Posted by polarbear206 on August 30, 2007, at 8:08:36
In reply to Re: Bipolar questions, posted by linkadge on August 29, 2007, at 19:42:21
> >There are milder subtypes that just present as >anxiety/panic with depression.
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> Some doctor would not classify this as bipolar.
> Bipolar should mean two poles. The fact that your depression goes into natural remission for periods in the year does not mean that you have bipolar.
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> The presence of anxiety and panic also does not necessarily mean bipolar. I would tend to think that the *majority* of unipolar depression has symptoms of panic or anxiety, as well as having periods of natural remission.
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> I don't think you need to bother with mood stabilizers *unless* they actually work for you. I tried mood stabilizers for a very similar type of depression, and they did not lift the depression, they felt like adding a pile of weight on my shoulders. They made living with the depression even harder due to the cognative side effects etc.
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> Seasonal effective disorder is also not bipolar.
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> There is probably no harm in trying a mood stabilizer. Mood stabilizers like lamictal have some efficacy as antidepressants even if there is no bipolar present. Responce to lamictal does not necessarily indicate bipolar.
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> Bottom line, use what works. Unfortunately I havn't found anything to help a similar pattern.
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> Linkadge
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There is a broad spectrum to bipolar disorders with milder subtypes. It's not that cut and dry for many people. SAD is considered a subtype of bipolar. Go to pubmed and you will find plenty of scholarly info on this and other subtypes. I have said it to many posters that it *CAN* be overlooked and misdiagnosed. You indicate that I think everyone that presents with these symptoms is bipolar. I think you are aware that I work in the mental health field, and colaberate with many psychiatrist. So once again, lets just agree to disagree.Polarbear
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poster:polarbear206
thread:779563
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070824/msgs/779695.html