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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Rani on November 16, 2006, at 18:23:07
A recent diagnosis of mood disorder - not BPI but more mixed states. I have spent years having times when I am happy, excited and commit to study, outings, committees etc then just cant follow through - dont have the energy, mood or resources. I always thought I was just stupid and lazy. I am about to start lithium low dose as a trial.
Can anyone tell me their stories of 'lower grade' mood disorders - how it was for them prior to being diagnosed. I am still a little hesitant to accept this as I have always felt it was just my personality and I do function well and am not appropriate but if someone else had a similar story to mine I maybe could accept and relate more.
Thanks Rani
Posted by Phillipa on November 16, 2006, at 19:34:49
In reply to Want to hear BPII stories/what helps you manage it, posted by Rani on November 16, 2006, at 18:23:07
Rani can I follow as I have always been the same way. Start something work like crazy on it then get bored. Is that what you're kind of saying? Love Phillipa
Posted by Rani on November 16, 2006, at 19:41:41
In reply to Re: Want to hear BPII stories/what helps you manage it » Rani, posted by Phillipa on November 16, 2006, at 19:34:49
Yes, have alot of energy, not really notice how much time and energy I am putting into something -obsessively do research on the internet trying to find out everything - then - fades away. I often felt that I was making a choice and just was a superficial person - that I couldnt be bothered but now I feel like I am almost compelling to do something enthusiastically. LIke I have a choice but prefer to still go ahead and get right into a new hobbie or thing.
HOw do I know this is a type of mood disorder or just the way I am and me being lazy and getting bored?
Things are starting to fall into place in my mind now in regard to this diagnosis. BUt somehow I am still not believing it.
It has really affected my self esteem over the years. I feel like such a failure because of it.
Posted by TrishP on November 19, 2006, at 9:21:41
In reply to Re: Want to hear BPII stories/what helps you manage it, posted by Rani on November 16, 2006, at 19:41:41
I don't think it is because you are lazy. I have had the same problems my whole life. I start something (like taking a class) and really do well for a fews weeks or a month and then I get all paniciky, have an anxiety attack and drop the class. Thus, I still don't have a college degree!
I have tried all the SSRIs with various side effects. I've had better luck with some of the anti-sezier (sp?) meds.
Right now my doc thinks I am BP II. I am taking a small dose - 2mg of Abilify along with Xanax or Klonopin. So far the abilify helps with the depression and gives me energy. I have to take the Klonopin or Xanax to even out my moods, otherwise I get bitchy.
Posted by Phillipa on November 19, 2006, at 19:33:45
In reply to Re: Want to hear BPII stories/what helps you manage it, posted by TrishP on November 19, 2006, at 9:21:41
I'm a bit confused but what is your mood stabalizer. I often read lamictal, trileptal, depakote, lithium, tegretol. What you have listed is an antipsycotic and two benzos I confused as to how that works at mood stabaization. Could you explain. Thanks Phillipa
Posted by TrishP on November 20, 2006, at 10:03:30
In reply to Re: Want to hear BPII stories/what helps you manage it » TrishP, posted by Phillipa on November 19, 2006, at 19:33:45
I don't know how it works. The doc says that they are using Abilify now as a mood stabilizer, much like Lamictil. So far, so good with the abilify.
I won't take lithium - I'm already overweight. And I didn't have any luck with Trileptal or some of the other mood stabilizers.
If for some reason Abilify doesn't work out, I may try going to a small dose of Lamictal to see if I can ease into it and bypass the side effects.
Posted by Phillipa on November 20, 2006, at 19:24:43
In reply to Re: Want to hear BPII stories/what helps you manage it » TrishP, posted by Phillipa on November 19, 2006, at 19:33:45
Really? That's interesting. And a lower dose and easing into lamictal may help. Love Phillipa
Posted by BryanII on November 21, 2006, at 16:26:46
In reply to Want to hear BPII stories/what helps you manage it, posted by Rani on November 16, 2006, at 18:23:07
Rani,
This sounds very familiar to me. I've had the same sort of uneven performance over the years. Sometimes I've been a very high achiever and sometimes I've just dropped things inexplicably and failed to follow through. This has been confusing and very disappointing for me and for people I work with. It was only moderately disruptive for many years, but eventually it forced me to stop work for several years and nearly cost me my marriage. I think I could have avoided this chaos if I had known I was bipolar II (or something like it). If your diagnosis is correct, or close, this knowledge could be a real gift that helps you avoid bad decisions and get treatment if that's needed.
The way I look at it, my behavior reflects both my personality and some type of biologically based mental traits (sometimes I consider it a "disorder"). I can't separate them completely. It only became necessary for me to see it as a problem when it turned my life upside down. At that point, understanding it as a biological condition helped me deal with it practically. This was both through medication and knowledge. Knowing (at least partly) the cause of some of my behavior helped me think about how I acted, how other people saw me and how to be more strategic. Medication helped lessen the problems.
Identifying mental traits that affect personality and behavior doesn't have to mean that medication is the only or the right approach. Some of the discussion on the psychology/therapy board here may be helpful to you.
Please don't look at this new perspective as a damaging label. Bipolar II and related conditions are common, and a lot of people handle it well and do well professionally and in their relationships.
Good luck,
Bryan
Posted by Phillipa on November 21, 2006, at 18:39:25
In reply to Re: Want to hear BPII stories/what helps you manage it » Phillipa, posted by Phillipa on November 20, 2006, at 19:24:43
Very high achievers. At least my ex Father-in-law was when working. He's a millionaire now. Love Phillipa
This is the end of the thread.
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