Posted by detroitpistons on March 21, 2006, at 10:10:08
In reply to Re: Never thought I'd hear this..... » detroitpistons, posted by SLS on March 21, 2006, at 9:44:47
> > I was recently diagnosed as bipolar II after being on Effexor 225mg. I had an irritable hypomania with a lot of agitation, irritability, racing thoughts, excess energy, etc. I was sort of rapid cycling and a kind of mixed state.
>
> You labelled what you experienced as hypomania. Why?
>That's just what the doctor said.
> You seemed to convey in your description that this state was somehow different from the other states you have experienced. Taking into consideration that it emerged while taking Effexor and that you describe excess energy and racing thoughts does seem to indicate a hypomanic episode.
>
> Can you perhaps describe in more detail what you experienced during this possibly hypomanic period?
>Here's what I said in a prior post:
> Can you describe your manic reaction in more detail?
Well, I started taking the Effexor and was no longer depressed after about 6 weeks, but I still didn't feel "right." I still felt anxious. Over the course of the next couple of months, it became worse. I started noticing that I couldn't concentrate on anything at work (at the time I thought I had suddenly developed ADD). I was easily distracted and I couldn't focus on one thing at a time. My thoughts were racing. I became extremely agitated, nervous, and anxious. I had much less patience and I was easily irritated. I felt like I could blow up on someone at any time, as I had done to one of my bosses in the past (while on Paxil) and nearly got fired. I just felt more impulsive, angry, and aggressive. I had way too much energy. I actually did some cleaning (I normally have a very difficult time cleaning--I wait till something is covered in dust to clean it). None of this was pleasant, however, and at the time, I had thought that mania/ hypomania was supposed to feel good. My doctor explained that this wasn't necessarily the case. I've learned a lot since then. I should also add that I was seeing things out of the corners of my eyes, hearing quick sounds, and feeling sensations in my legs like my phone was going off when it wasn't, for instance. These were relatively mild hallucinations.
> Is there any history in your family of mental illness? What type?
>Not that I know of, but my mom has bad anxiety and has had depression, although I don't think she really gets it anymore because her lifestyle and routines are extremely stable, so she doesn't really experience any triggers. I suspect that other people in my family may have had mood or personality disorders, but none would have been formerly diangnosed. Nobody in my family would ever acknowledge, admit, or seek help for any mental problems.
poster:detroitpistons
thread:620137
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060315/msgs/622848.html