Posted by SLS on July 10, 2004, at 23:15:05
In reply to Re: end of rope, posted by platinumbride on July 10, 2004, at 20:24:21
Hi Diane.
I hope you have a little bit more rope to work with today.
> I don't really understand the Bipolar II diagnosis....I think it means moody and unpredictable, never fully manic, but sometimes really hapy - even in the midst of depression.
How much of yourself do you see in the following description?
http://www.mentalhealth.com/dis1/p21-md05.html
Main page: http://www.mentalhealth.com
Being moody and unpredictable (mood lability) can be a component of a bunch of different things, including borderline personality disorder. Maybe you just have atypical unipolar depression, in which there is transient mood reactivity in response to positive stimuli. Perhaps you are simply an incredibly positive person with a wonderful sense of humor who manages to squeeze a few rays of sunshine through the otherwise opaque murk of melancholic unipolar depression. Some people don't place very much importance on diagnosis. I do. As best as is currently possible, a diagnosis helps one choose a direction in treatment. If your diagnosis of bipolar is incorrect, you might be wasting precious time experimenting with mood stabilizers. I have no reason to believe that your diagnosis is in error, but it would be nice to feel confident that you are being treated for the right illness.
There are still a gazillion things you can try. Fortunately for you, the odds are still in your favor that you will find something that works. That you have been partially or transiently responsive to medication in the past is a good indicator of this. It might take awhile, but you'll get there. One step at a time. (I'll bet you're a Parnate + lithium girl).
- Scott
poster:SLS
thread:364276
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040710/msgs/364875.html