Posted by Ritch on October 25, 2004, at 9:58:32
In reply to Mitch: Dysphoric Mania vs Anxiety, posted by smith562 on October 24, 2004, at 20:03:26
> Hey Mitch,
>
> Still having great luck using sleep as indicator of my mild hypomanias. If I can't sleep, then increase the lithium from 450 to 600. Sleep too much, decrease lithium to 300.
>
> Sometime when my mind is racing and I am anxious ... I am not sure if I am experience mild panic/anxiety or mild dysphoric hypomania. Mitch, do you know a good way to differientate between the two? (I have been trying to use my resting heart rate ... if above 90 beat/minute, I think it is more anxiety and I take an extra .25 of klonopin ... if below 90, then increase lithium). Thanks.
>
> SmithPanic anxiety vs. dysphoric hypomania that's the question. I guess it depends on whether you have a true co-existing anxiety disorder, or if it is just bipolar presenting itself differently. I was on a TCA and lithium when I started meds, then went off the TCA because of excess sedation and I started having panic attacks later. My doc thought it was just bipolar and increased my lithium and it didn't help, so that would tend to lead one to see it as two different disorders. Now I'm taking Depakote instead of lithium and increasing the Depakote when I get panicky *does* help. In fact, it helps better than increasing a benzo (I don't feel more depressed). I think the *type* of bipolar I experience may have something to do with that.
poster:Ritch
thread:406776
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20041024/msgs/406978.html