I don't know if I'm bipolar or not, my new (fantastic) psychiatrist suspects I might be, but haven't confirmed it. I definitely have GAD/panic attacks, SAD. But the depressive episodes I get can be very severe, and last for a couple of months. The weird thing is that I don't seem to get very clear manic phases--I get mania at night, particularly with long lasting insomnia phases, but no euphoria. I hate to admit it, but I mostly get long periods of being really cranky/angry, and SSRI's seem to be only moderately helpful. Right now I'm taking Cymbalta, but that didn't ward off another depressive episode which is now lasted 2 months.
Does anyone here deal with mixed episodes? I've been reading about those and wonder if that's what I experience. I never seem to be really happy, just depressed and then not so-depressed and after decades of this I'm really tired of it. But I'm scared to try mood stablizers (what my psychiatrist thinks I might need.) I took seroquel and it was amazing, no anxiety, no depression, no insomnia, but I felt totally numb, like I just didn't care about anything and I really don't want to feel like that.
Thanks to anyone who read this, I hope I'm not intruding on this thread since I'm not sure about the diagnosis.
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-diagnosed 1/2004
-treating with diet and exercise
-mom to 5 furkids, Patrick the greyhound, Gretta and Samantha the rabbits, Sophie and Rosie the guinea pigs, and 4 guinea pigs waiting at the Bridge.
-working on a PhD in American History |