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Depression, Taking Cotalopram, Have A Feeling Of Bipolar. What Could Be Wrong With Me?
I have been diagnosed with depression since I was about 18, and I have been on and off anti depressants and been to counselling! I used to cut mysef and have extreme highs and lows! I am currently 25 and I have been on cotalopram for about 2 years! I genuinely do not believe I have depression though, counselling does not help or uncover anything, I have never had a bad life or have anything to be depressed about, my life is currently perfect as far as I am concerned and even when I am feeling my extreme lows which I still get on my tablets I know that I am actualy happy but I can not control that feeling that I want to tear my brain out of my head! Then all of a sudden 2 days later I will be the happiest hyperactive person you have seen! My boyfriend has said that it sounds to him like something called bipolar and looking into this further i have all those symptoms but my doctors dot seem to do anything... And I just want to know what s wrong with me n feel normal because it is ruining my work life due to so many days off
Fri, 4 Jan 2013
Dear Sophiananni,
Hi! After going through your question, i feel that you are lacking some proper psycho-education about your illness. First and foremost, you need not essentially have life stressors and family troubles in order to have a depression. Secondly, not all depressions settle down in 6-8 months and some stay resistant. But from the description of the "highs" that you have given, it could be possible that you might be having a bipolar depression and then in that case citalopram or plain antidepressants wont work and that you will be needing mood stabilizers along with some anti-psychotics to reduce your symptoms. Please try changing your psychiatrist or get a second opinion with a fresh look and information.
Hope this solves your concerns
Hi! After going through your question, i feel that you are lacking some proper psycho-education about your illness. First and foremost, you need not essentially have life stressors and family troubles in order to have a depression. Secondly, not all depressions settle down in 6-8 months and some stay resistant. But from the description of the "highs" that you have given, it could be possible that you might be having a bipolar depression and then in that case citalopram or plain antidepressants wont work and that you will be needing mood stabilizers along with some anti-psychotics to reduce your symptoms. Please try changing your psychiatrist or get a second opinion with a fresh look and information.
Hope this solves your concerns
I find this answer helpful
Hello.....
Thanks for your query. The symptoms you are describing seem to be that of bipolar disorder. In that case, anti-depressants are to generally avoided considering the possible switch from depression to mania. Hence, i suggest you undergo a thorough psychiatric evaluation and be started on a standard drug regimen for bipolar disorder rather than taking on-off medication by yourself. Hope you found the information useful.
Regards
Dr Sundar Gnanavel
Psychiatrist
Thanks for your query. The symptoms you are describing seem to be that of bipolar disorder. In that case, anti-depressants are to generally avoided considering the possible switch from depression to mania. Hence, i suggest you undergo a thorough psychiatric evaluation and be started on a standard drug regimen for bipolar disorder rather than taking on-off medication by yourself. Hope you found the information useful.
Regards
Dr Sundar Gnanavel
Psychiatrist
I find this answer helpful
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