Posted by mellow on April 12, 2011, at 12:42:41
In reply to am I really bipolar?, posted by Christ_empowered on April 12, 2011, at 2:46:44
I also worry about TD dude, but my doc seems to think that years of added stability from the medicines will lend themselves to learning life lessons and get me to a place where I will actually be taking fewer meds. I've been doing a lot of exercise and eating really healthy and my doc is impressed by that so he says we should just keep going.
As far as the bipolar stuff throw the DSM away, it doesn't do justice to a very complex condition and it leaves many people a back door to escape by rationalizing thier way past the mania stuff. Look for the obvious stuff. You have had an episode of major depression, you've been psychotic. You have also been very motivated here lately to go back to school. Look at that a little. Maybe you are functioning very high right now and this could be an up tick from a lower cycle from a month or even a year ago.
Do you ever find yourself very motivated and kind of happy and then cry or just get watery eyes later that same day? Do your thoughts ever scream at you...like obsessions but they take the form of annoying jingles or commercials? Like imagine some problem or even something you are excited about is running through your head but at the intensity of a used car sale commercial! Those along with irritability can be signs of mania just as much as the hyper-sexuality or spending sprees.
There are all sorts of little subtleties to the mood spectrum you have to look at. It's nothing to be ashamed of having either a diagnosis of Schizophrenia or Bipolar I. You write well and function quite high so don't let that stuff hold you back. I did for years and I can't get those years back especially the ones when I was too proud to admit I needed therapy and drugs.
We are still fairly young folks you and I. Lots of life to live. Keep it simple. It's not really important what you call it as long as you and your doctor are on the same page to get you treated.
mellow
Bipolar II
Lamictal 100, Topamax 50, Risperdal 0.5, Cal/Mag with D3, Fish Oil, High Potency Multi"We're all just walking each other home." -Ram Dass
poster:mellow
thread:982538
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20110406/msgs/982565.html