Posted by ramsea on October 26, 2003, at 1:26:56
In addition to bipolar (though my pdoc is maintaining it is part of my condition) I have severe social anxiety difficulties, with fear of people not improving upon knowing them better. That is, I like dealing with strangers much, much better than anyone I come to know even a little.
My prospects have signifcantly lowered since I lost my grip on this lifelong problem. I had developed coping mechanisms and I do think that uncontrolled, misdiagnosed bipolar worsened my social phobias signifcantly, as so much went wrong (which proper medicines could have held in check, thus allowing me to keep using rusty but adequate coping defenses). In any case, the die has been cast, and I am a social outcast.
Now that my mood is improving, I want to rejoin the human race. But due to medicine sensitivities and terrible reactions to antidepressants and benzodiazepines the standard medicines for social phobias/panic attacks/anxiety are not applicable to me. Also I can't handle buspar, it made me feel unreal. And my doctors won't prescribe gabapentin.
Does anyone have any ideas on this? I am on 800 mg. lithium (slow release). It seems funny to me that if my only presenting symptoms were social anxiety disorder, which I most certainly do have, I would be given treatment for that specifically, but because of bipolar I am not thought to need specific treatment for the many intense social phobias, and other phobias, that mar my days. Oh yeah--I use CBT already, journaling, affirmations, meditation and Buddhist psychotherapy, and have tried alternative treatments such as group therapies, acupunture, massage, reflexology, aromatherapy, biofeedback devices, hypnotherapy, nutrition, fish oils. Art and music therapies. And co-counseling and peer counseling.
ANy thoughts brilliant people???? Do you think if my bipolar condition gets under control (we are still seeking the right level) that this anxiety/panic riproar will cease on its own?????
poster:ramsea
thread:273520
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20031025/msgs/273520.html