Yea I know there are a few about
It's hard to say really. I've always had high frequency low intensity mood swings (again relative for to my extreme moods not a "normal" person's moods) with a more significant episodes every so often.

I'd say that since being on lithium I've mostly been experiencing it's anti-depressant effects. My moods aren't changing quite as often but rather than ranging from hypomanic to depressed (with a rare episode of mania) and periods of "normality" interspersed I feel like I'm between hypomanic and a mixed state with less "normality" but no serious depression or manic episodes (yet).
( Captain V, Mon 11 May 2009, 12:03, 1 reply, 16 years ago)

fuck me
I am so glad I never got put onto the real drugs like you guys have been.
I was medicated on - of all things - the pill - because the doctor thought I was just hormonal. Yep. "Hormonal" enough to try to off myself. Didn't work. Just gave me massive headaches.
When the doc realised it wasn't hormonal she make me see a psychiatrist for six months. And I managed to get out of it with the help of her, my mum and family (and two close friends).

best of luck to you guys - I know what it's like being so low. I hope everything works out for you.
(Poppet some assembly required., Mon 11 May 2009, 12:12, Reply)

On behalf of Capt V and myself,
Thanks VC.

One thing though, if you were being hormonal why the f*** did the GP give you pills that are basically massive shots of hormones? You weren't (presumably) sprouting facial hair were you?
(Eds Meds Mathskillz=1,Socialskillz=0, Mon 11 May 2009, 12:17, Reply)

No idea.
I think she thought it would help settle them?? I was always worse around *that* time but the fact I was consistantly so damn low should have alerted her to the fact it was no hormonal! I went 18 months before going to the doc about it - and the only reason I did was because I got caught doing something very stupid.
(Poppet some assembly required., Mon 11 May 2009, 12:26, Reply)

This will sound weird
But I've always enjoyed being depressed if, and only if, I'm able to allow it to consume me without ruining my life completely.

Unfortunately having a job doesn't really allow that to happen but on the upside I've not been seriously depressed since I started here.

Dealing with "just" depression is hard as it's not always clear what the underlying cause is (then you've got issues of terminology that make discussing it difficult). I get the impression that doctors are very trigger happy with meds for depression probably because it's much easier than trying to really understand what's going on. Glad it's worked out for you without the need for medication though.

In my experience most doctors are pretty rubbish. I'm fortunate that I'm very self aware, good with textbooks and self diagnosis and that my GP is actually much better than my psychiatrists (I only see them because I feel as though I have to).
( Captain V, Mon 11 May 2009, 12:28, Reply)