Posted by Cindy W on October 19, 2000, at 21:41:39
In reply to Re: Mild manic-depressive?, posted by coral on October 19, 2000, at 17:53:37
> 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.
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> 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.
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> 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.
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> For me, my fears were unfounded, but I think you do need to check it out thoroughly. Good luck!
Bee, Ted, Noa, Laural, and Coral, I could relate to what each of you wrote. I'm starting to wonder if my overspending during visits to thrift stores and used bookstores is hypomania. Like you, I have depressive slumps; then I start overspending, driving too fast, overextending myself (doing more in a day than I can really comfortably do), and talk rapidly, according to people who've recently given me feedback about this. Will talk to my pdoc about this next Monday. What meds have you found effective as mood-stabilizers for hypomania? I love the exhilaration, but can't keep spending more than I make each month (my house is full of stuff already, to the point I could use a storage locker so I can walk through the house again!). Thanks!
poster:Cindy W
thread:46760
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20001012/msgs/46821.html