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jamie318
post Oct 14 2009, 12:24 PM
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Im 35 male and my depression has existed since 22, my previous posts explain the current situation.

How do I tell if I am bi-polar and is there a sure way to evaluate myself?

Put simply If you see the previous posts, my depression has worsend since university and a return to work, I have always felt that there is two phases to my illness. The last 2 weeks I have started to decrease the Effexor from 2 to 1x75mg

I have had to take small amounts of sulpride to ease anxiety and I am quite low but I am feeling better adjusted this week with more awareness of my feelings and less confusion. Of course I am more tired and still have the anger management issue!

My psyciatrist has never given much time to discussion about the drugs and never offers alternatives. He always avoids any diagnosis other than driving at a low level and persistant depression with some psycotic tendancys.

I read that mis-diagnosis of Bipolar can lead to serious concequencys through the incorrect treatment, could this be what has occured since I was 22, I always feel I have it within me to do better, and something is holding me back. whatsthat.gif

I find my temper very short and I take everything personally, I find myself very aggressive at times and it shocks me when this errupts. Much of the anger is leveled I feel at not getting the help I deserve from services.

Excuse the spelling I am writhing in the dark here! smile.gif

jamie x
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christianb
post Oct 14 2009, 02:10 PM
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I have foubnd, through my own personal experience that it can be tough to get a BP diagnosis even when you're displaying classic symptoms. This is due to the fact that many of the initial side effetcs of SSRis, SsNRIs, and other ADs kind of mimic BP symptoms. But, on the flip side, if you are BP the ADs can exacerbate the disorder ...

In my case, being diagnosed a BP has saved my life; I was out of my head 5 months prior to the diagnosis. BUT, it wasn't just depression, it was hypomania and mania along with it. I don't know if it's dangerous to work with and treat a BP disorder if you're not BP, but I am just on anti-convulsants, which are very smooth compared to the ADs, at least in my case. But, then again, they out me on Seroquel, which generally sedates people and I crawled the walls on it; so it can be tricky.

I took effexor for a while and it gave me a very short temper, if that's any help. Plus, just being depressed all the time can make someone a little touchy. But, again, everyone is different, take the meds, talk to your doc and go from there.
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adorabelle
post Oct 14 2009, 02:43 PM
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hi jamie,

i'm sorry to hear things aren't going to well with your dr and diagnosis. can you request to see someone else? if not, have you told your dr directly that you want to kow what your diagnosis is and ask direct questions about his answers. tell him what symptoms relate to you and what he thinks about that. the dr should not have a hard time telling you what he thinks you got going on and what his treatment plan is. you cannot evaluate yourself, unfortunately. it has got to be done by a dr. the best thing i can tell you to do is, print out a moodchart and record your moods, keep a simple diary just for how you feel and at what time of the day it is with a quick thought or two, to see if you can find triggers. take that to the dr, maybe he is misunderstanding you.

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~ A little Consideration, a little Thought for Others, makes all the difference. ~
~ Don't underestimate the value of Doing Nothing, of Just going along, Listening to all the things you Can't hear, and Not Bothering. ~
~ You can't stay in Your corner of the Forest waiting for Others to come to You. You have to go to Them sometimes. ~
~ When late morning rolls around and you're feeling a bit Out of Sorts, don't worry; you're probably just a little Eleven O'clockish. ~
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jamie318
post Oct 18 2009, 07:39 PM
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"the dr should not have a hard time telling you what he thinks you got going on and what his treatment plan is. you cannot evaluate yourself, unfortunately. it has got to be done by a dr"


I can tell you his treatment plan, there isn't one, thats how come for the last year I have been shouting for more help and all he has done is offered more antidepressant drugs, and as for a diagnosis I agree with you a Dr needs to do that but I think he's deliberately not diagnosing my illness.

The service in our area has to be the worst ever, sometimes I feel so angry with them. I need to take charge otherwise I will not ever be well!

J.
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adorabelle
post Oct 19 2009, 09:05 AM
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I, too, would be frustrated. It doesn't help if the Dr you have does not seem to be listening. Can you request to see another Dr?

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~ A little Consideration, a little Thought for Others, makes all the difference. ~
~ Don't underestimate the value of Doing Nothing, of Just going along, Listening to all the things you Can't hear, and Not Bothering. ~
~ You can't stay in Your corner of the Forest waiting for Others to come to You. You have to go to Them sometimes. ~
~ When late morning rolls around and you're feeling a bit Out of Sorts, don't worry; you're probably just a little Eleven O'clockish. ~
~ Winnie the Pooh ~


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hazel3825
post Oct 19 2009, 12:41 PM
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QUOTE (jamie318 @ Oct 18 2009, 08:39 PM) *
"the dr should not have a hard time telling you what he thinks you got going on and what his treatment plan is. you cannot evaluate yourself, unfortunately. it has got to be done by a dr"


I can tell you his treatment plan, there isn't one, thats how come for the last year I have been shouting for more help and all he has done is offered more antidepressant drugs, and as for a diagnosis I agree with you a Dr needs to do that but I think he's deliberately not diagnosing my illness.

The service in our area has to be the worst ever, sometimes I feel so angry with them. I need to take charge otherwise I will not ever be well!

J.



i feel your pain my dr constantly gave me more ad everytime i complained it was ridiculous i have been on so many different medications finally one day i had had enough and went in and told him exactly how i was feeling i told him look maybe i have'nt been real honest with you and told him everything and told him i need help he listened and to this day continues to listen to me truly listen i still don't think we have found the right meds for me so i journal everyday today i feeling i am manic and will be for a week and then will crash and be totally miserable, edgy anxiety ridden the whole thing i'm learning to deal with it and understand my illness i know this sounds weird but i'm fascinated by it and want so much to figure it out take care of yourself journaling truly helps

This post has been edited by hazel3825: Oct 19 2009, 12:43 PM
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Sheepwoman
post Oct 26 2009, 03:04 PM
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From what I understand of the NHS, mental health services can be limited in some areas of the UK and waiting lists can be long. Your current pdoc just seems to be going through the motions and not attentive to your needs. As far as a dx of Bipolar, it takes a long mental health history to make an accurate diagnosis as it contains components of other mental illnesses and only a psychiatrist can do so.
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jamie318
post Nov 13 2009, 06:50 AM
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J.[/quote]


i feel your pain my dr constantly gave me more ad everytime i complained it was ridiculous i have been on so many different medications finally one day i had had enough and went in and told him exactly how i was feeling i told him look maybe i have'nt been real honest with you and told him everything and told him i need help he listened and to this day continues to listen to me truly listen i still don't think we have found the right meds for me so i journal everyday today i feeling i am manic and will be for a week and then will crash and be totally miserable, edgy anxiety ridden the whole thing i'm learning to deal with it and understand my illness i know this sounds weird but i'm fascinated by it and want so much to figure it out take care of yourself journaling truly helps
[/quote]



Thanks thats a useful post, I have been thinking for some time i need to do this!
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