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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Phaedrus on October 23, 2005, at 0:00:44
So Hi everybody This is my first post so it may be longer. I have a history of mental illness lasting back to the beginning of college. I'm currently 24 and in medical school. I deal with cyclothymia. My cycles are varied in duration, and usually precipitated by social events, (mostly girl problems). Its a bit stressful dealing with this and the workload of medical school. The work isn't that bad, but both really suck. I'm blessed with the intelligence to study significantly less than my fellow students and consistently do better. I'm able to do enough in up periods that I can take the down days off. The intelligence as well as instability were passed on from my parents. They are both doctors. Moms a psychiatrist, a former alcoholic and also knows the joy of cyclothymia. I guess I'm posting this because it would be nice to have someone else to talk to besides her. She completely understands but I need a change. I have a therapist as well, a good one, but he can never really understand. I function well, assuming I exercise and work out. I do alot of weights and yoga, which gives me a sense of confidence and competence along with the endorphins. It really dampens the swings, but I literally have to work out every day for it to work, and it doesn't do everything it just lessens the depression for a bit. And that was a hell of a run-on sentence. I'm a little reluctant to share too much with my friends here at school. I've messed up friendships before by vomiting emotion on them when I'm down. I've read alot of the posts and I like this site, but I'd also like to find an in-person support group. Anyone know of a good resource to find such a group?
-Ben
Posted by SLS on October 23, 2005, at 0:36:08
In reply to cyclothymia support, posted by Phaedrus on October 23, 2005, at 0:00:44
Hi Ben.
Welcome.
Is there any hypomania involved in your cycling? If so, how have you ascertained or described your hypomanic episodes?
What is your treatment history?
There are quite a few support groups around. One place to get a listing is to use the NAMI (National Alliance of the Mentally Ill) website. Another good group is the DBSA (Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance).
NAMI: http://www.nami.org/
DBSA: http://www.dbsalliance.org/
- Scott
Posted by megj on October 23, 2005, at 0:36:58
In reply to cyclothymia support, posted by Phaedrus on October 23, 2005, at 0:00:44
Hi Ben,
I don't know much cyclothymia so maybe you can tell me more about that. I have depression complicated by anxiety which waxes and wanes depending on the time of day, season, etc. I'm a grad student myself and my boyfriend is a doctor (whom I'm afraid to share my mental problems with). It seems you and I might have a thing or two common:) Anyway, if there's something you'd like to share or talk about, I'm around. Maybe we could help each other.
Best regards..
Meg
Posted by Phaedrus on October 23, 2005, at 1:13:51
In reply to Re: cyclothymia support, posted by SLS on October 23, 2005, at 0:36:08
Scott and Meg you two are quick,
Meg, cyclothymia is easiest to describe as lower level bipolar. I experience periods of hypomania in which I can study long periods retaining info pretty easily. I keep my apartment up much better and can lift and exercise for a few hours. Most aparently is how my emotions react to social interaction. I feel at ease, like the other person is actually enjoying my company. If I get rejected by a girl, I can get over it pretty quick. I'll also experience racing thoughts, and have to switch study modes to writing things down rather than just going over them. This forces me to slow down and stay on topic. The depressive phase for me is the opposite. I second guess every social interaction thinking it just isn't going well, and the other person is barely tolerating me. Rejection stays on my mind for much longer. Anxiety is fairly constant. I can't concentrate or retain anything, and I can go through the motions of working out but just can't lift as much, and I have less fun doing it. On the plus sometimes lifting or yoga pulls me out of the spiral as I call it.Scott, I already went over hypomania symptoms. My problems began with a major long lasting depression following the breakup of me and my first girlfriend, the death of my grandma and uncle from lymphoma and the suicide of a cousin. The hypomania set in after I stabilized on lexapro for a bit. Before that I tried paxil, celexa and wellbutrin, which may have worked better if I was more compliant at the time. I currently am on 20mg lexapro and I can't remember the last time I missed it. It modulates the mood a bit, but the main reason I like it is it lessens the anxiety tremendously. The cycling got much worse when I started school and I upped from 10 to 20, which helped. Previously 10 was sufficient. Currently I'm considering trying wellbutrin with it again. Thanks for responding so quickly. I'll look into those sites.
-Ben.
Posted by SLS on October 23, 2005, at 7:27:22
In reply to Re: cyclothymia support, posted by Phaedrus on October 23, 2005, at 1:13:51
Hi.
I'm sure you have by now learned that cyclothymia is considered by most researchers to be a prodrome of full bipolar disorder. The earlier in the course of the illness one stabilizes moods in cyclothymia, the less likely it is to develop into a more severe and treatment-resistant illness. Depakote is the medication I would look at first as a mood-stabilizer treatment.
How do you plan to stabilize your mood cycles?
- Scott
Posted by ed_uk on October 23, 2005, at 12:04:08
In reply to Re: cyclothymia support, posted by Phaedrus on October 23, 2005, at 1:13:51
Hi Ben
Welcome to p-babble. You've come to the right place :-)
~Ed
Posted by Phillipa on October 23, 2005, at 18:14:03
In reply to Re: cyclothymia support, posted by ed_uk on October 23, 2005, at 12:04:08
Yes welcome to pbabble and Ed you said what I was going to say. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by Dr. Bob on October 23, 2005, at 22:17:55
In reply to cyclothymia support, posted by Phaedrus on October 23, 2005, at 0:00:44
> I guess I'm posting this because it would be nice to have someone else to talk to besides her...
Welcome! To consolidate replies, I'd like to redirect this thread to Psycho-Babble Psychology. Here's a link:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20051018/msgs/570755.html
Thanks,
Bob
This is the end of the thread.
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