Posted by TLinIL on November 26, 2005, at 9:46:16
In reply to About racing thoughts, posted by psychnp on December 13, 2004, at 21:22:50
Interestingly, I am in that exact predicament. I am bipolar...but, the thing is, I'm not. I have learned not to use the word "racing thoughts" as it seems to only be synonomous with "bipolar". Instead I prefer to say "attention span issues". I was diagnosed by a psychology intern 12 years ago. The doctor she found for me ran with it, and so did I, because it was an explanation, and I wanted desperately to know what was wrong with me. Prior to this diagnosis I had been prescribed Effexor. I had quite a bad reaction to it. I became hyper, dilusional, and self-destructive and this was interpreted as bipolar. When asked if I had racing thoughts, I answered yes. But it was never considered if racing thoughts occured in conjunction with mood swings. On the contrary, not only do I not have mood swings, but my thoughts are always jumbled and quick. So much so that I find it difficult to concentrate at all anymore. I have been on Zoloft for years, and it works rather well, but I am still not "me". 4 years ago, and 5 Psychiatrists ago, my Dr. gave me Ritalin to augment the Zoloft (which is what brought me to this site yesterday). He did not diagnose me with ADD, it was only to augment. Guess what--for the very first time in my whole entire life I felt like a human being after taking Ritalin. It would seem that was the answer, except that my Dr. moved his practice one month later. I have been through 4 other Dr.s who refuse to prescribe Ritalin, because of course, I am bipolar, and they can say that without reassessing me because one Dr. said it 12 years ago. So now I am bipolar forever. One Dr. even refused to work with me unless I agreed to be bipolar. If you haven't figured this out by now, Dr.s don't seem to like it when you have a plausible idea of your own. Do I have ADD or don't I? Are my racing thoughts Bipolar? I have been off of Depakote (for bipolar) since August, and many other times in my life, due to expense or pregnancy, and never ever not once have had any kind of a manic symptom other than the time I was on Effexor. Do I have ADD? I took an Assessment for ADD and the results were such that I had many probable symptoms. Then my therapist left last year, and my new one doesn't seem too concerned with pursuing this issue. Can the symptoms of ADD be something else? Some other sort of processing disorder or chemical imbalance? So after 4 years post Ritalin, I just can't let this go. I decided to start researching again yesterday, and then, I found this site. I forget which thread I found it in, but references to SSRI's having an adverse effect on Dopamine levels, which can be corrected with Ritalin. Could this be it? Although I have all other symptoms of ADD, I lack in one area, I did not get poor grades in school, nor do I now, when I'm there. I was in gifted classes. I am currently trying to finish my education, but had to drop out this semester due to these issues, with no help from therapist or Psych. One Dr. did prescribe Strattera for ADD, which made me completely suicidal within 3 weeks. Strattera did not work at all. And then I found out, Strattera works on Norepinephrine levels, not Dopamine. Well, it just seems to be one big jigsaw puzzle, but I think I'm getting closer to an answer, and I am so glad to see other's questioning the same things I am. One final thought (with no offense to Dr. Bob, of course), it seems clear to me that the larger issue in Psychology/Psychiatry/Therapy for anyone is finding consistent, concrete research-based treatment from a competent professional. It is frightening to me that Psychiatry seems only to be a matter of opinion. Sorry this was so long, but like my thoughts, it seems to be on big jumbled up mess! What do you think?
TL
poster:TLinIL
thread:429155
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/newbs/20050601/msgs/582336.html