Just had my worse "manic" episode today in well over a year. It lasted about 3 hours. I (literally) couldn't stop talking and I was stuttering TERRIBLY the entire time. It felt like I had no control over myself and I couldn't think.. rather embarrassing, because now my school counselor is 'concerned'.
My moods have been ridiculously out of control lately, and I'm starting to get headaches so bad that I can't see very well (because of stress, perhaps?). I'm wondering if I should go back to my doctor.
I've been on Risperdal, Depakote, Zoloft, Prozac, Seroquel, Wellbutrin, Lamictal, Abilify and at least two others that I don't recall. Prozac and Zoloft made me severely depressed, Abilify didn't do anything, Risperdal gave me migraines, Depakote required blood testing, Seroquel made me really sick, I was allergic to Lamictal, and Wellbutrin kept me awake for three days.
All around fail. I'm willing to try new medicines, but I don't know what's left for me other than the "classic" types. Any ideas? I'm wondering if it's worth the effort (and money, it isn't cheap) to see my doctor and try something new.
And in case you're wondering: my diagnosis is Mood Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (helpful, I know) with instances of mania and possible Borderline Personality Disorder.
All I can that is if people are concerned and your moods are getting in the way of your functioning then yes, go back to your doctor and get back on some meds. The older ones might work for you but they generally have more side effects (so my psych said, anyway). As someone else said to me though, don't knock it 'till you've tried it. Can you get funding for medication? I know that when I was taking Olanzapine the price was subsided by the government. I guess that's another thing for you to ask your doctor.
I hope you get everything sorted out.
Previous username: Miss-Ruby
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Just a little note (and of course I'm no doctor) but to me it sounds less mania, and more just extreme anxiety. What you mention - is what I'm like when I'm anxious (for no 'good' reason like a test etc).
I'm pretty sure for a manic episode to be diagnosed it has to last weeks, rather than hours?
I only mention this because I have bipolar 1 - manic type. My mania lasts literally a month or two, and I have a plethora of symptoms, as well as just fast speech/thoughts.
With BPD, I've been old that therapy is the best treatment rather than meds (again, not my hard truth, just what I've been told before there's an outcry) as the sufferer needs to learn emotional regulation, and ways of dealing with their moods/episodes, as opposed to just medically switching them off.
1. My moods cycle within hours, so that's not too unusual for me. And I'm not that stressed out at all. Or anxious. And I wasn't yesterday. I literally JUST saw my therapist Friday so.. fail. But yeh, no stress or anxiety. And I ran around the school and was laughing uncontrollably so I'm pretty sure I was being a tad manic.
2. I was stuttering for about 6 hours straight today, and not even like "c-c-computer" instead of "computer", more like "com-comp-c-com-pu-puter." My dad said I sounded like a broken radio. So the school psych called my parents and we're trying to figure out what to do and trying to get an appt in with my psych.
3. This girl who I'm kind of friends with told everyone I was faking the stuttering to get attention, etc. She's the drama queen type, always fighting with everyone and just obnoxious. After school today we got in a fight and I told her I didn't appreciate her saying **** about me. And then she proceeded to call me an attention whore because I cut myself "and show everyone". I haven't cut in over 4 months. And that was just a low blow. It made me feel like ****. I'm SO mad at her. Beyond mad.
But yeah. There's an update. Thanks for the posts. Hope everyone's doing all right.
Just a little note (and of course I'm no doctor) but to me it sounds less mania, and more just extreme anxiety. What you mention - is what I'm like when I'm anxious (for no 'good' reason like a test etc).
again nor am i a doctor but ive seen someone who has rapid cycling bipolar be manic for just a few hours. not that im saying thats what you have, but my point is it is possible to be manic for that length of time
My gf has Borderline and BiPolar and sometimes in young people with BiPolar because they are young and because its rapid cycling mood swings can last hours or days not weeks.
BPD and BiPolar can be very hard to differenciate, because symptoms and behaviours typically seen in BPD are (in BiPolar) as a result of the mood swings.
You can be hypermanic rather than manic or have serotonin syndrome from too much SSRIs as well. Borderline (if your under 18) can only be diagnosed as emerging Borderline traits because you are still developing at a relativly fast rate.
In BPD high states would produce what you have described, where-as in mania as a result of BiPolar you could have other symptoms such as irritability, unable to sleep, restless, loss of appitite, impulsivity (seen also in BPD though)
Have you ever kept a diary of feelings, thoughts and actions. What came first, and then how you felt on reflection.
Medication can help, but in the case of BPD, a lot of controling it will be down to learning how to cope with changes in mood etc.
*hugs*
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