Posted by coral on October 19, 2000, at 17:53:37
In reply to Mild manic-depressive?, posted by bee on October 19, 2000, at 11:40:35
Talk about timing. I, too, thought that I might've developed manic-depression. I'm on the healing side of my second depressive episode (depression free for five years), and one day would be great, plenty of energy, positive outlook, the next day, I'd be a lump curled up on the couch. I finally began stringing more positive than negative days together but the ups and downs felt just like a rollercoaster, or that there were two of me; on the positive days, I couldn't imagine what had caused me to be so down before, and on the bad days, I couldn't believe that the woman who had been productive, accomplishing a great deal and smiling the day before was actually me. During my first depressive episode, I healed in little, tiny baby steps. This one is like a tennis match. I researched the bi-polar websites and found that I didn't match the criteria. I also checked it out with my psychologist who assured me that I was not bi-polar, and since this depression wasn't nearly as severe as the first, that my pattern of healing was "normal" or, at least, understandable.
My therapist also suggested that since I'm so angry about getting depressed again that I might be pushing myself too hard on the days when I'm feeling great and simply wearing myself out which leads to the dark days.
Funny, too, about meds. I can't take Elavil because it enrages me, and the other tri's don't work at all, but Zoloft works wonderfully.
For me, my fears were unfounded, but I think you do need to check it out thoroughly. Good luck!
poster:coral
thread:46760
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20001012/msgs/46793.html