Posted by ZyprexaNumbTongue on September 6, 2002, at 15:29:38
In reply to The causes of things, posted by Squiggles on September 6, 2002, at 7:01:18
> I may never know. It's been about 20 yrs
> since i've been dx'd BP. It was sudden and
> during grduate studies stress. The thing is,
> I had been taking Valium erratically for
> jitters at exams and such; I was not watching
> the dose so much or the time, or if I tried
> to stop suddenly - it was a popular drug then
> and I think my dr. just gave it to me as needed;
>
> It has been suggested to me that what presented
> as bipolar symptoms was infact withdrawal from
> Valium. I just don't know how to tell if this
> is true or false, but it certainly suggests
> that I may have just been taking all these
> meds for so long, and have gone through so many
> iatrogenic misadventures, for nothing. That,
> infact - the severe depression, anxiety, insomnia,
> rapid switch of one idea to another, anxiety
> attacks, all over a period of about a year,
> and ultimate breakdown - were all the result
> of withdrawal. It's conceivable.
>
>
> I am trying to find a criterion to know. Part of
> the problem is I cannot stop the drugs now because
> I have been taking them too long (e.g. Klonopin
> w/d almost killed me and I had to reinstate);
> and there is no way my dr. wants me off lithium
> (esp. with the Synthroid balance at stake).
>
> So, I was trying to think of a way to know;
> for example, whether a normal person taking
> lithium would feel the same way a bipolar one
> would - or at least during a Valium withdrawal
> (hypothetical), and then just get used to the
> drug;
>
> If you have any medical detective experience
> or suggestions, please let me know. It's something
> of a puzzle to me. I suppose at the end of the day
> it may not matter - what the cause was, if I am stable now,
>
> Thanks
>
> Squiggles
>
Squiggles, suffice it to say by now its pretty clear you are bipolar. I would stop exhausting so much energy wondering about what if and just go on with your life. Maybe try to find a drug which might improve your ability to think clearly would be a good start for the new millenium. Ever considered an atypical anti-psychotic? You might find that these thoughts you have about yourself bug you less if you took an AP. You also might be able to think more clearly on an AP.Lithium has been great at stabilizing your moods, but when I read your posts I detect some unclear thinking. Possibly going on an atypical anti-psychotic would clear up your thinking, as well as relax you enough to get off the Klonopin, which I know you hate. On an atypical plus lithium, you might be able to go back to University, plus possibly get off Klonopin. Atypicals make fine anti-anxiety drugs.
Arent you schizo-affective in addition to bipolar?
Just some thoughts...
Zyprexa Numb Tongue
poster:ZyprexaNumbTongue
thread:118993
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020906/msgs/119056.html