Posted by Emme on July 29, 2001, at 20:02:21
In reply to Bi-polar II- diagnosis on the rise? , posted by shelliR on July 28, 2001, at 22:18:46
> Actually , I'm really curious about bipolar II. Last spring when I was in the hospital I was very hyper, talkative and sleepless. Not irrational though., although had some pretty serious bouts of sobbing, when I felt frustrated. There was some talk about a bipolar II diagnosis (I have major depression and a dissociative disorder), but the "team" psychologists and psychiatrists felt that my behavior was related to high level anxiety. My anxiety (rather than depression) go up when I have hospitalized recently--I think it is way over-stimulating to me to be around people and crisis all the time.
>
> I have also read about bipolar II being related to borderline personality disorder, as a less provocative diagnosis and also more appealing to insurance companies. But when I look at the critiera for borderline, I don't see so much of a cross over. I don't think the rage, emptiness, self-harm (I don't remember the whole list) would have to be present in bi-polar II, just major depression and hypomania.
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> How does one distinquish between hypomania and major anxiety, and the cycling present in PTSD symptoms. And what are the implications of medications--no ADs for bi-polar II, or only certain ADs?
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> Bi-polar II keeps popping up on the board with greater frequency, so that's why I became curious.
>
> Any ideas?
>Hi Folks,
My recent BPII diagnosis really took me by surprise (and I'm not 100% convinced, but willing to consider it and try the meds). You see, I have never been hypomanic unless you count the extreme irritability and agitation I had when going off of Effexor. My doctor began to suspect a bioplar spectrum disorder for a few reasons. First, repeated loss of efficacy with antidepressants. Along with the depression I have had terrible insomnia and generalaized anxiety. Also, there have been times when I clearly seemed to be cycling up and down a lot in mood an energy, except that my highs brought me close to normal energy without crossing over into hypomania.
I realize that diagnoses and criteria evolve with time. Right now, it's helpful to me not to think of the depression vs. BP diagnosis as an "either or" sort of thing, but rather as a continuum (e.g. major depression that acts a bit like bipolar disorder). I'm also not sure I care so much about the label anymore, as long as we can find an effective treatment, and if considering a different diagnosis opens up new ideas for treatment options, then so be it. And until I got a rash, Lamictal was starting to really help. Anyway, those are my thoughts for the month. :)Emme
poster:Emme
thread:72292
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010725/msgs/72418.html