Posted by Jane D on September 10, 2001, at 16:11:49
In reply to They all think i am, but am I?bipolarthatis, posted by emma lee on September 8, 2001, at 23:30:32
Hi Emma,
There is nothing in your original post that indicates whether you are bipolar or not. (If I've missed something in another post I apologize.) Just what bipolar means is in the process of being redefined but at least for now it requires either manic (Bipolar I) or hypomanic (Bipolar II) symptoms. For some fairly accessible descriptions you might start at:http://www.psycom.net/depression.central.html
and
http:/www.psycheducation.org
and for bipolar AND all other medical conditions
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/This will help you decide whether you agree with the bipolar diagnosis or not and will give you a good overview of treatment options.
One poster suggested that if your moods are not interfering with your life now you should avoid medications. This may not be a good idea. One theme that you will see repeated over and over again in the above sites is that if you don't treat bipolar it will get progressively worse and hard to treat. There seems to be good support for that. You'll have to decide this one for yourself but remember - for every Vincent Van Gogh there are many artists who did brilliant work AND managed to die of old age with all their body parts still attached.
Finally, if the Prozac and Lithium combination is working for you my opinion is that you should stick with it. Jumping from one drug combo to another is a miserable experience and completely disrupts your life.
Jane
PS
I loved and relate to the following from your other post: "...but if my loved ones are "there" for me any more than they are already I think i might have to leave and be a Hermit for a while. "PPS
Risperadone - generic, Risperdal - brand name. They must have really worked at it to make this one so impossible to keep straight. I don't want to get obsessive about spelling but it does matter for looking up the various drugs.
poster:Jane D
thread:78327
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010907/msgs/78494.html