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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by bookgurl99 on July 1, 2003, at 20:42:49
Hey y'all,
I've been 'hypomanic' a lot lately (last 2 months), since ceasing to take Zoloft. When I think back, I believe I was this way when I was younger, before taking meds.
Do I need to worry about this? I am not incredibly manic, just very talkative, probably more positive than usual, and somewhat insomniac -- though insomnia is often a problem for me, hypomania or no hypomania. Also, I do not become manic on SSRI's.
On the other hand, several professionals -- psychiatrist, therapist, etc., -- have mentioned that I seem to have symptoms of ADD.
How can I tell if I have ADD versus having Bipolar 2? Or versus being a garrulous Puerto Rican woman?
I am trying to be responsible with my brain here. Any thoughts?
Posted by Ritch on July 1, 2003, at 23:29:44
In reply to I've been hypomanic frequently -- or is it ADD?, posted by bookgurl99 on July 1, 2003, at 20:42:49
> Hey y'all,
>
> I've been 'hypomanic' a lot lately (last 2 months), since ceasing to take Zoloft. When I think back, I believe I was this way when I was younger, before taking meds.
>
> Do I need to worry about this? I am not incredibly manic, just very talkative, probably more positive than usual, and somewhat insomniac -- though insomnia is often a problem for me, hypomania or no hypomania. Also, I do not become manic on SSRI's.
>
> On the other hand, several professionals -- psychiatrist, therapist, etc., -- have mentioned that I seem to have symptoms of ADD.
>
> How can I tell if I have ADD versus having Bipolar 2? Or versus being a garrulous Puerto Rican woman?
>
> I am trying to be responsible with my brain here. Any thoughts?Hi there. Take that test at psycheducation.org would be my first suggestion. The main thing I can say about "hypo"-mania or mania, whatever, is when you have OTHER people commenting about your behaviour-then you need to check into it. Are OTHERS saying things like: "I wish I had some of what you are on!", or "Everybody thinks you are on something-what is it?"-that kind of stuff. If you are getting those kind of responses, then you might want to investigate the BP dx a little more closely.
Posted by bookgurl99 on July 2, 2003, at 0:10:20
In reply to Re: I've been hypomanic frequently -- or is it ADD? » bookgurl99, posted by Ritch on July 1, 2003, at 23:29:44
Ritch,
thanks for your suggestion. that and the test from http://www.dbsalliance.org helped me a lot. they said that i probably do not have a bp spectrum disorder.. the chart differentiating bipolar from adhd helped a lot, too.
i'm partly concerned because people at work have commented on how much more talkative i am. however, at work i have had a repuation for being shy or calm as i took zoloft for the past year. That little blue pill flattened my mood and enthusiasm, but my coworkers did not know me any other way.
my partner says that I seem more positive lately. but my long-term college friends have reassured me that i was like this before taking zoloft. so this seems to be directly related to getting off an ssri that was causing the negative side effects of flat mood and lethargy.
i think it may be time to look into add treatment. i think part of the 'hyper' feeling i have is due to drinking pots of coffee to be able to concentrate. they've become increasingly necessary post-ssri, but it's easy to 'overmedicate' on kona.
Posted by ROO on July 2, 2003, at 13:08:32
In reply to Re: I've been hypomanic frequently -- or is it ADD?, posted by bookgurl99 on July 2, 2003, at 0:10:20
Maybe you're just feeling more alive. I personally
think we can get too carried away with "labeling"
ourselves, and we also get used to the flat feeling
that the drugs give us and so when we start feeling half
way human and alive, some little psychiatric brainwashing
comes over us and says "Oh God! I must be cycling...or I'm
manic!". I'm not making fun of you, I do the same thing.
I can't sleep because I'm having a lot of creative ideas and I
worry (now that I've seen too many psychiatrists) that maybe
I'm manic or something. I think if you're a particularly
creative person, you are just prone to these bursts of energy.
And it's a _good_ thing, not a sickness. (I know there are _some_
people to which it's actually a destructive disease, but I'm not referring
to people to actually _are_ full blown manic depressives who can't
sleep for 4 days straight, get into trouble, go on huge spending sprees, etc.)
As I was having trouble sleeping the other night, creative inspirations running
through my head and worrying that I was manic, I thought "Wait a minute, I'm
not _hurting_ anyone...and I'm not hurting myself...I think I might actually
just be excited and inspired"....I'm just trying to relax, enjoy the moments, and not get too carried away
with trying to diagnose myself every 5 minutes. It doesn't sound like anything
you describe is hurtful...in fact, it sounds kind of positive. I think these things
are only destructive when they get in the way of being able to function in your daily
work and personal life.
Posted by utopizen on July 3, 2003, at 14:13:15
In reply to Re: I've been hypomanic frequently -- or is it ADD?, posted by ROO on July 2, 2003, at 13:08:32
I've been suffering from severe insomnia for the past month now. Kept telling doctors "no, no, I've already ruled out both my ADD med by giving it holidays and depression because I've never felt down."
But I finally saw a decent p-doc yesterday, who told me I may be bipolar without depression, and that's causing my insomnia. Insomnia itself is a serious problem, and treating any underlying condition is important to do. In my case, patching it up with some Ambien didn't work anyway.
I'm hoping the Seroquel I got will help, I'm trying 50mg for now at night.
Posted by KimberlyDi on July 3, 2003, at 14:20:07
In reply to Re: I've been hypomanic frequently -- or is it ADD?, posted by ROO on July 2, 2003, at 13:08:32
Excellent post ROO. Now I don't have to try to put that thought into words. There are natural highs in life. Despite all the SE's of Effexor, I've been so much happier. Can't concentrate much, but at least I'm smiling. I laugh out loud and startle myself because I had forgotten what my laughter sounded like. I'm talking more, though Effexor seems to tie my tongue in knots.
Worry less, enjoy more.
Kim
Posted by ROO on July 3, 2003, at 15:01:04
In reply to Hypomania or is it ADD? » ROO, posted by KimberlyDi on July 3, 2003, at 14:20:07
Kimberly--
I'm so happy and glad for you. I liked the part of your
post about startling yourself with your own laughter. I've
done that before. It's so great to finally come out of a depression,
isn't it...feeling that renewed sense of joy and gratefulness for your
life...in just the simplest ways.
Posted by katia on July 4, 2003, at 1:36:02
In reply to Re: I've been hypomanic frequently -- or is it ADD?, posted by utopizen on July 3, 2003, at 14:13:15
> I've been suffering from severe insomnia for the past month now. Kept telling doctors "no, no, I've already ruled out both my ADD med by giving it holidays and depression because I've never felt down."
>
> But I finally saw a decent p-doc yesterday, who told me I may be bipolar without depression, and that's causing my insomnia. Insomnia itself is a serious problem, and treating any underlying condition is important to do. In my case, patching it up with some Ambien didn't work anyway.
>
> I'm hoping the Seroquel I got will help, I'm trying 50mg for now at night.
Hiya,
How's it going with the Seroquel? What other meds are you on? I take a 1/4 of that 50mg and that helps.
Katia
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