Doc says it's bipolar?

Question

If I am plagued by excessive doubt and need constant reasurrance, but meds like Prozac only make it worse, does that automaticly mean it's bipolar? I have feelings like theres nothing to look forward to and I doubt my self worth. Im constantly worried about my realtionship. When I take Prozac or Effexor, it just makes me more paranoid that the "bottom will fall out." My doctor says that if the Prozac makes me cry then it means Im bipolar.

I have not been on any medication for a month now. I bike 18 miles 6 days week and do other exercise, that I would say helps keep the edge off at least. I have had a manic episode probably 3 or 4 times in my life over the last 13 years, including after the birth of my second child. I have never been hospitalized, I just got through it somehow.

Answer 1

First let me say that I'm sorry that you're suffering. I would advise that you ignore all of these people who are telling you whether or not you are bipolar. None of us are Dr's and you haven't given us the full story.

Biopolar Disorder is very complex and comes in many different classifications or "flavors". The diagnostic criteria is constantly being revised due to the fact that new research is being done and there are many misdiagnosed cases.

You may or may not have it; You may have a different type of mood disorder, but these diagnosis don't come within days or weeks. It takes close observation for several months or years to come to a firm diagnosis for one of these complex mood disorders.

Now; analyzing what you said I can understand why your Dr thinks you're BP. Prozac is in the antidepressant group of SSRI's (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) while these work great for cases of major depression; they are absoultely terrible for bipolar patients. The SSRI's will trigger mania and increase bipolar depression. For cases of BP (and other mood disorders) the front line medication is usually an anticonvulsant (mood stabilizer). Some of the popular mood stabilizers are; Lithium, Depakote, Topamax and Lamictal.

As per the Effexor, it's part of a different group of antidipressants called MRI's (multiple reuptake inhibitor). This is also a no no for bipolar patients, not only triggering mania, but rapid cycling (vast mood swings). It's known that Effexor is the hardest antidpressant to stop taking and comes with the harshest withdrawal symptoms. If you're misdiagnosed with major depression instead of bipolar disorder and your hooked on Effexor, life is going to suck.

The safest antidepressant available for bipolar patients is said to be Wellbutrin, which is also an MRI. This should be prescribed as an adjunct medication to an anticonvulsant in treating bipolar depression. This is a cocktail that my doc has had a tremendous amount of success with.

I've been diagnosed with a few mood disorders and have gone through different Dr's and different meds for a while, before I was able to get stabilized. The meds will only take you so far, so in addition to med management therapy, I participate in cognitive behavioral therapy and group therapy to learn how to manage myself beyond the medication.

Think of your support tools as if they were things that you needed in the field of battle. Depression is your enemy, the medication is your armour and weaponry and your Dr's are your field comanders. You'll need all three to make it out of the trenches alive.

I hope this helps and that you get well soon.

Answer 2

If prozac makes you cry it DEFINITELY doesn't mean your'e bipolar, I dont know why your doctor told you this but it's not true. If you are plagued by doubt, feel depressed and need constant reassurance seems more like you have a depression-Anxiety dissorder rather than a bipolar disorder. Prozac is an antidepressant and usually it takes about two weeks once you start taking it to start acting, also this drug has a side effect; in some people it increases anxiety in the first two weeks to one month when you start to take it, so that's why you might be feeling "that your bottom might fall out".
Bipolar disorder is characterized by the fact that it has two opposite states, one is depression and the other is a "maniac" state in which people tend to feel really happy and they have the sensation that they can achieve anything they want. People with bipolar disorder can also feel "normal" in some periods of time. If you think you might be bipolar then you should definitely consider seeking a therapist's (psychiatrist) advice because you need different drugs than antidepressants (mood stabilizers) and prozac can actually make a bipolar disease worse, not by making you more depressed but by taking you to the other extreme (manic).

Hope this was useful

Answer 3

No this doesn't mean it's bipolar. Bipolar are very huge mood swings. One minute your up on the clouds and the next you are below the ground. You go up and down like this all the time. I have bipolar myself and I have huge highs but even bigger lows. After a spell they will go away for a couple of weeks and then I will get them again. Medication helps greatly. Medication doesn't make you bipolar. I'm on Zoloft and it can give me bigger highs. I just need to go back to the doctor to get it adjusted. But the disease has to be there first the meds can't give it to you. You should consider going to see another doctor. Go and see someone that you trust and feel comfortable with. That will be the best thing for you. And plz remember this medication can help with the symptoms but can't get rid of it all. It takes work on your part. 40% comes from meds and 40% comes from therapy.
Good Luck!!!

Answer 4

i do no longer think of you're bipolar because of the fact in spite of the undeniable fact which you will no longer sleep you're exhausted. in case you have been having a manic episode you would be packed with power. I replied your different question, right this is what I suggested: this would the two be a edge consequence of the medicine or a symptom of the melancholy. In uncommon cases anti-depressants would reason manic episodes in spite of the undeniable fact that i do no longer think of that's what's going on to you, as in case you have been rather manic you would be packed with power extremely than exhausted. this would additionally by utilising a symptom of psyshosis, which may additionally ensue alongside melancholy, yet as i'm no longer a doctor i will't verify if that's what that's. So, in my view, taking under consideration i'm no longer a doctor, i think of there is an exceptionally, very small threat the racing innovations would desire to be signs and indicators of mania or psychosis, yet maximum possibly they're the two part of the melancholy, (or stress), or led to by utilising your drugs, wherein case your well being care expert will try a diverse drugs. truthfully communicate this inclusive of your well being care expert, there are tactics of treating this.

Answer 5

Bipolar Disorder
SYMPTOMS
Bipolar disorder (also known as "manic depression") is often not recognized by the patient, relatives, friends, or even physicians. An early sign of manic-depressive illness may be hypomania -- a state in which the person shows a high level of energy, excessive moodiness or irritability, and impulsive or reckless behavior. Hypomania may feel good to the person who experiences it. Thus, even when family and friends learn to recognize the mood swings, the individual often will deny that anything is wrong.

In its early stages, bipolar disorder may masquerade as a problem other than mental illness. For example, it may first appear as alcohol or drug abuse, or poor school or work performance.

If left untreated, bipolar disorder tends to worsen, and the person experiences episodes of full-fledged manic episodes and depressive episodes.

One of the usual differential diagnoses for bipolar disorder is that the symptoms (listed below) are not better accounted for by Schizoaffective Disorder and is not superimposed on Schizophrenia, Schizophreniform Disorder, Delusional Disorder, or Psychotic Disorder Not Otherwise Specified.

And as with nearly all mental disorder diagnoses, the symptoms of manic depression must cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning. Symptoms also can not be the result of substance use or abuse (e.g., alcohol, drugs, medications) or caused by a general medical condition.

Specific symptoms of the various types of bipolar disorder:


Bipolar I Disorder
Bipolar I Disorder actually is a number of separate diagnoses, depending upon the type of mood most recently experienced.
Bipolar I Disorder, Single Manic Episode


Presence of only one Manic Episode and no past Major Depressive Episodes.
Note: Recurrence is defined as either a change in polarity from depression or an interval of at least 2 months without manic symptoms.
Bipolar I Disorder, Most Recent Episode Hypomanic


Currently (or most recently) in a Hypomanic Episode.
There has previously been at least one Manic Episode or Mixed Episode.
Bipolar I Disorder, Most Recent Episode Manic


Currently (or most recently) in a Manic Episode.
There has previously been at least one Major Depressive Episode, Manic Episode, or Mixed Episode.
Bipolar I Disorder, Most Recent Episode Mixed


Currently (or most recently) in a Mixed Episode.
There has previously been at least one Major Depressive Episode, Manic Episode, or Mixed Episode.

Bipolar II Disorder

Presence (or history) of one or more Major Depressive Episodes and at least one Hypomanic Episode. Additionally, there has never been a Manic Episode or a Mixed Episode.

Answer 6

Its not bipolar. bipolar is when they go from very depressed to very hyper and back and so on. I think you may have a little of depression and obsessive compulsive disorder.. Medications like Prozac is usually the treatment of choice for both. If you don't feel like taking meds, just be active (exercise, go out w/ friends) to keep your mind occupied in other stuff. Goodluck!

Answer 7

Those are not the symptoms of bipolar. Bipolar means you have extreme highs and extreme lows. You may be depressed, but depression and bipolar disorder are different things. Taking antidepressants actually pushes you into mania if you are bipolar, which is why bipolars usually need to take several medications. I have to take three medications in order to stay even. Just one pushes me the opposite way. You need to see a psychiatrist who knows about depression. Your doctor obviously knows nothing about it! See a specialist.

Answer 8

Okay well, I have a similar issue that Im learning about. I may or may not be bi-polar, (its its likely) and different drugs make it worse. Sometime i really do feel like.. on top of the world. Other times, i want to kill myself. However, different drugs effect different people differently. i dont think that it should automatically mean that your bi polar. But you definantly need to talk to your doctor before you change, or add, taking a drug.

Answer 9

girl, i'm not a believer in anti-depressants. i feel like life is going to be hard at times. it's working through those times that makes you learn and get stronger. if you start to feel better and you are on pills, you will just think that you are feeling better because of a pill. the things that you mentioned that you are going through are all normal and nothing that no one else hasn't gone through at some point in their life. sometimes pills can also make you worse and they are not natural, they have side effects! take care of yourself!

Answer 10

This is a very good blog, a beginner’s guide to abnormal psychology.
Short, clear and simple; and you can even post your question and contact the author regarding particular subject you are interested in

http://sensitive-psychoworld.blogspot.com/