[still_crazy]

I am just now on a depression drug and taking it fairly regularly. Its old school wellbutrin sr, the 2x daily one. I'm bad about missing the second dose.

anyway, I'm beginning to realize that I cycle down into darkness and then I have brief cycles up, complete with agitation and psychosis, and then its back into the darkness. Is that even bipolar? Because there's not a whole lot of normal.

I'm blessed because I respond well to medication and I don't get twitches and such from the tranquilizer and the wellbutrin has been a godsend. The anti-epileptic drugs (normal dose trileptal, low dose lamictal) seem to help, but I think its more subtle.

I think I'm diagnosed Bipolar I because my problems started with a deep dive into psychotic depression in my late teens. I had what's been diagnosed as a severe manic episode, with some heavy psychosis, at age 23.

But, again: it started with an episode of psychotic depression. Then I dipped down into lower level depression, maybe just melancholy.

I doubt there are any psychiatrists on this forum, but is this even Bipolar I? I'm wondering if maybe depression gets so bad that the mind just breaks. I dunno.

curious, that's all.

Originally Posted by still_crazy

I am just now on a depression drug and taking it fairly regularly. Its old school wellbutrin sr, the 2x daily one. I'm bad about missing the second dose.

anyway, I'm beginning to realize that I cycle down into darkness and then I have brief cycles up, complete with agitation and psychosis, and then its back into the darkness. Is that even bipolar? Because there's not a whole lot of normal.

I'm blessed because I respond well to medication and I don't get twitches and such from the tranquilizer and the wellbutrin has been a godsend. The anti-epileptic drugs (normal dose trileptal, low dose lamictal) seem to help, but I think its more subtle.

I think I'm diagnosed Bipolar I because my problems started with a deep dive into psychotic depression in my late teens. I had what's been diagnosed as a severe manic episode, with some heavy psychosis, at age 23.

But, again: it started with an episode of psychotic depression. Then I dipped down into lower level depression, maybe just melancholy.

I doubt there are any psychiatrists on this forum, but is this even Bipolar I? I'm wondering if maybe depression gets so bad that the mind just breaks. I dunno.

curious, that's all.

I can't say...could be and might not be. There is psychotic depression I believe....but you mention swinging up then down then back again which makes me think mixed or possibly something else. We all present differently. I get very grandiose so it's rather classic BP1. I told my doctor on the phone, if I can see through my delusions then I'm not delusional. He disagreed and so we agree to disagree because that is still how I see it.

You have a right to a second or third or forth or more opinions. (((Hugs)))

[still_crazy]

i just ask because i don't think i have classic bipolar I. I don't even know if I "really" have Bipolar I. My doctor and I have talked about how diagnosis is often the best they can come up with, but then he'll ask "any manic symptoms?," as if he's seeing everything through the bipolar I lens.

This is better than the Schizophrenia diagnosis I've had before. The pills work better, I'm more productive, etc. Maybe this is just as good as it gets?

[Wander]

You say you were diagnosed with a severe manic episode once. What were your symptoms?

At the end of the day if meds reduce symptoms and help you stay stable then diagnosis is not that important. Getting the right treatment is what matters.