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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by wacky on October 4, 2006, at 15:20:08
I am very upset that my T thinks I may be bipolar - not just depressed. I am going to discuss with pdoc and see what he thinks. I sure don't want to think that's possible. An even worse affliction than just being depressed. I am so concerned - and maybe need to hear from others that are also bipolar.
I looked up medications - and I sure don't want to have to take any more.
Posted by Racer on October 4, 2006, at 17:50:49
In reply to MY T THINKS I MAY BE BIPOLAR, posted by wacky on October 4, 2006, at 15:20:08
There's a newish theory making the rounds that anyone without pure D depression, anyone with signs of irritability, agitition, anxiety, anger, etc, may be bipolar. Some doctors are basically saying that depression and anxiety co-occuring are actually bipolar. Some doctors seem to say that people who are depressed don't have the energy to be irritable -- they're actually bipolar. (Since I only get irritable in the first place when I'm depressed, you know I've had that brought up before...) Your T may be working from that point of view.
As for your diagnosis when you do see your pdoc, bipolar is not like an enhanced version of depression, it's not as though you've got another disorder tacked onto your first one. It's not more, it's just different. And what you call it doesn't matter nearly as much as how you treat it. If the treatment for bipolar is more effective against your depression than what you're on now, wouldn't that be a benefit -- no matter what your disorder was called?
Good luck.
Posted by Phillipa on October 4, 2006, at 20:29:59
In reply to Re: MY T THINKS I MAY BE BIPOLAR, posted by Racer on October 4, 2006, at 17:50:49
But this has happened to me too the meds do more harm than good and cost more money, and cause more side effects. I still think the original criteria of not sleeping, sexual promiscuity, spending money you don't have, etc. make more sense. I can see a med making one manic happened to me too. But now they have what five categories? Love Phillipa
Posted by Karen44 on October 4, 2006, at 23:18:00
In reply to Re: MY T THINKS I MAY BE BIPOLAR, posted by Racer on October 4, 2006, at 17:50:49
Bipolar is the new "fad" diagnosis tacked onto lots more people now. Right about anxiety and depression or affective instability now being labeled as Bipolar. Also many people diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder have been "rediagnosed" ad Bipolar. I saw a consultant who thought I might be Bipolar, and I told him he was full of crap, that if that was the case, then how come they missed it at Menninger's when I was a in-patient there for almost three years. He got really pissy with me, but the guy was developing dementia anyway and answering personal phone calls with me in the office. My current psychiatrist agrees that I am definitely not Bipolar, that I have a Major Depressive Disorder, Recurrent, Severe Without Psychotic Features. So wonderful--NOT.
Posted by wacky on October 5, 2006, at 14:11:21
In reply to Re: MY T THINKS I MAY BE BIPOLAR, posted by Karen44 on October 4, 2006, at 23:18:00
Thanks guys for the feedback
Maybe I just have to get over the label. It was frightening to me at first. I see pdoc tomorrow and will find out what he thinks. What triggered my T was my mood swings. But I thought that major D has swings - some good days and then you can plummet. When I feel good, I have always had TONS of energy and I DO talk fast. I don't know/think it rises to the level of manic but I'm not sure. Many people have commented over the years that I am "too happy" or "energizer bunny" etc. I thought it was a good thing.
My T has been around for many years (she is close to 60, is a Ph.D. - so I doubt she's subject to trends/fads but you never know.
Any thoughts?
Thanks again.
Posted by sleepygirl on October 5, 2006, at 19:47:16
In reply to Re: MY T THINKS I MAY BE BIPOLAR, posted by wacky on October 5, 2006, at 14:11:21
well, I tend to think that there is much we do not yet understand regarding mental illness, that it won't be clear for a while, and that there is much overlap that is as complicated as people can be
What I care about is what med/therapy can help? The diagnosis is interesting maybe, not sure how helpful.
take care,
sg
Posted by Phillipa on October 5, 2006, at 19:48:39
In reply to Re: MY T THINKS I MAY BE BIPOLAR, posted by wacky on October 5, 2006, at 14:11:21
Well you you can sleep, don't spend excessive money, arent's promiscous. I'd challenge the pdoc as maybe you have dysthymia a form of low grade depression and then those happy days are normal for a happy person. A lot of normal people speak fast. But if you go from not being able to get out of bed to leaps of energy then you should consider it. Love Phillipa
Posted by Lindenblüte on October 5, 2006, at 21:08:33
In reply to Re: MY T THINKS I MAY BE BIPOLAR » wacky, posted by Phillipa on October 5, 2006, at 19:48:39
Hey Wacky,
you may not have the exaggerated symptoms of pure mania, but maybe you've had periods of hypomania?Look, it's not about you being a "bad" person or "crazy". It's about finding out what the best treatment for you is. Bipolar depression may require having a higher dose of mood stabilizer than unipolar depression.
If it makes you feel bad that your T has told you this, you should discuss it with T. Find out why this diagnosis, and talk about why you feel so bad about it. Your T's job is not to inflict pain on you. If T has done this (even unintentionally, or in the intererests of your best treatment) you have every right to ask your T if it was necessary.
-Li
Posted by wacky on October 9, 2006, at 12:33:54
In reply to MY T THINKS I MAY BE BIPOLAR, posted by wacky on October 4, 2006, at 15:20:08
I had a great weekend with BF, got lots of things accomplished working around the yard. Then last night I noticed a little shift down - then this morning I just plunged. I don't know why. I barely made it to work and feel just horrible.
How can I go from having a good weekend - and then have my mood change so quickly? Do people with major depression have huge changes like this?
This is the end of the thread.
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