Posted by Elizabeth on August 17, 2001, at 3:36:20
In reply to Re: Recurrent unipolar vs bipolar [long] » Elizabeth, posted by akc on August 15, 2001, at 19:18:48
> I shared this with my pdoc today. She to wanted to know your training! One thing I like about my doctor is that she is willing to respect a layperson's ability to learn.
That's very cool! Tell her that my training is in theoretical mathematics, please. (It's true. Topology and differential geometry.)
> A lot of what you have shared here fits me. I experienced a lot of trauma as a child -- mainly physical and emotional.
I'm sure that contributed to the syndrome.
> Starting at 11 until 3 years ago, I abused alcohol -- it definitely was a way I tried to self-medicate.
I think there are two kinds of addicts: self-medicators (usually alcohol or opiates) and thrill-seekers (usually cocaine or amphetamines). I'm sure there are some people who fit both descriptions. Also, self-medication can become thrill-seeking in the sense that once you discover there's a drug that not only alleviates your distress but also produces soaring euphoria, the euphoria can be quite compelling. At the same time, thrill-seekers can become self-medicators when they start needing their drug of choice to fend off withdrawal symptoms.
> Since giving up the alcohol, and hopefully up till this past February, I turned to cutting as a way to cope. I have also punched walls and done other self-injurous behavior.
So, what you need is ways to cope (probably including medication of some sort) that don't have harmful effects!
> Two bar exams and two extreme difficulties getting admitted to the state bars (involved hearings, etc. due to my mental illness).
I think that's a travesty. They shouldn't discriminate like that.
> She would diagnosis me as Bipolar II, PTSD, and chemically dependent, I think.
Seems like a reasonable DSM-IV description of the syndrome that I believe represents a different kind of mood disorder.
> My current meds are: Lithium 300 mg am, 600 mg pm
> Effexor XR 75 mg am
> Seroquel 200 mg, 2x a day
> Topamax 75 mg, 2x a day
> and Trazadone 50 to 150 mg as needed for sleep (currently taking 50 due to the latest episode).What do you feel that each of these medications is doing for you?
-elizabeth
poster:Elizabeth
thread:74539
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010814/msgs/75357.html