Posted by SLS on November 6, 2009, at 18:52:20
In reply to Re: difference - happiness + hypomania? Scott, posted by Rosy Crucifiction on November 6, 2009, at 12:34:20
Hi.
>It wasn't clear from your post if the result might be a slightly "hypomanic" mood or a flatter euthymia.
For most people, the goal is to reach an affective state that is sometimes called normothymia (equivalent to euthymia). Hypomania is more unpredictable than normothymia. As Linkadge indicated, hypomania often yields impaired judgement and counterproductive behaviors. My guess is that you will be quite happy to be truly normothymic, whatever that may mean to you. If you are disappointed in the way that you feel, it is possible that you would still be experiencing residual depression. Such residual depression might indicate an adjustment in medication or the addition of other medications. It might also indicate that you must give treatment more time to reach its maximal effect.
> Clearly I'd prefer a bit if "up". And one man's euthymia may be another's flattened affect.
It is difficult to ascertain what one's mental state should be when healthy if one hasn't been healthy in a long time. However, flattened affect is not normal. Of course, it might be necessary to take a psychological inventory to assess whether there are any issues that might contribute to depressive thinking.
> Also, do you think aripiprazole or gabapeptin would work better. Energy is always good for me, but I'm a bit anxious and prone to inappropriate anger. So more GABA would be good too.
For anger control, you might want to look at Trileptal (oxcarbazepine). Trileptal is an anticonvulsant that is similar to Tegretol (carbamazepine), but lacks the serious side effects that sometimes occurs with Tegretol. Zoloft is also used for anger control.
You will need to be wary of an escalation in angry thoughts or behaviors if hypomania is a risk. Hypomania does not always feel good. It can come with frustration, impatience, and rage. If you feel like everyone around you is thinking and movin too slow for you, that is a good indicator that hypomania is present.
I will need to give more thought to the utility of gabapentin and aripiprazole. I am not sure either drug is appropriate in your case.
What is your current treatment?
What do you feel you would like to see change in the way that you feel, think, or act?
- Scott
poster:SLS
thread:924522
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20091029/msgs/924783.html