through my mind before I fall asleep, that I will wake up in the middle of the night still thinking about everything-it's like my mind is racing.>>
>
> Manifestations of your GAD, depression, and OCD (ruminating thoughts).
>
> << but its like I have to just jump up and move and do something , even if it's jump up and down a couple of times to get all of the energy out of my system, yet whats even weirder is that when I feel like this, I'm normally pretty tired! What the heck is wrong with me?>>
>
> This restlessness or "ants in the pants" feeling your describing is a symptom of both anxiety and depression, and may be a side-effect from a medication.
>
> So, Brandymac, based on what you wrote, the only additional diagnoses which come to mind are OCD and possible cyclothymia. I hope this information is of some help for you. Take care, Emmeline :-)
>
>
poster:Emmeline
thread:126705
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20021101/msgs/126721.html