Quote:
Originally Posted by YMIHere
If it's any consolation, my doc said the same thing. My way of describing it is that I am edgy and want to jump out of my skin. It's not like I'm hallucinating or psychotic, but it's a mental crawling in my skin. (Pretty sure I had that thought before Linkin Park.) That is in addition to the short fuse. He has me as Bipolar I, mixed type. He told me that the irritability, even when I'm depressed is mania. Of course he's a bit of an a-hole too, but it made sense at the time.
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I understand the irritability that you're describing. Don't worry so much about categorizing yourself as "bipolar" or some other label. The same brain neurotransmitters are involved in many different mood disorders. I used to be irritable all the time, get angry easily, anxious, etc. I was that way for so long that I didn't realize that most people don't feel that way.
I was very resistant to medication and tried to manage my feelings on my own thru healthy diet, exercise, stress management techniques. My lifestyle is very healthy, yet I still felt irritable. But I finally came to realize that my irritable mood had a true chemical basis, so I gave in to Lexapro 10mg. My doc had me cut the pills at first (5mg). So I took 5mg for approximately 3 weeks until I was able to take 10mg each day. I'm still on 10mg and my old irritability/anger/anxiety is gone. I'll likely need to increase my dose as time goes on, but it's worth it to have a peaceful mind and not get upset with others for no good reason. I'm 33 years old and just wish I had been open-minded to medication sooner. Lexapro won't work for everyone, but there are many other SSRIs and other meds out there that can help. Healthy diet, exercise, and stress reduction are all still staples of my life as well.