Posted by Ritch on February 6, 2002, at 9:55:47
In reply to Re: Solve this Puzzle » spike4848, posted by Jackster on February 6, 2002, at 3:35:36
> > How can you tell the difference between severe anxiety disorder and dysphoric mania? Both have irritablity, moodiness, depression, racing thoughts. Both have increased anxiety/irritablity when starting an antidepressant. Both improve with a benzo/neurontin/depakote.
> >
> > Any ideas ...
>
> Interesting - my PDoc has just prescribed
> Tegretol to augment the Paxil I'm on. (For Panic Disorder) He thinks I could be slightly bi-polar - and that they think that bipolar and panic disorder could be linked.
>
> I know (when I'm not on antidepressants) that I have higher highs, and lower lows than the average person, and that I have a volcanic temper - but I've never considered myself bipolar. I've never had manic episodes either. I do have extreme anxiety when starting activating SSRI's (ie. prozac, zoloft). And I had terrible irritability starting clomipramine.
>
> Is it possible to be slightly bipolar? Kind of strikes me as being slightly pregnant! (ie. impossible). Is it possible that tegretol will help my panic disorder?
>
> Thanks
> Jackie
>
> >
> >
Hi Jackie,I guess it depends on whether the *theory* that bipolar disorder is caused by seizures or "seizure-like" phenomena. There are some that believe that panic is caused by seizures or "seizure-like" phenomena (or just simply neuronal instability). Benzos have anti-convulsant properties, so some may be led to believe in the connection (between panic disorder and bipolar disorde). I have biplolar disorder and have had panic attacks. I don't have any problems with that connection at all. I must say however, that when I have a mild "mixed" affective state I don't really feel panicky (autonomic-wise..racing heartbeat, etc.), just a feeling that I am pacing around the edge of a big black pit. The panic tends to arise out of stressful situations where I have to perform perfectly or where I fear that something I have done (lose my temper) will be met with some sort of disaster. That's my connection between the bipolar and the panic. I may lose my temper and go off at someone in a hypomanic state (not depressed though-mind you), and then the anger subsides and then I worry about the consequences of what I have done-that is when the panic creeps in. Usually, my temper episodes tend to be a response to certain antidepressants, so I have to be really careful.
Mitch
poster:Ritch
thread:92727
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020131/msgs/93065.html