I am on Lamictal (an anti-seizure medicine) which is a mood stabilizer. I don't get "manic" but get panicky....can't sit still, heart races,feel scared,hard to breath and have so many thoughts. I do not have the really fast paced talk....MY SISTER DOES THOUGH!!!! Actually I just got off the phone with her and her talk was so fast and crazy I had to keep telling her to slow down. When I got off the phone (and when I was on it) I became sooooooo anxious! I felt like taking a drink!

Let me know how the book is. Maybe it could give me some insight that might help.

After I had my son and had post-partum I did have the "rapid cycling" I think that occurs with Bipolar 2. But a lot was messed up at the time. Now I just get really depressed and anxious/panicky. My doctor said it is the PTSD and Anxiety/Panic Disorder associated with the PTSD. They are also checking me for ADD/ADHD. Dunno, each doctor has there own take. But even with a mood stabilizer antidepressants make me worse. Thanks again:angel:. UUUGGGHHH life sure can be a mystery!
Bella

My sister who is Bipolar takes a mood stabilizer (lamictal) and an anti-pychotic (albilify). Usually, from my understanding, this is the combination for Bipolar...not necessarily anti-depressants. I had been on topomax years ago and it helped but messed up my eye sight. HATED depakote! I was on anti-depressants in the past and they helped (when I had post-partum) but now they don't. My doctor told me that the lamictal can help stabilize your mood and keep you from falling into a really deep depression (I have major depressive disorder).

I am also prescribed ativan for my anxiety. This is actually the best combination of meds I have had in years. Klonipin actually caused me to feel angry (again I had it when I had post-partum). My panic attacks have disapated greatly (on my current meds) but my anxiety is continous. I guess I should be grateful that my full fledged panic attacks are very far and few. I don't have the "rapid cycling" I had with post-partum. Not sure exactly what is going on. Been dealing with this stuff for so long and really have no idea.

I totally agree with not knowing if it is ADHD which I have many symptoms of, or perhaps I might have a form of Bipolar, or is it my PTSD (anxiety/panic)???? All I know is that it sucks. It's really confusing!:dizzy:.
So many of these issues mimic on another.

I am also on Tramadol for Fibromyalgia which helps increase seretonin so being on an anti-depressant really isn't an option since it can cause a seretonin overload which is very dangerous.

I really hope we can figure this crap out!;)

Bella