Posted by Jan on April 18, 2000, at 11:49:18
In reply to Re: Any happy, stable rapid cyclers out there? , posted by Scott L. Schofield on April 18, 2000, at 9:58:36
I am not cycling today, but I can answer your questions if you are curious.
I rapid cycle for about a week at a time.It goes from manic->depressed->manic->depressed...
lasting from minutes to hours. I feel like Dr.Jekyll and Mr.Hyde. I can be sitting, enjoying a "hypomanic moment" and WHAM, depression hits me like a blanket of bad news and I've suddenly lost all interest in life, for no reason. I usually just try to sleep it off to avoid the crap that comes with it like contstant reoccuring thoughts.
I'm still fasinated by the oxymoron of "mixed state", but I seem to experience that also.
I was hospitalized for 1. full blown mania. 2.threatening to put myself into a coma by overdosing to avoid the rapid cycling. 3.being suicidal which comes at the drop of a hat with depression, no matter for what length of time. It is so weird, because today, suicide is furthest from my mind, I feel normal, like I'm not on drugs. But every time I stop them, I start going crazy immediately.
My manic state:
> - Euphoric? definately,I think I'm to help mankind totally, I'm sexually excited, I want to be outside in the cool temperature, wide-eyed, loud,energetic,I want to walk,talk, write in my journal, be reckless,daring,not tired,intense, my mind goes faster than my mouth or body,secretive from my husband, the typical bi-polar stuff.
> - Psychotic?
What is this, well, since you'll never know me, yes, I do tend to get that way at times, but I go to bed so I can keeep it under control.
> - Mixed State? yes
> - Hypomanic? been there, do that.
> - What sorts of things do you do while in a manic state?
In addition to what I've mentioned, I drive fast and listen to my favorite Micheal W Smith tape. I'm very restrospective.
> 6. Do you feel that Tegretol is contributing to the improvement in your condition?
I started it recently and had 3 bad rapid cycling days about 3 weeks into it, so it is too early to say.I've lost some weight already, just never hungry, nice change !Your expertise and concern surprises me. I've gone to lots of psychiatrists and they don't ask many questions and think they already know what I need, like I'm a generic patient. thanks
poster:Jan
thread:30276
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000411/msgs/30451.html