Posted by jasmineneroli on March 20, 2005, at 16:14:03
In reply to Re: Need help with Diagnosis... » jasmineneroli, posted by SLS on March 19, 2005, at 22:04:32
Hi Scott:
>
> It is common that someone with unipolar endogenous depression to feel worst in the morning.**** This is why my Pdoc feels I have a depression that has begun to worsen, co-morbid to GAD.
> > Often in response to what is happening during that time.
>
> It is uncommon that someone with unipolar endogenous depression be mood-reactive.
**That's a good point, I'm going to have to keep a diary again, I think. That way I can be more sure of my moods and reactions.
>
> I'm sure you are familiar enough with seasonal affective disorder to know that many sufferers experience mania in the spring.** I actually didn't know that a spring mania could result from SAD, I just thought it was "bouncing" back to "normal"! I don't really have all the symptoms of Winter SAD, just some of the elements.
>This might include mixed states. Although mood stabilizers aren't generally chosen to treat SAD, it might make sense to try if you are seasonally bipolar. I'm suprised the medical literature doesn't say more about this.
*** I'm going to check this out a bit.
>
> What does your doctor call "hormonal surges", and how did he suggest to treat them?*** Well, I'm menopausal now. During the perimenopause & menopause process, I had hormonal fluctuations naturally, which were sometimes exacerbated by pharmaceutical interventions with hormones i.e. the contaceptive pill and various combo's of HRT. Some of my more "extreme" behaviour mood responses were during experimentation of additional hormones. It appears that adequate levels of estrogen have an anti-depressant effect (estrogen is closely related to serotonin), too high results in anxiety/mania. Adequate levels of progesterone have a calming effect and positively improves sleep. Too high and you feel depressed, lethargic and sedated. It's very hard to maintain the optimal balance during these stages, and it is undoubtedly interlated with mental health.
I ended up taking natural estrogen only, in a very low dose. I've been doing this for over a year and feel that, hormonally I've been very stable for about 12-14 months. That's why I'm now considering that I have, perhaps, a "soft" bipolar, underneath it all, that was somewhat disguised before, by hormonal fluctuations.(That's probably more than you ever wanted to know about female hormones!).
>
> I wish I could have been more help.
>
> :-(
>
*** You have been VERY helpful Scott, I'm now re-considering a possible Bipolar dx and will resume keeping a "mood diary", instead of just struggling (sometimes) along on current med regime without further inquiry. :)
> Summer SAD
>
> Anxiety
> Insomnia
> Irritability
> Weight loss
> Decreased appetite
>
*** Hmmmm, the first 3 sound like me all the time. The last 2 definitely aadd-on in the Spring/summer.Thanks for all your help.
Best wishes,
Jas
poster:jasmineneroli
thread:470832
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050317/msgs/473245.html