Posted by katekite on June 28, 2002, at 18:27:35
In reply to Re: KATEKITE, ADDers » JonW, posted by IsoM on June 28, 2002, at 15:43:38
First of all yes antidepressants can make anyone agitated. I got agitated from wellbutrin.
Unlike IsoM some of my moods last a long time (a morbid depressed mood where I feel like crying could last 2 or 3 days although during that it will change in character). Giddy moods seldom last more than an hour or two. At some times in the past I've been down at some point during the day, for months, with no giddiness (ie mild depression). But like IsoM, I can turn it off if I absoulutely have to. If someone died I can always keep a straight face to their family, for example. Sometimes, its true, I care about it more than other times. (I hate to admit that: if I'm in a really great mood I think, oh well, who cares, he was old.). I do get depressed enough to be unable to step 'up' to some challenges, but not too 'up' to step down to reality if I have to.
I think the big deal for me differentiating ADD from my possible bipolarness was in actually taking stimulants and seeing the effect. A big dose of ritalin makes me feel flat, the way I imagine too much lithium takes the joy from life for someone manic. (so I take a little dose, so I can still enjoy things but feel calm). I responded a bit to one of the mood stabilizers (out of the 4 I tried), but it wasn't calming to me like stimulants are. I respond best to stimulants.
It makes sense if diagnosis is in question to try mood stabilizers first, because the risk of going suicidal or manic from stimulants if someone is truly bipolar, is very real. If you've tried a handful of mood stabilizers and there's still a question, it's worth it to work towards trying a stimulant just to see, probably ritalin first as its supposed to be the most calming.
kate
poster:katekite
thread:110994
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020628/msgs/111003.html