Posted by BarbaraCat on July 23, 2002, at 23:38:25
In reply to Re: Fish oil and children's ADD? Need advice. » McPac, posted by Pogo on July 23, 2002, at 20:11:26
I have to echo Mike's frustration with how do you tell the difference. Not so much between ADD and bipolar, but bipolar and the different subtypes of depression. Agitated depression or depression with comorbid GAD looks so much like bipolar mixed states. While I agree with the definition of ADD being pretty much consistent, bipolars do not have to have yin and yang mania/depression cycles. In fact, many bipolars have mainly depression, but are labled bipolar because of a few manic episodes. Then there's the difference between classic bipolar depression which is heavy and empty, and the particularly dangerous mixed states. This is me, or so I've come to think. My mixed states bipolar hells are black despairing anguished and terrifying long-term depressions with precious few bouncy hypomanias. But then again I could very well have ADD running along side it because my life is always somewhat hectic and disorganized, only it gets much worse at times - but wait, maybe it's really GAD which is ALSO a contstant condition, much like ADD. And Lord knows, feeling tweaked out from GAD can sure make a person twitch and not sit still and lead to breakdowns.
With all repect to Dr. Amen and all the others who are valiantly attempting to define the myriad aspects of an affective disorder, where does the slicing and dicing stop? It must be horribly frustrating for the pdocs who have to come up with something to call it for the insurance companies while spending only 20 minutes with a patient every 2 months.
Some day, maybe in the 23rd Century, we'll have something analogous to Dr. Crusher's little thingie on Star Trek. You point it at the person and whoosh, everything's clear. We need to have PICTURES of the brain which will be worth at least 1,000 lables. But in my heart of hearts, I know it's the healthy reaction of my soul to the wasteland we're creating in our lives and on our planet. - BCat
poster:BarbaraCat
thread:112225
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020718/msgs/113505.html