[Shancan]

Ok ... you may have seen my post yesterday. I saw a psychiatrist for the first time and she believes I have Bipolar II. But I don't think it fully fits for me. I have been working with my T on PTSD symptoms for the last 6 months. (it took this long to get my appointment with a pdoc) So now I am just confused and all the reading I do doesn't really hit on what I have had happen.

Here's the cliff notes of what is going on ..

• Last year I took two medications (Very low doses for 5 days or less) Flouexitine and then Nortryptoline. Both caused me to hallucinate, dissociate and go into panic within days and led to two trips to the hospital for anxiety attacks. And the last drug in December has messed me completely up and I am still trying to get back to normal.
• I spend most of December in Bed - although would have points in the day were I would feel ok - and I would get stuff done. The more I moved around the better I felt (more normal)
• I couldn't look people in the face as things seemed distorted or there faces were coming at me (This lasted about 3 weeks - and I still have times now were I feel uncomfortable and I'm over tired)
• Uncontrollable crying on and off through the day or all of december and some of January..
• I haven't slept properly since November - I average anywhere from 3 to 6 hours a night. I go to bed early - and fall asleep no problem, but then wake around 2am.
• Then in February I had some strange Hypersexual issues that actually caused me physical pain. Yes strange thoughts about people other than my husband - but I have NOT acted on any of these thoughts. This lasted about 3 weeks - and I had my doctor give me a presription for Ativan to help me get to sleep because of it.
• So much anxiety. It comes and goes through the day. When i am active at work or working out it goes away. I still have anxiety every day. May be short little bursts of it - or all day. Depends on the day.
• Racing thoughts - this will be on and off through the day. This has gotten much better.
• Suicidal thoughts - I had a few weeks in December and January where I had some insane thoughts about driving off the road and walking infront of buses. I would get an urge in my body and it was so overwhelmning - but I knew would never do it.
• Extreme sensitivity to sound (This started 8 years ago on the day my son was born and has come and gone over the years.) All my other senses are hightened as well.

This all seems like depression or PTSD to me ... no?? I am not having the highs ... just the lows and anxiety. My pdoc wants me to do some research and talk to people I trust about it. Then I see her again to talk about going on meds. I really don't want to try medications again - my body does not like them.

Does it seem Bipolar 2? Can anyone relate to the above points.

Appreciate your input

I'm kind of with you. Your symptoms sound more PTSD/depression-related than bipolar. We can't really diagnose here, but I am someone with both PTSD and bipolar disorder, and over the years I've come to be able to distinguish PTSD reactions/symptoms from my bipolar symptoms. The hypersensitivity and racing/ruminating thoughts are just as attributable to PTSD as they are to bipolar. Lack of sleep is an issue with depression, particularly if you are tired rather than energetic. The facial distortions,etc. sound very similar to derealization which can be associated with the anxiety PTSD can create.

It sounds like you've really struggled with meds. I can understand your wariness to try any others. Can you develop a safety plan with your therapist so that both she and the pdoc can feel comfortable that in a crisis you will stay safe? Working through trauma can take a very long time and can be very intense.

Nothing screams bipolar but I'm not a doctor at all. Are you tired all day after sleeping just 3 hours or do you feel energized and good during this time?

Suicidal, did you think it through at all, or were they more like intrusive thoughts?

I think it's best to talk it over with a doctor.

[Shancan]

Originally Posted by ElsaMars

Nothing screams bipolar but I'm not a doctor at all. Are you tired all day after sleeping just 3 hours or do you feel energized and good during this time?

Suicidal, did you think it through at all, or were they more like intrusive thoughts?

I think it's best to talk it over with a doctor.

No ... I would say I feel tired in the morning. But the more I move the better I feel. I work out a lot lately and have dropped 20 pounds since December which just helps with my mood and anxiety. I certainly wouldn't say i feel energized though. By the time I go to bed I am pretty exhausted and fall right asleep (only to wake up 4 hours later). I can't drink coffee anymore as it makes me feel terrible, so there are no stimulants to help me through the day.

Suicidal thoughts are more intrusive. But with urges that truly terrified me.

I have talked to my doctor ... and tomorrow I see my T and will talk to him about this.

I just want to know if this resonates with anyone - because I have no idea what to think.

[Nammu]

Could be bipolar NOS or depression with anxiety and/or PTSD, the big tip off is the reaction to antidepressants. The pdoc most likely doesn't care about the label, that's for the insurance she'll just be focused on the symptoms.

[Guess7131]

I recently read an article, In the article it stated that one doesn't have to experience the highs to have bipolar. There are a few well respected doctor's who back this theory. They believe that there is another form of bipolar in which you only experience the lows. I don't think there has been any definitive research done on this, Therefor i can't agree with it. Try doing a little research and see what you come up with.

Good luck!