Posted by Brandymac26 on November 6, 2002, at 20:21:09
In reply to Re: I need help w/ diagnosis, posted by Emmeline on November 6, 2002, at 19:49:19
> Hi Brandymac. I just typed a reply to your message; it's been about 20 minutes and my reply has yet to appear, so I must have done something wrong. I'll try and duplicate my last message. I have my master's degree in counseling, and based on what I know professionally, as well as what I'm reading as I sit here flipping through my copy of the DSM IV (a diagnostic manual), I thought I'd let you know my opinions.
>
> << But, aside from the symptoms I listed above, and t he ones in question are: I have always had bad mood swings>>
>
> I don't have enough information from you here, but cyclothymia (a midler version of bipolar disorder) is possible. Cyclothymia is characterized by rapid mood changes. On the other hand, mood swings and irritability are often manifestations of depression and anxiety.
>
> <<I have irrational thoughts like someone is watching me while I'm in the shower>>
>
> You may be worrying that you have paranoid schizophrenia, but based on the information you provided, this diagnosis doesn't seem realistic. Irrational thinking such as this may simply be manifestations of your anxiety disorders and depression.
>
> <<or that I have some terrible disease and everytime the phone rings i think it's my doc calling to report bad news(what is this?)>>
>
> This is your GAD.
>
> <<I'm a perfectionist. Small, every day tasks, like cleaning the house become overwhelming for me b/c #1-I dont have the energy or motivation, and 2-once i start cleaning i cant stop-in other words i cant just "straighten up", i have to scrub the whole entire house from top to bottom or It will drive me crazy thinking about everything that I didnt clean. >>
>
> We have a winner here: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). This diagnosis is very commonly found in individuals with anxiety disorders.
>
> <<On top of all of this, If something (even really stupid stuff) bothers me, I get so pissed off about it I think about it and obsess at how I can get back at the person for what they did to me. This is actually starting to disrupt my sleeping patterns.>>
>
> This sounds like manifestations of your depression and (as yet undiagnosed) OCD.
>
> <<I have so many thoughts that go through my mind before I fall asleep, that I will wake up in the middle of the night still thinking about everything-it's like my mind is racing.>>
>
> Manifestations of your GAD, depression, and OCD (ruminating thoughts).
>
> << but its like I have to just jump up and move and do something , even if it's jump up and down a couple of times to get all of the energy out of my system, yet whats even weirder is that when I feel like this, I'm normally pretty tired! What the heck is wrong with me?>>
>
> This restlessness or "ants in the pants" feeling your describing is a symptom of both anxiety and depression, and may be a side-effect from a medication.
>
> So, Brandymac, based on what you wrote, the only additional diagnoses which come to mind are OCD and possible cyclothymia. I hope this information is of some help for you. Take care, Emmeline :-)
>
> I have to tell you, i was thinking that i could possibly have ocd. I have been this way (like cleaning the house, rechecking the mailbox to make sure the mail I put in it is still in there) for as long as i can remember! Also, i have had panic attacks, gad, and depression for a while as well, actually, i remember feeling like this as a child. But what scares me is the cyclothymia. I dont know much about it other than what you said about it being a milder form of bi polar disorder. The thing is that I'm not manic. In other words I dont do or say abnormal things like stay up all night or spend a lot of money, i just get very irritable, and nervouse, and wind up having yelling at my husband, or kids for the smallest thing. I think a lot of this is coming from the anxiety and depression, like you said. What I'm wondering is if ssri's are effective for OCD(which i could and probobly do have), and gad. My panic attacks are almost gone since taking the lexapro(believe it or not-i sure couldnt b/c no other ssri helped my anxiety)and I notice i dont obsess over stupid stuff when i'm on med's, but oddly enough my depression only seems to get a little better. It's like my anxiety is better on lexapro, my gad, and obsessive thoughts get a lot better on any ssri's, but my depression only seems to get a little better no matter what ssri I take. It's
weird. Also, is there something that is specifically prescribed for people like me who have panic disorder, gad, and possibly ocd? Or are we normally given stuff like lexapro and anti-depressants? I just wonder if something out there is more effective for us. By the way, I replied to your other post (about switching from celexa to lexapro). Iv'e had no problems w/ the switch. And I just want to thank you so much for the reply. I really appreciate it.
Brandy
poster:Brandymac26
thread:126705
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20021101/msgs/126726.html