Posted by White Stone on March 1, 2003, at 4:06:18
In reply to Re: Zyprexa for bipolar » White Stone, posted by Tabitha on February 28, 2003, at 14:45:13
Hi Tabitha,
Thanks for your thoughts on the subject. I had posted a response earlier but it appears to have gone into hyper-space. I am certain that the really, really scary hypomania I had a couple of weeks ago now was caused by switching from Effexor to Zoloft and for some reason my doctor only prescribed what I later learned was only equivalent to 1/2 the level of Effexor. I think those things combined, i.e. withdrawal from Effexor coupled with a lower dose AD sprung me into that situation.I finally picked up a book on Bipolar to learn more about this disorder. I guess I had thought that it was simply someone who alternated between highs (happy) and lows (sad). But what I was reading today brought to mind several of the following personal characteristics:
* up all night cleaning the house
* buying way too much of anything and everything (I see to always buy the one I need and a spare)
* having periods at work when I will work 10-12 hours per day for days (actually weeks) on end only to end up in a slump period later due to exhaustion
* becoming incredibly irate in my car at stupid or inconsiderate drivers
* talking to my husband in so many different directions that he can't keep up.
* thinking so fast I can't verbalize everything quick enough or hand write things - luckily I am excellent at the keyboard
* having periods when I love to socialize followed by months on end of being reclusive.I guess because I am usually not bouncing off the walls in a "joyous" way like Tigger (from Winnie the Pooh) I didn't even consider bipolar might be a possibility. I have always struggled to "keep it together," much more than I see others do. It's like I didn't get the same handbook of life. But right now I am tired of keeping up pretenses, exhausted from fighting the dragon, and know that I must identify and resolve these issues or at least come to some acceptance of them. I really don't want to waste any more time either in pain or escaping from pain. But I'm rambling now...Anyway, I am trying to find someone who can perform a comprehensive assessment and I will go from there.
-Kristina
poster:White Stone
thread:203737
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030301/msgs/204961.html