... taking Fluoxetine which was prescribed by my Doctor when I went for an appointment with him to discuss how I'd been feeling for quite some time. He told me he thinks that I am suffering from Depression. And while I do have lows which I do get upset about, it's not just simple feeling low. I get almost so upset that I am uncontrollable, hysterical. I even contemplate hurting myself, not to kill myself, I think it's just a cry for help if I'm honest. I don't experience real 'highs' like I have read people do with Bipolar Disorder. But I do go for days where I am completely happy. Also I have really bad mood swings, I fly off the handle and can be really aggressive and violent, which sometimes makes me cry after I've experienced this as well. I also become very paranoid about everything and everyone. And have a real sense of failure about myself. I really hope someone can help I don't know whats wrong with me, I don't know if it is just depression. I've started getting very drunk when socialising too. I think this is maybe a way of blocking things out.
I am hoping someone will be able to tell me if I have symptoms of Bipolar Disorder? I am currently?
- Posted:
- 5 Jan 2010 by Georgia88
- Topics:
- depression, bipolar disorder, fluoxetine
Answers (20)
mitjason5 Jan 2010
That's a tough one. I would suggest trying an Antidepressant with Seroquel and seeing if that works for you. If you do have Bipolar disorder the Seroquel will help with that as well as the depression (The FDA approved the drug for depression when taken with an antidepressant as well as Bipolar Disorder). This should be a good combination for you. I hope this helps and works out for you! Good Luck!
Psyched5 Jan 2010
Georgia88,
Well, only a doctor can REALLY diagnose you, but it sounds like you could be bipolar. If you're taking the Fluoxetine AND drinking, then that may be where your anger/aggression is coming from because the Fluoxetine will intensify the effects of the alcohol. If you don't agree with the doctor's original diagnosis or if it was just a regular MD you saw, then I'd say go to a psychiatrist and see what he/she may think is wrong. Better to have a specialist's opinion before you start having doctors prescribe you all types of meds. Hope this helps.
barbles24136 Jan 2010
I will tell you what my thoughts are. I have been and still am at times in the same quandry as you. And if I was told what I am going to suggest to you I would be over the top pissed off. You need to talk to someone. Psychaitrist they prescribe pills. Family docs well they are alottted so much time for patients which is normally 15 minutes for a routine blood pressure check a cold and so on. They do not have the setting for the time people with more involved symptoms have. I hated the word counseling. But now after 3 months of taking myself off of about 8-9 meds such as trazadone lyrica effexor xr ativan neurotin topmax and so on becuase I just thought I was on too many meds from too many specialist none of whom corresponded with each other about any of my pain issues depression sleep apnea. I fired all of the doctors and found one doctor to manage all of my issues which are complicated and needed continuity for management of all the medications. It has been about 6 months of hell.
barbles2413
6 Jan 2010
How are things going today. I am very happy because today for the first time in a long time I actually feel alive and energized. I don't want to jinx myself but say a little prayer for me. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers Keep in touch.
Georgia88
6 Jan 2010
Good to hear you feel good today. I have had a pretty bad day, but I am on a waiting list for some 'counselling' now, which hopefully will help me when an appointment becomes available. I did send you a private question, hope you don't mind.
CortyKM
Psychmajor6 Jan 2010
seems like it could be Bipolar II (no manic state) or a possible borderline personality which i think seems to be more likely (can just be major depression, you dont have to be sad EVERY day to be depressed, just most of the time for a 2 month period). either way antidepressants are a treatment option. I would suggest psychot herapy
Georgia88
6 Jan 2010
Would you be able to elaborate on Borderline Personality? What does this mean really? Thank you for your comment.
Psychmajor
teal
frankie727 Jan 2010
i went through a very similar state but your drinking gave me flash backs of my horrible drinking binges to the point when i didnt even care only about that didn't want to go to work and just was irrate and not even knowing why and would have a guilt and then thats when the cycle started all over again plus other issuses very very high's and very low low's i'm on effexor, depakote, ablify, tranxene,(anxiety attacts), ambien(to sleep well) your not alone good luck!!!
Georgia88
7 Jan 2010
Thank you, I will ask about ambien as I don't sleep hardly at all!
Stacey Harbach
7 Aug 2011
Sounds like you are over medicated. It takes a life time to adjust your meds. each time when the weather changes. Or when your life situations change. For anxiety I take Klonipin. Generic name is Clonozipam might not be spelled right. And also for sleep.I have been taking it for about 15 or more yrs. It is great and non addictive !
jttt337 Jan 2010
Hello, This is from ArtemisGreece. How old are you? I have some experience with this sort of behavior with my adopted brother who commited suicide in 2001. Bi-polar is a very over diagnosed problem. Drinking is not a good idea generally when you are feeling the blues... exercise,diet and finding something that interests you helps enormously. Be very careful what you are taking as far as medication. Antidepressants can have the opposite effect,instead of making you happy they can do the opposite. Hopefully you have a competent Doctor who is not just going to prescribe and misdiagnose you. It is always a good rule of thumb to ask alot of questions and be completely honest with whatever Doctor you deal with. Beware when they want to give you something after a 2 min. conversation.
Georgia88
7 Jan 2010
I'm 21. My Doctor has been my family doctor since I was born, so really trust him, but it did feel like he just wanted to give me meds. I was literally only talking to him for around 5 mins each time I've seen him. I'm sorry about your brother.
artemisgreece
8 Jan 2010
Thank you. On a more positive note..hope my advice helped a bit.
24 Jan 2010
bipolar.two.california: Many psychiatric medications should not be taken with alcohol, so if you are drinking and taking meds you may be harming yourself.
How upsetting it must be to have such strong feelings and behaviors and not understand them. I can identify strongly. Rather than make guesses about your condition, I want to urge you to get appropriate professional help.
Take the symptoms you describe to a good psychiatrist.( and to a second one if you don't trust the first answers you get.) Your symptoms sound difficult to group under any one diagnosis, but astute dialogue should find their commonality.
Your internist or family doctor is under-qualified to prescribe psychiatric medications.
You seem to want a diagnosis but to also be afraid of one. A diagnosis is just a lable, a tool for describing you. The crucial thing is how that lable helps you live a well and happy life.
teal24 Jan 2010
that is a hard one to answer,here it goes,ok,there are three types of bi-polar,i thought the same as you,major lows and major highs,and im telling the doctor im mostly always low,i dont get highs,my last high per say,i say happiness,lol,was 5years ago,and the world was mine,and i did some crazy stuff,over spending,et cetera. bi-polar isnt just lows and then highs and then lows. im am like you,when i get mad i fly off the handle too,i go overboard,i too feel a sense of failure about myself. no anti-depressant seemed to work,and thats because they say im bi-polar,and after im on the anti-depressant for awhile,then they introduce an anti-psychotic medication,not that your psychotic,i hate that word,but here are examples of different types of bi-polar
http://www.webmd.com/bipolar-disorder/guide/bipolar-disorder-symptoms-types
copy and paste this and read up on all of it. there are more than just one type of bipolar. hope this helped some,and good luck to you:)
Louis Bea...24 Jan 2010
Hello,Mudita.Getting professional advice is always the best pathway to understanding your condition. You need to ask questions, do your own research on the availability of treatment options, medication, counseling, support systems such as groups, family and loved ones. As a Meditation practitioner and addictive behavior counselor, I suggest also looking into the practice of Vipassana Meditation. Ask your Doctor and Therapists about this. Also, do your own research regarding this advice. Look at all your options and choose the best pathway that will help you to succeed.
bipolar.two.california
25 Jan 2010
I agrree with Louis. It's hard to diagnose bipolar disorder anyway, especially by internet. Own your life and your recovery- that is the best wisedom. It is common for people to experience some of the symptoms you rerport at your age. For some it is a disorder, for others it is a phase of life- but it is common for bipolar disorder to startg in late teens or early twenties.
26 Jan 2010
it really does sound like you have the symptoms ..there are different forms of bipolar disorder..i heard you said that you do suffer from lows but not the exstreme highs ..see i thought because off this i didnt have it..my dr told me you don necessarily have to have high high.but there is some evidence that you have some highs.and the mood swings are a deffinate sighn.you need to talk to your doctor again..good luck
guitaryes
28 Jan 2010
My husband became disabled by bioplar back in 2003.He suffered for years before that because he refused to seek help.His problem only became worse and lead to a disabling conditon after a long manic episode.He is on mood stabilizers now and his anger and rages or more controllable.I think the best thing for you to do would be to keep seeing a doctor to get a diagnosis and possible therapy or medications good luck!
31 Jan 2010
You didn't specify whether you went to a general practitioner or a psychiatrist. If you haven't already, I highly recommend getting tested by a psychiatrist. GP's deal with the body, not the mind. Many times people are misdiagnosed as being depressed since people usually only go in when they are feeling down in the dumps. You need to get a full evaluation. In addition, if you're bipolar and are taking antidepressants, it WILL trigger mania. I spent years suffering from bipolar because I kept going to the wrong type of doctor. Being bipolar, I do experience these symptoms; an inability to sleep--thoughts just going around in my head, like a broken record; inability to concentrate or read (I find it hard to remember what I read, or I tend to read every other sentence), extreme mood swings, feeling aggressive, crying spells, a vague sense of paranoia and weird phobias (like avoiding my mail).
9 Feb 2010
Honestly, bi-polar is such an overused term today. Everyone thinks they are bi-polar because one day they're good, and the next they are a rage-a-holic. I'm not a doctor yet, but carry a Master's in Psych. Honey, I think before you label yourself anymore (as this can actually bring on bouts of bi-polar behavior) get yourself tested. Twenty years ago you would either accept your behavior as normal, or run to catch an opinion from the nearest doc. No one can say just by your description. You need someone qualified to say yes, and up to this point your physician says no. Take his word because it may just be hysteria created by the knowledge of a known condition. Unfortunately, many conditions can be classified with your symptoms, and you can't go on them like you are now. You said yourself some of the things you do are a cry for help, and that leads me to believe it has nothing to do with bi-polar disorder. If you were to walk in my office, I wouldn't treat it as such...
sma0072 Mar 2010
although some of your symptoms are indicative of bipolar disorder, I would suggest that you ask your doctor to refer you to a psychiatrist. there are a number of criteria that need to be met for dx. as well. sometimes md's aren't as aware of the medications that need to be prescribed and a psychiatrist would better understand all your symptoms and the medications. Sometimes antidepressants can worsen your symptoms. PLEASE GET A PSYCH CONSULT QUICK.
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my sister has manic depression and bipolar for 35 years an its been rough. now things are good! the answer u just gave is what she is doing now. you know your stuff, good answer
mitjason is right,it's a tough one. and after reading this,i think i will try seroquel. although they say i have bi-polar,i dont believe i do,lol,only because i havent had a "high" for 5 years,but when i do,i over spend,drink,which i am not a drinker,its like the world is mine and i feel great,and always,ALWAYS end up doing something stupid that i regret,BUT,i thought with bipolar that its highs and lows,not with that many years in between,unfortunately the docs say i do,and i have to admit that all the antidepressants they have given me havent worked,they want to add an anti psychotic,is that what seroquel is? i will have to look that up.
Expand this post...
but what happens mitjason if you dont have bipolar and you take meds for bipolar? i mean,is there a way that it will act on you to let you know? like for instance,they kept saying my second child has adhd,i kept saying he doesnt,my first born did,and i know all about adhd,anyway,they insisted to at least try a med for it,and omg,it was as if he was on speed,so i took him off,so i was wondering if you have a different reaction if you indeed DONT have bipolar disorder? to me bipolar is so tricky,so many types,and plus out of most ppl,i trust your thoughts,knowledge on things:)
It's really common to doubt your diagnosis. Youmayhave been experiencing ups and downs that didn't register with you as abnormal. In any case, one serious episode is enough for a lilfetime. It is so important to prevent another, because some people say they tend to gett worse.
Your thinking sounds a litle disorganized. I am concerned for you. Please be honest and trusting with yoiur caregivers.
If I were you I would go back to my psychiatrist right away as it sounds like Bipolar to me. I experience rages, fits of anger,depression, mood swings etc. I have Bipolar I and Anxiety myself and it sounds alot like me.You definitely need help ASAP.
In my pea brain opinion, you are bi-polar. The symptoms are obvious. Seek advice from a Psychiatrist ASAP!!!
Sorry mitjason, this answer is for the question asked. Anyone can be Bipolar even if you have only 1 Or 2 manic episodes years apart. There is also hypomania. BP 2. They are just miniscual mania not full blown. Get help from a sych.reasearch online and you can learn a lot.
Teal, there are several types of Bipolar. For me, I have mostly depression but I do have short periods of manic behavior. I recommend following your doctors advice.
You are truly amazing, I have the same exact issues that they explained to a "T" an i also have PTSD "post tramatic stress dissorder" an i had been on prozac or fluexotine "however u spell it" an it seem to help ALOT, but never tried seroquel, an i have an appt. tomorrow 3/10/12, an gonna ask them what they think, because the prozac/fluexotine, seems to be not working well because i been on it since i was 12, an now im 30, so thank you for that i really do... I have been off my meds for abt 3 months cus of no insurance an struggling do you have any idea how to control it until i can find some meds?