Bipolar?

At the end of a meeting with my Dr. (3rd meeting with her), she ask me a few questions that my last Dr. never asked, then gave me a handout on Bipolar Disorder, and thought it was a *possibility*. Currently, i've been diagnosed with major depression, anxiety disorders, and panic disorders.

After reading the information, and scouring the net, the depression part is easy, definitely have it. The manic part is the issue. I NEVER have euphoric highs, but I do consistently get the racing brain, moving from one thing to another, not able to sit still, inability to concentrate on one thing at a time, irritability, things of that nature.

I have a feeling I don't quite fit in to the "Bipolar Disorder" category. A few followups might help me to figure that out. I've looked at the criteria, and since I haven't had any euphoric highs, i'm right on the verge of it being BD. My question though, even if I technically don't have BD, I wonder if some of the BD meds would help with the symptoms that I do have that are the same as BD symptoms, in addition to my anti-depressants. Seems a bit illogical to think that because I hit 3 out of 5, i'm not Bipolar, so the meds wouldn't work on those 3. Make sense?

You don't have to get euphoric highs to be bipolar. Irritability, along with the other symptoms you mentioned, can indicate dysphoric mania or a mixed episode, which still fits the criteria. I used to get euphoric when I was younger, but mostly get depression and mixed episodes now, which is the pits.

It's good that you're asking questions. I have a feeling you and your doctor will sort this out eventually.

There are several different types of bi polar. Some are extreme highs and lows , others are more mild. Look up hypomania, theres Bipolar I BipolarII~~ hope that helps! Chris

You sound just like me. You probablly fit bipolar II ....... read the following from http://www.mentalhealth.com/dis1/p21-md05.html#BP2


Diagnostic Criteria for Bipolar II Disorder
Presence (or history) of one or more Major Depressive Episodes.
Presence (or history) of at least one Hypomanic Episode.
There has never been a Manic Episode or a Mixed Episode.
The mood episodes in Criteria A and B are not better accounted for by Schizoaffective Disorder and is not superimposed on Schizophrenia, Schizophreniform Disorder, Delusional Disorder, or Psychotic Disorder Not Otherwise Specified.
The symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.

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Criteria For Mood Episodes

Major Depressive Episode
Five (or more) of the following symptoms have been present during the same 2-week period and represent a change from previous functioning; at least one of the symptoms is either (1) depressed mood or (2) loss of interest or pleasure.
Note: Do not include symptoms that are clearly due to a general medical condition, or mood-incongruent delusions or hallucinations.

depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day, as indicated by either subjective report (e.g., feels sad or empty) or observation made by others (e.g., appears tearful). Note: In children and adolescents, can be irritable mood.
markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities most of the day, nearly every day (as indicated by either subjective account or observation made by others)
significant weight loss when not dieting or weight gain (e.g., a change of more than 5% of body weight in a month), or decrease or increase in appetite nearly every day. Note: In children, consider failure to make expected weight gains.
insomnia or hypersomnia nearly every day
psychomotor agitation or retardation nearly every day (observable by others, not merely subjective feelings of restlessness or being slowed down)
fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day
feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt (which may be delusional) nearly every day (not merely self-reproach or guilt about being sick)
diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness, nearly every day (either by subjective account or as observed by others)
recurrent thoughts of death (not just fear of dying), recurrent suicidal ideation without a specific plan, or a suicide attempt or a specific plan for committing suicide
The symptoms do not meet criteria for a Mixed Episode
The symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
The symptoms are not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication) or a general medical condition (e.g., hypothyroidism).
The symptoms are not better accounted for by Bereavement, i.e., after the loss of a loved one, the symptoms persist for longer than 2 months or are characterized by marked functional impairment, morbid preoccupation with worthlessness, suicidal ideation, psychotic symptoms, or psychomotor retardation.

Manic Episode
A distinct period of abnormally and persistently elevated, expansive, or irritable mood, lasting at least 1 week (or any duration if hospitalization is necessary).
During the period of mood disturbance, three (or more) of the following symptoms have persisted (four if the mood is only irritable) and have been present to a significant degree:
inflated self-esteem or grandiosity
decreased need for sleep (e.g., feels rested after only 3 hours of sleep)
more talkative than usual or pressure to keep talking
flight of ideas or subjective experience that thoughts are racing
distractibility (i.e., attention too easily drawn to unimportant or irrelevant external stimuli)
increase in goal-directed activity (either socially, at work or school, or sexually) or psychomotor agitation
excessive involvement in pleasurable activities that have a high potential for painful consequences (e.g., engaging in unrestrained buying sprees, sexual indiscretions, or foolish business investments)
The symptoms do not meet criteria for a Mixed Episode
The mood disturbance is sufficiently severe to cause marked impairment in occupational functioning or in usual social activities or relationships with others, or to necessitate hospitalization to prevent harm to self or others, or there are psychotic features.
The symptoms are not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication, or other treatment) or a general medical condition (e.g., hyperthyroidism).

Mixed Episode
The criteria are met both for a Manic Episode and for a Major Depressive Episode (except for duration) nearly every day during at least a 1-week period.
The mood disturbance is sufficiently severe to cause marked impairment in occupational functioning or in usual social activities or relationships with others, or to necessitate hospitalization to prevent harm to self or others, or there are psychotic features.
The symptoms are not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication, or other treatment) or a general medical condition (e.g., hyperthyroidism).

Hypomanic Episode
A distinct period of persistently elevated, expansive, or irritable mood, lasting throughout at least 4 days, that is clearly different from the usual nondepressed mood.
During the period of mood disturbance, three (or more) of the following symptoms have persisted (four if the mood is only irritable) and have been present to a significant degree:
inflated self-esteem or grandiosity
decreased need for sleep (e.g., feels rested after only 3 hours of sleep)
more talkative than usual or pressure to keep talking
flight of ideas or subjective experience that thoughts are racing
distractibility (i.e., attention too easily drawn to unimportant or irrelevant external stimuli)
increase in goal-directed activity (either socially, at work or school, or sexually) or psychomotor agitation
excessive involvement in pleasurable activities that have a high potential for painful consequences (e.g., the person engages in unrestrained buying sprees, sexual indiscretions, or foolish business investments)
The episode is associated with an unequivocal change in functioning that is uncharacteristic of the person when not symptomatic.
The disturbance in mood and the change in functioning are observable by others.
The episode is not severe enough to cause marked impairment in social or occupational functioning, or to necessitate hospitalization, and there are no psychotic features.
The symptoms are not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication, or other treatment) or a general medical condition (e.g., hyperthyroidism).
Note: Hypomanic-like episodes that are clearly caused by somatic antidepressant treatment (e.g., medication, electroconvulsive therapy, light therapy) should not count toward a diagnosis of Bipolar II Disorder.

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Differential Diagnosis
Mood Disorder Due to a General Medical Condition; Substance-Induced Mood Disorder; Major Depressive Disorder; Dysthymic Disorder; Bipolar I Disorder; Cyclothymic Disorder; Psychotic Disorders (e.g., Schizoaffective Disorder, Schizophrenia, and Delusional Disorder).

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I am diagnosed with bipolar II and ADD, some aspects of bord3erline personality and anxiety.

I have tried many anitdepressants, none worked. Currently I am on:

Lamictal - titrating up slowly yo theraputic level
Adderall - 80 mg a day
Xanax - 0.5 as needed

I've looked it up, and it looks like i'm close to Bipolar II, but not quite. Not like it's a goal or anything though

The only "mania" symptoms I have are:

Extreme irritability
Racing thoughts and talking very fast, jumping from one idea to another
Distractibility, can't concentrate well
Spending sprees
Poor judgment (maybe )
Abuse of drugs, particularly cocaine, alcohol, and sleeping medications (alcohol to calm the racing and multitude of voices in my head. Not actual voices I guess, but just being in 10 different places at once)

The thing I can't get my head around though, well, two things. One, there is absolutely NOTHING good about my possible mania. No Euphoria, better self esteem, none of that.

And two, the thing that triggers it is being very depressed, and then I find something to focus on. For instance, my motorcycle. I have nowhere near enough money to modify my bike like I want, but i'll have 5-8 windows open, reading forums, finding out every last detail about the modification that I want to make. Talking to vendors, seeing what the best price is, all of those things, but STILL knowing that there is no way I can afford it. Once i'm done with that, back down to depression, or I find a new thing to put my energy towards, even if it's completely irrational.

Weird...

I don't really care too much about whether I technically fit Bipolar, or hypomania, but if I do exhibit some of the symptoms, but not enough to be considered Bipolar, i'm hoping some of the Bipolar meds can help with that.

Thanks for responding, I really appreciate it! I just need to hear others answer for some reason.

<font color="blue"> </font> What you just wrote, is me.. Totaly, I feel every thought you do. I don't get the HIGHS that people talk about, sometimes I wish I did. Manic for me is always on the down side, it takes me an hour to get out of bed, and if I did'nt kick myself I would be there all day.
At night the racing thoughts, vivid dreams. To where I can't sleep, which as you now starts the cycle over again. To me it's like playing catch up all the time.
Thanks for your post, meant alott to hear someone else say what I feel..

Jeff,
Like FNCrazy, you both hit the nail on the the head. I'm in the same spot. It's not weird, it's real. So much like you, I will start a project knowing in the back of my mind it will never happen, and 99% of the time it dosn't. That really blows to me, just one more let down to your own self-worth. Which brings more pressure to perform. Circles, that's where I stay. Trying to grab the brass ring and never succed.......

Well,what you said your expereincing is what happened to me. Racing thoughts, spending sprees, I never went to the extreme of high on the bipolar chart, but I was manic. I hope you can figure all this out. Its not easy~ We need to heal! Chris

I hope I can...Even if it's not technically bipolar, i've called my Dr. and hopefully she'll agree to put me on BP meds to see if they help. I get tired of taking pills, but if this works, I imagine it would eliminate some.

What type do you recommend I ask for? I'm sure my Dr. would recommend something if she'll allow me to try it, but is there a consensus, one type that tends to work really well for Type II?

There's so many, many someone else could help. It's all what works for you.....Sorry.........

Well, talked to my Dr. on the phone. She wants to wait to do anything regarding BP until our next appointment (a month from now). Now i'm bummed. I don't care if I AM BP, if BP meds will help the symptoms we BOTH acknowledge I have, then it would be nice to work on those.

<sigh> Oh well, what's another month, besides an eternity?

Wow! Talk about a blast from the past! I came back to this site for some information, but here's the update...kinda crazy, even for me.

So almost 4 years ago I was bummed that I had to wait a month to try Bipolar meds. Well, I started taking Depakote ER at some point after that, but here's what's funny. I *completely* forgot my Dr. ever said anything about possibly being Bipolar! I knew the Depakote was also for Bipolar, but I was using it for mood stabilizing.

Anyway, imagine my surprise when I come back to get info on Bipolar Type II which is what I'm now officially diagnosed with, and I see my postings from almost 4 years ago thinking the same thing. And it amazes me too, because I was WAY out of control back then, didn't know it.

So now I'm taking Cymbalta, Klonopin, Depakote ER, and just started Abilify. Adderall sometimes when I remember to ask for the prescription.

Thanks for listening to my rants!

Not that anyone really cares probably, but I must have just copied and pasted something in, because I've never even SEEN cocaine, much less used it, much less abused it. Okay, so no drug abuse. Sorry, but I saw that and my jaw hit the floor.

Best medications, IMO, are mood stablizers. There are several..research stuff like Lamictal, lithium, seroquel. Those are the three most popular I think. Even if you don't have the "stereo type manic stage" I do see some mood swings in your descriptions of yourself. BP has a form that one is mostly depressed with the higher side presenting as agression, concentration problems...etc. Surely keep us updated.