SSRIs

Question:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hello… For several years now I have been trying to asses (spelling?) what > type of problems I have or the roots of them which are related to > depression. I have just recently given in to the possibility that I may be > bipolar myself. >… > I seem to have Body Dysmorphic Disorder, I am addicted to looking in mirrors > and reflective surfaces. When I "deem it" that I look good, or if a female > comes on to me, I feel great about myself. If I happen to have a small > blemish or something, I blow it way out of context and it is enough to send > me into a compleete depressive episode for days, weeks, or until the blemish > is gone. >Is there any possibility that the blemish is preceded by mood change?

Well, I guess that it’s possible. I really can’t tell.. Sometimes I cope with it better than others. >I certainly feel a lot more attractive when I’m on a high.  But when I’m >down, I’m under a lot of stress and more likely to have skin problems and >also to feel worse about them. >(In my case, it’s major skin problems which often lead to bleeding.) >The disapproval and fear of abandonment are typical of the depressive >phase.

Well, I got MAJOR abandonment issues. I always exibit them with girlfriends. I had the same tendencies with my father and mother. I was quite fond of my father and asked him multiple times a day if he still loved me. But I still wonder if its possible to be bipolar but have the mood changes induced by triggers.. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Tom

Response:

>I seem to have Body Dysmorphic Disorder

SSRIs are the standard treatment.

Response:

I’m starting lithium tonight and have cyclothymic personality also.  Have you had any problems with lithium? Calvin

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> This is an interesting line of thought. > Are you certain your moods are triggered by how you look, and not the > other way around? > I am bipolar. Actually, tonight my pdoc said I was "cyclothymic > PLUS"… heh heh… IOW, I’ve probably been cyclothymic all my life, > and the true bipolar episodes only started a few years ago… but > anyway, onwards to my point. > All my life I’ve dealt with a poor body image and high level of > self-conciousness. Not anywhere near what you are describing, but still > not very healthy – particularly because, in truth, my worries are > fairly groundless. Not that I’m a beauty, but I’m cute. I used to > obsess over my weight – and I’ve never really had a weight problem to > begin with. I always figured I had a normal level of body-angst for a > female, although other people have accused me of going overboard. > Interestingly, since starting the lithium, my body worries have > completely evaporated. They’re gone! Despite the fact that I’ve gained > weight on this med, haven’t worked out in a long time, etc. My pants > get tighter and tighter… but it doesn’t bother me anymore. Not only > that, but I look in the mirror, and I don’t mind what I see. I see > roundness that may not be my ideal figure, but has something to > recommend it. My soft muscles are not unappealing to me anymore… soft > is kinda nice. > It kinda crept up on me, this total body acceptance. I’ve never felt > this way about myself before, not even when I was at my ideal weight > and fit and lean! It bemuses me. I’ve wondered if it is because I got > that divorce? But no, I had a bad body image long before I got married. > I’ve wondered if it is because I’ve stopped reading fashion mags (which > can be so friggin depressing). It may be that. Or, just maybe… maybe > it is the lithium? > I’ll be interested in hearing what other bipolars here say. > jen > * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s Discussion Network * > The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet – Free!

Response:

Hello… For several years now I have been trying to asses (spelling?) what type of problems I have or the roots of them which are related to depression. I have just recently given in to the possibility that I may be bipolar myself. I have had several therapists and a few have suggested that I MAY have it, but inconclusive up to this point. I guess that I’ll give some characteristics I have and see what you guys think. I seem to have Body Dysmorphic Disorder, I am addicted to looking in mirrors and reflective surfaces. When I "deem it" that I look good, or if a female comes on to me, I feel great about myself. If I happen to have a small blemish or something, I blow it way out of context and it is enough to send me into a compleete depressive episode for days, weeks, or until the blemish is gone. This raises havok on what I feel that other people think of me. I am so paranoid and self concious that I can barely stay at work. When I feel good, damn, its good, I’m on top of the world, I love hanging out with my girlfriend, feel good bout my future and enthuastically persue my studies. But when I feel bad bout myself, I sleep, I lay in bed, I figure some way to get out of work, I am unmotivated to partake in any of my hobbies. The depression is insurmountible. And rationally, I know its over nothing, there is no way a blemish is going to affect the way my girlfriend thinks of me but emotionally it hurts so bad. I am so paranoid that my girlfriend is going to leave me even though, on a daily basis she proves that to be false. Her actions reconfirm the opposite in fact. So is it possible to have bipolar that has both high and low episodes that are induced by triggers? I have gotten to the point where I get scared to feel excited or good for the fear of the fall afterwards. Sorry for talking so much but I do need some objective opinions. Thanx.

Response:

> Hello… For several years now I have been trying to asses (spelling?) what > type of problems I have or the roots of them which are related to > depression. I have just recently given in to the possibility that I may be > bipolar myself. … > I seem to have Body Dysmorphic Disorder, I am addicted to looking in mirrors > and reflective surfaces. When I "deem it" that I look good, or if a female > comes on to me, I feel great about myself. If I happen to have a small > blemish or something, I blow it way out of context and it is enough to send > me into a compleete depressive episode for days, weeks, or until the blemish > is gone.

Is there any possibility that the blemish is preceded by mood change?   I certainly feel a lot more attractive when I’m on a high.  But when I’m down, I’m under a lot of stress and more likely to have skin problems and also to feel worse about them. (In my case, it’s major skin problems which often lead to bleeding.) The disapproval and fear of abandonment are typical of the depressive phase. Tom

Response:

This is an interesting line of thought. Are you certain your moods are triggered by how you look, and not the other way around? I am bipolar. Actually, tonight my pdoc said I was "cyclothymic PLUS"… heh heh… IOW, I’ve probably been cyclothymic all my life, and the true bipolar episodes only started a few years ago… but anyway, onwards to my point. All my life I’ve dealt with a poor body image and high level of self-conciousness. Not anywhere near what you are describing, but still not very healthy – particularly because, in truth, my worries are fairly groundless. Not that I’m a beauty, but I’m cute. I used to obsess over my weight – and I’ve never really had a weight problem to begin with. I always figured I had a normal level of body-angst for a female, although other people have accused me of going overboard. Interestingly, since starting the lithium, my body worries have completely evaporated. They’re gone! Despite the fact that I’ve gained weight on this med, haven’t worked out in a long time, etc. My pants get tighter and tighter… but it doesn’t bother me anymore. Not only that, but I look in the mirror, and I don’t mind what I see. I see roundness that may not be my ideal figure, but has something to recommend it. My soft muscles are not unappealing to me anymore… soft is kinda nice. It kinda crept up on me, this total body acceptance. I’ve never felt this way about myself before, not even when I was at my ideal weight and fit and lean! It bemuses me. I’ve wondered if it is because I got that divorce? But no, I had a bad body image long before I got married. I’ve wondered if it is because I’ve stopped reading fashion mags (which can be so friggin depressing). It may be that. Or, just maybe… maybe it is the lithium? I’ll be interested in hearing what other bipolars here say. jen * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s Discussion Network * The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet – Free!

Response: