Posted by Krysti on December 7, 2002, at 23:16:31
In reply to Re: Question about friendship - need opinions » Krysti, posted by Ted on December 7, 2002, at 22:53:30
> When were you diagnosed?
About six months ago. Up till then, I thought it was just anxiety. Before then, had no idea what "mental illness" or anxiety even was. I definitely would have never in a million years thought this would happen to me.
>Are you more on the manic side or depressive side?
I've definitely had some depression in my life, but never for too long at at time. Didn't really think much of it, just thought it was normal. I remember my longest episode at age 22, my mom told me it could be an actual disorder. I didn't believe it at the time, just though I was being "weak".
For the past six years, since the anxiety started, I was more on the hypomanic side. I would go through cycling, but the depression was never severe. Just more of a withdrawal phase, didn't want to talk to anyone or do anything. With the hypomania though I definitely recognized the difference in my personality. I thought it was strange, but I had gotten a new job that I really liked and just attributed it to that. Then, I FINALLY went on medication (Paxil) for my anxiety and ended up becoming manic. Had a night of being delusional too. That was really weird. I realized it a couple of days later when I was at work - what I had been thinking - and went to my MD. He made an emergency appt with a pdoc. That was how I was diagnosed finally.
>What meds are you taking?
Since I've been on mood stabilizers, I have tried Depakote and Gabitril. Both of them ended up making me depressed. I'm now on Trileptal, which I've been on for 3 weeks. So far, so good, but I know to give myself at least a couple of months before thinking I've found the one! I really hope this works for me though. I've got a great job and work for great people. They've been very very understanding thus far and I'd hate to ruin it in the long run by having to keep trying new meds and taking days off in the process when they don't pan out well.
So, what is the OCD like? I used to wonder sometimes if I had that myself.
Krysti
poster:Krysti
thread:33057
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20021206/msgs/33072.html