Conversion Disorder

Anyone have this issue? I'm the one who posted about the speech problem yesterday (can't talk normally. It's as though I have brain damage with slow, difficult & choppy speech). Saw pDoc and he says it's Conversion Disorder. I've read CD happens more frequently in the bipolar/depressed patient so maybe others here have dealt with it?

What is the definition or symptoms other than speech?

It used to be called hysteria, if that helps.

I've never heard of conversion disorder having anything to do with bipolar disorder. Unless I suppose if you're psychotic and your delusion has something to do with having an illness you don't. Where did you read this?

Conversion disorder: All - MayoClinic.com

Here's the symptoms - which vary greatly - and the risk factors, including mood disorders.

actually I'm bipolar and back when very young in late sixties had conversion disorder diagnosis.

Thanks Annie -did the symptoms go away pretty quickly? I'm on day 6 and they've gotten better but still arent' gone. Get's worse when I'm stressed. What did you do for treatment?

I admit, this is my first time hearing about this. Sometimes, my speech will slur. Other times, usually when I am manic, it races. Sometimes, I can't even talk. Most of the time though, I have normal speech. However, I had a speech disorder as a child, and was treated by a speech language pathologist.

Part of the diagnosis is that it has to be really affecting your life in some way. Because this is mostly all of my speech being messed up, it's affecting my work, my home life and my self esteem for sure! So what I'm gathering is that speech issues of some sort seem to be fairly common among this community. But conversion disorder level, whether it's speech or blindness or non-eplileptic seizures is probably pretty rare.

I remember learning about conversion disorder (hysteria) in school. I didn't know it was linked to anxiety and bipolar, though.

I think the only thing I have is that when I'm having an episode my pain tolerance goes way, way up. Also, even if I was starving right before it starts, I suddenly can't eat. Food just becomes disgusting and I don't want to eat. It doesn't go away until several hours after the episode, sometimes I'll wake up starving. I don't think I have conversion disorder, though, and I don't think that's what is causing my difficulties with speach, because those problems come on for no reason, even when I'm calm and and at rest.

The Mayo Clinic lists several mental illnesses (very common ones) that are risk factors. I don't see any direct correlation with bipolar disorder.

But it doesn't matter. Assuming your psychiatrist's assessment is accurate, I hope you can help for this, maybe therapy?

hi pink it was back in sixties, so I got vit b therapy, wch may have helped most, along w talk therapy. also got old school ect and prolixin injections, not so good. took bout three months or a little more but have had to continue to battle bipolar and anxiety most of life but usu ok. use lots of healthy coping I think. iwish u all the best!

ipassed out a lot as a teen and ocassionally had serious probs w speech. would sleep a lot too and withdraw during these times. also find out iwas hypoglycemic wch docs thought accounted maybe for some of this. glad behind me

Yea, totally understand conversation problems. I don't talk much because nothing really seems to come to mind like it use to. I don't know if it will ever come back or if I just have to deal with the loss. Totally understand the self esteem issue. Pisses me off and makes me not want to say anything to anyone.

sorry am so late answering and believe it or not just getting around to learning navigation. Bit of a senior citizen here but trying to get a handle on things. Yes, triggers can make things worse, and some of them are inevitable life's events, while others are more complated. Symptoms have come and gone over years, approx 50, and I'm sixty. Have gone for long periods of time where I was feeling more "normal" but that doesn't always last. Have had all kinds of treatment and meds and keep going and changing as needed. Focus on lifestyle and enjoying little things as well. Laughter, gratitude, etc., all help. I wish you the best and would love to hear how you are doing. Please feel free to PM if desired.

I knew a girl with pervasive refusal syndrome which is a form of conversion disorder. She was in hospital for 8 months and is still in a wheelchair.

I was diagnosed as having it after two incidents that sent me to the hospital- face swelling for no medical reason, only to get better after my abusive mother left the room, and the day after a really bad visit with her, memory/cognitive problems and the inability to move the right side of my body.