dysthymia vs bipolar type 2

Where does the line have to be drawn? I feel 'okay' some days which is why I used dysthymia (mild depression) over MDD being major. Days where I'm okay I feel decreased need for sleep, racing thoughts and trouble concentrating. I get so fixated on an object that I'm pretty sure my eyes cross. I'm overly irritated. You could even say frenzied or raged. Sometimes my girlfriend is able to snap me out of that mood. I'm on cipralex 20mg antidepressant because my doctor says depression only. I get all kinds of different thoughts in my head. I can't move from the couch because so many thoughts at once and if I'm forced to move is when I huff and puff. I mentioned bp2 to my doctor. He kind of laughed it off as he has with my depression for years.

I was diagnosed dysthymic in the hospital before diagnosed BP. Aside from mania, the difference is that BP depression is debilitating and comes in swings. Dysthymia is just like... Constant flat. Always.

Yes that is what I figured. Do you excel at work? Work is my spot where I feel like I can do the most, I'm the best worker, etc. We did Christmas family pictures yesterday with my two daughters so I couldn't call my depression flat.

Can you get another doctor? Any doc who laughs things off is not a doctor I would want treating me. The things you describe definitely sound like more than just depression to me. If it indeed is bipolar then being on an antidepressant is very much not a good thing-- it can and likely will kick you into mania. I hope you can get a second opinion.

I'm 29 now and since I was around 16 I've been telling him how I feel. He started by playing the card 'you're young, what do you have to be depressed about'. Now that I'm older he plays them off as bad days. Even my mom says he's the type of doctor who knows mostly about lumps, bruises and pains. Not mental illness. I'd love to see a new doctor. He has never actually diagnosed me with depression, just medication to treat it. I didn't even know there are levels of depression ie major, dysthymia, bipolar. I had to research everything I know about it so far. When I first read about depression you feel happy and think wow that's me and you have a name for it. I get that same feeling reading about bipolar 2. Everyone advises not researching but without some knowledge who knows where I'd be mentally. I told him that my medication wasn't working so he upped the dose 10mg. Still doesn't seem to be working. I'm more irritated then ever for no reason.

Yeah I do well at work - if I'm using my time I might as well. That said, I can be pretty flaky in terms of length of commitment/attendance

me as well. Ihave no sick days left so I've been having to suck it up and go everyday for 5 months now

Does anyone's eyes look back and forth real quick? Left and right like 10 times. Usually happens while reading which causes me to lose focus.

Not necessarily that but I do have a lot of tics that I do voluntarily to stim myself. I feel like I need to do them. Usually happens when stationary

Is that a symptom from bp2 and has anyone mentioned that you do that or do you only feel like you do it? I can't confirm if people have noticed mine.

I usually do it when I'm alone/understimulated. That said, my mom noticed it because my abdominal flex shook the couch apparently, and girls have noticed it before bed specifically my shoulders.

I don't think it's BP. I think it's a mild for of turrets or something similar to the asberger stims. I used to repeat phases like aspie stims when younger but it wasn't chronic

ok tyvm.

It sounds like you need a psychiatrist rather than a regular doctor. I don't think a psychiatrist would shrug symptoms like that off.

thank you I'll tryand seek out additional help.

I called the emergency mental health hotline just now because this morning while I should have been sleeping I felt on top of the world, couldn't stop thinking or talking about amazing things. My thought vocabulary is always great but my verbal communication is horrid but today it has been on point. I told her everything like how I went from feeling that to complete rage. She asked me if I could harm myself or others and I said no (truth) and she immediately dismissed my regard and told me to get some sleep. I'm hurting inside but I keep getting handed off to doctor, psychiatrist, telephone calls, etc. I need help I haven't slept. I don't want to call 911 because I don't feel like it's that drastic but I need answers happy now sad later. I have two people who say I must be over tired or basically to get a grip (as I see it)