[frightened]

My doc thinks that I am in the bipolar spectrum, though I do not experience text-book hypomania or mania. I can have periods of intense spiritual growth with marked contentment, and increased ability to reach out to meet other's needs, but these times have never been a problem in any way. THen I crash, big time, and the depression is overwhelming, and fraught with suicidality. Good periods can last up to 3 years. THe extreme severe times kind of go on for years too, though in a sense, I can climb out of the suicidality in a week or so, at least to the point that I don't have to sit on my hands to keep myself from acting on them. I seem to be very reactive to circumstances and can experience a down-turn overnight. Does this sound like it could be BP II to anyone? I have started Lamictal now, and really don't know if it is helping yet. Doc says it can level out the depressive symptoms and that sure sounds good to me! ANyone experience anything like this?

[ellipse]

I'm not entirely sure, but it sounds like cyclothymia to me.

[dreamrunner]

Have to agree with Ellipse.....Im bp 2 as well and definatly get the hypomania.

[frightened]

Thanks for the feedback...don't know what cyclothymia is though. Can anyone enlighten me?

[frightened]

My first DX was Major Depression with anxiety...lasted a very long time. I don't know if this is helpful information though...I just feel lost, overwhelmed, and unclear what my real problem is.

[dreamrunner]

cyclothymia....google it...wikipedia.com is a good start

[jamox01]

Originally Posted by frightened

Thanks for the feedback...don't know what cyclothymia is though. Can anyone enlighten me?

I was diagnosed with Cyclothymia last week and there isn't a lot out there compared to other illnesses. I found this on the internet the other night and I know its a lot of reading but you may find it useful.

http://www.corexcel.com/courses3/cyclothymia.title.htm

[agony007]

frightened,

first of all welcome to pc! i hope that you find much comfort here, i know that i have. there's always someone here to lend you a hand when you're in need of one. i am diagnosed with bipolar disorder. honestly i don't really experience intense highs. i guess what they classify as a high is when i get really hyper and begin to clean obsessively, and sometimes i get a desire to shop, which by the way i hate and i mean hate shopping on any of my "normal" days. mostly though i have down days. i have suffered from major depression that was terrible, so i definitely relate to you. i am on seroquel now and it's honestly work wonders for me. i was on several different meds before then, though i have never tried lamictal, but have heard positive feedback about that drug and i hope that it works for you. sometimes it takes a couple of trials to find just the right combo of meds that will work for an individual since not everyone responds the same to meds. you can pm (private message) me anytime if you need anything, or of course do as you did now and post a thread, there will always be someone around to respond. best of luck to ya.

agony

[agony007]

I got this information from my textbook on abnormal psychology. Hope it helps.(cyclothymic disorder is a mild mood disorder characterized by cyclical periods of of hypomanic and depressive symptoms. it is a less serious version of major bipolar disorder, minus certain extreme symptoms and psychotic features such as delusions, and minus the marked impairment caused by a full blown manic or major depressive episodes.)