Posted by akc on August 15, 2001, at 19:18:48
In reply to Re: Recurrent unipolar vs bipolar [long] » alexamum, posted by Elizabeth on August 12, 2001, at 4:35:53
I shared this with my pdoc today. She to wanted to know your training! One thing I like about my doctor is that she is willing to respect a layperson's ability to learn.
A lot of what you have shared here fits me. I experienced a lot of trauma as a child -- mainly physical and emotional. Starting at 11 until 3 years ago, I abused alcohol -- it definitely was a way I tried to self-medicate. Since giving up the alcohol, and hopefully up till this past February, I turned to cutting as a way to cope. I have also punched walls and done other self-injurous behavior.
Of course, it doesn't seem to me that it takes much to set me off, but my pdoc did seem to beg to differ. I have had some pretty major stressors these past two years. Two bar exams and two extreme difficulties getting admitted to the state bars (involved hearings, etc. due to my mental illness). Plus moving to a new city. But I also have been triggered by stuff in group therapy, by attending a one-week intensive therapy program, and by my therapist being out of town. So in some ways I am thin skinned. This latest bout seems to be purely med driven -- my pdoc thinks it is most likely related to having taken me off the lithium. She would diagnosis me as Bipolar II, PTSD, and chemically dependent, I think.
My current meds are: Lithium 300 mg am, 600 mg pm
Effexor XR 75 mg am
Seroquel 200 mg, 2x a day
Topamax 75 mg, 2x a day
and Trazadone 50 to 150 mg as needed for sleep (currently taking 50 due to the latest episode).Anyway, I respect your knowledge -- I know it is a spotty history, but any thoughts or feedback you have on what I have shared would be appreciated.
Thanks,
AKC
poster:akc
thread:74539
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010814/msgs/75211.html