Posted by cybercafe on November 4, 2004, at 12:51:06
In reply to Re: Bipolars in real life » cybercafe, posted by Ritch on November 4, 2004, at 10:20:39
> > one thing i've noticed about bipolars i've met outside of support groups etc (i.e. those who are successful) is that they all seem to be manic whenever i meet them and none of them seem to have anything above even the mildest of anxiety disorders.
> >
> > I basically need at least 2 mg of clonazepam everytime I have to sit still (maybe this is an ADD thing who knows -- i also have ADD).
> >
> > can most bipolars function without taking large quantities of benzos on a consistent basis??
>
>
> Just a thought.. but if I'm not manic nobody ever suspects that I'm bipolar (no evidence of it and no willingness on my part to talk about it), and if it is a euphoric mania I have no anxiety whastsoever. There is a feeling of complete control over everything and confidence that eliminates the anxiety. So, maybe some of those "successful" bipolars might not seem so anxiety-free should you happen to see them in a depressive cycle. There is "cyclicity" to my anxiety levels. I went for many years without any benzos-just lithium or antidepressants. When you talk about being "unable to sit still"-that may have something to do with something that you are *taking* causing the restlessness, IOW a med-induced restlessness (an AP or AD or stim). Akathisia can be tough to separate from generalized anxiety.... i'm not currently on an antipsychotic ...
are you talking about type I mania or type II mania (hypomania?) ...
yeah I would say my anxiety is reduced when I am more manic, but definately never gone completely (i.e. i still cannot exist without benzos).... though perhaps some of this is due to mania = take on more responsibility = more stress and anxiety
poster:cybercafe
thread:411222
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20041103/msgs/411698.html