Posted by phidippus on February 24, 2014, at 18:01:55
In reply to Re: Advice on which medication is best for my case, posted by kavinsky99 on February 24, 2014, at 6:12:43
>I don't really obsess about anything else other than my traumas (the more severe ones), also. Don't know if that matters.
All you kneed to have is one obsession (mine is suicide).
>I still don't know if it's pure anxiety or a type of hypomania where anxiety is very present.
It sounds more like hypomania, which can include high levels of anxiety.
> Could be hypomania, or could be just stress induced brain changes.
The area of the brain most susceptible to changes brought about by stress is the hippocampus-it can shrink, causing memory impairments, cognitive problems, etc.
>It would explain why I never have euphoric mania
I'm Bipolar I and rarely have euphoric manias.
>I'm noticing that doing something concrete and real about it is making me feel better.
Distraction and structure help alleviate OCD symptoms.
> What I tried to describe is more like extreme anxiety/stress with depression being a consequence, that tends to be brief.
You'r still describing a mixed state :) Bipolar II presents exactly the way you describe. The stress/anxiety component is the mania.
>it makes me sad that I never had euphoric mania! haha
Even when I had a euphoric state it was laced with god awful amounts of anxiety.
> Sometimes I tend to have a really incoherent approach to things, a lot of confusion.
Do you experience a lot of racing thoughts?
>Even on the smallest doses, APs make this specific problem far, FAR worse.
If you do have the slightest bit of ADHD, it could axplain why APs make these symptoms worse.
> That seems to happen more on the beginning of SSRIs. More or less the same between all of them:t They make me feel good the first 2 doses, then move to slight apathy and the host of physical side effects, then I get this boost in
> energy and get way too confident. Then a more severe form of bluntness of emotion/though and apathy kicks in.Sounds like they destabilize your mood quite a bit. If you were on 1200mg of Lithium and say, 20 mg Lexapro, it wouldn't be such an issue.
> Think it's worth the shot to try again, to see if mania is triggered?What's worth trying is one of these antidepressants that worked for you .with the lithium.
>Is there anything such as a "test for mania" in those who already might suffer from it?
Not really. A manic response to any antidepressant is a good indicator you are truly bipolar
> Mirtazapine at 45mg (more norepinephrine release) caused the same irritability as Effexor 150mg did, by the way (even concurrent with 900mg lithium).
900 mg of Lithium might not be enough.
>
>Lithium was prescribed for the effects it has on repairing damage caused by stress.Does it help with your anxiety?
>I think lithium is my best bet.
I think so, too and indicates to mee you are bipolar. HOWEVER, Lithium is not going to help with the intrusive and recurrent thoughts - you need an AD to treat those, so I encourage you to find an SSRI that works well with the lithium.
> However, I do need something else for anxiety and focus.
You can always try Vyvanse, which will help with concentration and may even help your OCD/PTSD.
> I've read Seroquel might be good for bipolar depression and reversing cognitive dysfunction (that is more present in bipolar II). What do you think?
Seroquel is not so good for cognitive dysfunction-it is more likely to cause it.
> > > I wish to see obliterated:
> > >
> > > Depression;Lithium helps depression.
Any serotegenic antidepressant could help
Wellbutrin
Rilutek
> > > anxiety;
TCAs, SSRIs, Gabitril, Benzodiazapines, Keppra, 5ht1a agonists, many APs can be helpful.
> > > negative critical thoughts that "talk to me" in my mind;
APs are good for intrusive thoughts. If its an OCD thing, SSRIs can be helpful. CBT and DBT.
> > > intrusive flashbacks that pop up constantly;
Prazosin
> > > overall agitation;
Lithium, APs, serotogenic drugs
> > > insomnia;
Gabitril, Seroquel, Rozerem, Lunesta, Ambien, Clonidine, Mirtazapine, Trazodone.
> > > I wish to see improved:
> > >
> > > Overall cognitionKeppra, LAtuda, MEmantine, Riluzole
> > > focus
Vyvanse, Concerta
> > > ability to "be in the moment", with no judgement coming from my own mind. to just relax and enjoy myself, letting life happen.
Zen Buddhism
Eric
poster:phidippus
thread:1060760
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20140214/msgs/1061246.html