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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 judy1 on June 24, 2001, at 12:43:20
I haven't posted for a while, but one of the interesting things about being pregnant and unable or unwilling to take some meds is a growing interest in the psychological aspect of my illness(es). One thing my shrink has mentioned his suspicions that my manic swings may be a coping mechanism. While he and I agree that the genetics are strong, some of my episodes are clearly reactive, I guess similar to panic- how some attacks come out of the blue, yet others are cued. I was curious if anyone has had a mood episode that was not completely situational based or chemistry based, but something else. Or am I being to obscure- thanks, judy
Posted by Willow on June 24, 2001, at 12:52:03
In reply to thought this was interesting..., posted by judy1 on June 24, 2001, at 12:43:20
*about being pregnant
Best Wishes!
When is the baby due?Willow
Posted by AMenz on June 25, 2001, at 0:39:47
In reply to thought this was interesting..., posted by judy1 on June 24, 2001, at 12:43:20
The way I see it-although only as a metaphor because I am not scientifically inclined- the brain seems to have a righting mechanism. People react to stresses and get sad, angry mad and sooner or later go back to a euthymic state. I think bipolars have a damaged righting mechanism (which must be based on neurotransmitter firing or reuptake). Thus the stressors send the person into a prolonged or exagerated glad, sad, mad state.
I see that correlation in myself and my daughter, although some cycling seems clearly biochemical. I do not believe for a minute that anyone goes into a manic state as a psychological defense.
I think anxiety disorder more clearly have a trigger which sets off underlying reactions that seem biochemical in nature.
I also think the self talk issue is backwards. People give themselves negative self talk because they are depressed not the other way around since anti depressants seem to change this type of thinking without the requirement of therapy. It thus must be chemically based on some level.
> I haven't posted for a while, but one of the interesting things about being pregnant and unable or unwilling to take some meds is a growing interest in the psychological aspect of my illness(es). One thing my shrink has mentioned his suspicions that my manic swings may be a coping mechanism. While he and I agree that the genetics are strong, some of my episodes are clearly reactive, I guess similar to panic- how some attacks come out of the blue, yet others are cued. I was curious if anyone has had a mood episode that was not completely situational based or chemistry based, but something else. Or am I being to obscure- thanks, judy
Posted by judy1 on June 25, 2001, at 21:45:18
In reply to Congrajulations!, posted by Willow on June 24, 2001, at 12:52:03
Thank you! The end of October, but I'm trying not to be too optimistic because I've had several losses. I also worry a lot about meds I took. It's funny, my first pregnancy I worried about a couple of drinks I had had (and my son is perfectly fine), so maybe that's a normal part of all this. Take care, judy
Posted by judy1 on June 25, 2001, at 21:54:17
In reply to Re: thought this was interesting..., posted by AMenz on June 25, 2001, at 0:39:47
I feel the same way you do, and thanks for your added observations with yourself and daughter. My shrink had a person dxed with bipolar disorder who had a psychotic manic attack that forced his wife to beg my shrink to hospitalize him (I guess he had spent every cent they had, lost the house, etc.) My shrink claimed this person was then able to stop? his future manic attacks with the threat of rehosp., maybe that's what reinforced his theory. I know I have quite literally fooled judges who were making decisions about forced meds for me and been incredibly delusional at the time, so I feel a manic person is quite capable of fooling experienced people in self defense. I realize I'm going off on a tangent, just trying to get a clearer picture of what's actually going on with others experiencing different mood episodes- maybe there is no clear answer. Take care, judy
Posted by Jane D on June 25, 2001, at 23:06:41
In reply to thought this was interesting..., posted by judy1 on June 24, 2001, at 12:43:20
It is an interesting question. I don't get manic but I would think that it could be reactive without being a coping mechanism. Why not just assume that adrenalin or cortisol or something else is produced by the situation and that triggers the rest of it. It seems like an easier explanation.
As far as the guy who seemed to be able to control his attacks or risk being hospitalized I don't know. I'd be interested to know if he was able to complete prevent the attacks or just prevent the most extreme actions, similar to fooling a judge for long enough to avoid medication.
Jane
Posted by Noa on June 26, 2001, at 8:18:13
In reply to Re: Congrajulations! » Willow, posted by judy1 on June 25, 2001, at 21:45:18
> Thank you! The end of October, but I'm trying not to be too optimistic because I've had several losses. I also worry a lot about meds I took. It's funny, my first pregnancy I worried about a couple of drinks I had had (and my son is perfectly fine), so maybe that's a normal part of all this. Take care, judy
Posted by JennyR on June 26, 2001, at 9:40:39
In reply to thought this was interesting..., posted by judy1 on June 24, 2001, at 12:43:20
I know what triggers depression in me. When stressful things happen, I can bounce back if it is one or two, or maybe three things. But when too many things come at me too fast, too many incidents, too many situations, like a boxer in the ring who is reeling from the punches that keep coming and he can't do anything about it, that's when that spiraling down happens for me. So you could say it's situationally based, at least the trigger. But what it sets in motion I believe is chemical - high cortisol, low on the good neurotransmitters, etc, and I just go down for the count (to keep that boxing thing going....) Once that downward spriraling happens, all that goes with it kicks in.
I think environment plays another factor, early poor care-giving, I believe predisposes you, as does genetics.
This is the end of the thread.
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