Posted by Di_Lee on September 6, 2006, at 7:47:05
In reply to Re: Diagnosed with Cyclothymia, posted by SLS on September 5, 2006, at 9:26:17
> Hi.
>
> > I was diagnosed with Cyclothymia a little over a year ago. I had suffered with depression for quite some time and also panic disorder. I would get panic attacks quite often. I had mood changes a lot. I would go through periods of depression (which lasted quite awhile) and then followed by periods of elation. I remember thinking "why do I feel so happy". It was a constant roller coaster. I started to drink, which only masked the disorder. A little over a year ago, I decided to "end it all" and took pills. I ended up in the hospital. Thank God a phyciatrist took on my case, and got me on medication. I feel so much better now. I don't have the drastic mood changes anymore and can function much better. I am currently on Zoloft, Trileptal, and clonazapam. Just want to let everyone know that there is help out there.....It may take awhile, but hang in there!!!
>
>
> Nice drug suite. I wish you continued success.
>
> What drugs, if any, had you tried prior to finding the ones that woked?
>
> Stay well.
>
>
> - Scott
Hi Scott,I went to numerous Dr's before actually being diagnosed with Cyclothymia. I was given just about every anti-depressant imaginable. I was just being treated for depression and anxiety. I had been given Paxil, Imimpramine, amongst others. I also was given valium, and xanax. They helped some...but I still had the mood swings. To be honest with you, I loved the times when I felt elated. I had tons of energy....felt on top of the world and like there was nothing I couldn't do. The only problem is I had more times being depressed than I did feeling elated. The depression lasted much longer than the times I felt "on top of the world". I have 2 sisters with Bi-Polar and my father had been diagnosed with Schizophrenia. (this was many years ago and he has since passed). At the time my father was diagnosed and hospitalized I was quite young. I remember he was given shock treatments while in the hospital. I kinda wonder now if he was properly diagnosed as this was years ago and little was known about mental illness. The Dr. I currently see said it takes many people an average of 16 years to be properly diagnosed. I really wouldn't wish this illness on my worst enemy!! It truly does affect every aspect of a person's life. Relationships suffer greatly. Many people still do not understand the condition, and figure you should "just snap out of it". My daughter now has been diagnosed with the same condition. The problem with her is she thinks that it is "normal" to be that way. She see's the same Dr. I do. The problem with her is that when the Dr. gives her a medication to take she looks up the side effects, and then gets scared to take the medication because of them. She is moody all the time. She can go from 0 to witch in a heartbeat!! You never know what mood she will be in. She also has panic attacks. The Dr. has her on an anti-depressant, clonazapam, and Neurotin. She is on SSI because she cannot work, due to the panic attacks. I try to talk to her but she won't listen to me, and doesn't take the medication as prescribed. She started getting symptoms when she was a teen. At that time I didn't recognize what she had. She had difficulty in school with concentration and would come home and tell me she didn't feel good. My goal now is to help her get feeling the way she should. She lives with me and my husband and I am her "safe" person. I get so frustrated trying to talk to her about the condition. She says "if people would just do what I say everything would be ok". She is currently 38 and has gone through numerous relationships because the guys she meets just can't handle her mood swings. I wish I knew how to get through to her!! She feels it is "everyone else" and not her.
Thanks Scott for your words of encouragement!! I greatly appreciate it. Wish me luck with my daughter!!
poster:Di_Lee
thread:683265
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060901/msgs/683615.html