Hello Everyone - Mainly S.A.D, Postpartum and some general depression.

[Buttercup]

I can remember my GP saying to me, it's best to get you well first then sort out the weight loss and I totally agree.

[Sweetpea]

Oh yes I totally agree.  I was not even able to function normally as I was. 

S x

[Got]

So you've been suffering from some fairly rotten depression and for a long time, and you took an SSRI and you became very confident, fearless and felt as though you were on speed?

Therfore my opinion is this: ask your GP for a referal to the local mental health team, say you want an assessment. I always find it shocking when I read people who display these kinds of symptoms and yet their doctor reads nothing into it. Did you fully explain to the GP at the time the effect that prozac had on you?

I beleive you need to discuss these symptoms with a psychiatrist. I think this is important.

Steve


 

 

[Buttercup]

Agreed with Steve

When I read your post and the effect of Prozac it did sound familar. I was lucky, my GP had suspicions and had already asked for a referral. The effects Prozac had confirmed them and I got a psych appt in a couple of days.

[Simon123]

I went back to the Dr and we agreed on a change of meds (citalopram), which to a certain extent helped and I was more my usual self according to my wife.

As I have said I am rarely totally open about my thoughts and feelings for the very fear of being "assessed" for fear of a negative outcome.  A stay in hospital isn't what I am aiming for.

[Buttercup]

I'm not totally open either for the same reason. Having said that I think it takes a lot for them to consider hospital, in my area they use crisis teams etc first.

Pleased youre having some relief on citalopram

[Sweetpea]

I had the same fears, but as buttercup says hospital is a last resort.  It does help to be as honest as you can with your gp so they can help in the best way possible.

You can be honest about your feelings here as we all understand.

S x

[Got]

You will not go to hospital unless you are exreamly suicidal, or else your are likely to kill someone else.

The reson why I said this is important, it because going high on an SSRI could mean that you have bipolar disorder. This is not something that should be ignored, and it will mean that you are not on appropriate medication. This should be discusssed with your doctor.

Steve

[Simon123]

Thanks Stevie.

I have at times in the last year been in a frame of mind for both, hence why not totally open.  Given what you have said, I will keep a closer eye on my behaviour to see if any patterns develop.  20mg of Citalopram evened me out pretty well and stopped those thoughts but after a while the dose was counter productive (maybe stopped working) and totally whacked me out.

[Buttercup]

I wouldn't worry at all about telling your GP that you have been in the frame of mind for both depression and bipolar.  My GP had had concerns and so had referred me, then a week later my hubby made me go as I was completely off my head, I was so high and felt like I must have taken a large amount of something illegal.  Anyway the GP gave me some tranquillisers and took me straight of the Prozac and got me an emergency Psych appointment.  Hospital was never mentioned. 

If you have concerns about being bipolar look back over your past.  When I did this I could see clear patterns of highs and lows which looked like a roller coaster. 

[Simon123]

Any of you who have a knowledge of Bipolar: what is the frequency/duration of the swings? Do they come by themselves or are they more often prompted by triggering incidents?

[Simon123]

Sorry, the frame of mind for hurting both myself and other people.

[Simon123]

I am unlikely to act on the thoughts when they arise but they do arise and more than once when I am at my worst.

[Buttercup]

Sorry, not having the best of days.

I am bipolar but not an expert by any means.  As far as I know the frequency and duration of mood swings varies form person to person and depends on the type of bipolar.  Bipolar II have mood swings that last at least 4 days (Hypomania), Bipolar I have longer manic phases lasting at least 1 week.  Frequency varies.  In my own case, I have recently been diagnosed as Bipolar and as yet they haven't specified which.  My depressive stages go on for months and my highs tend to go on for a couple of months, starting as a happy high, I can do anything and turn into some sort of superwoman, I do get grandious ideas and spend loads of money at this stage to feed my grandiosity, then it starts to change, the spending becomes pointless, I take on too much, my mind races everything gets too much, I can't concentrate on anything and my life spirals downwards into depression and then the cycle starts again.  I know some people have periods of normality in-between phases.  I am by no means typical and others experience different things.  Theres loads on the internet about it just google Bipolar.

My trigger is stress, but again this varies.

Meant to say I get the thoughts as well at moments of complete and utter desperation but am also unlikely to act.

Hope this has helped

[Simon123]

Yes, Thanks Buttercup :-)