More threads by Atlantean

Atlantean

Member
Guys, I am totally at my wits end and bear with me because this might be a little lengthy but if any of you have any feedback for me I would really be grateful.

I am Bi-polar which manifests typically with racing thoughts and hypomania without the depression. I have had an extremely difficult time being able to sleep over the past four years and I have tried everything under the sun and the only thing that we found that ended up (usually) being able to help me sleep was Thorazine. I did not like being on it and I was originally on 500mg at night but got down to 200 which wouldnt work and 300 usually does the trick but lately (Over the past couple months) I have been having more trouble sleeping and I also saw a neuro psychologist who is also a sleep specialist and he ran an EEG which came back as being abnormal, and I have been having what I call 'micro-seizures' which coincide with my increased sleep difficulty, but I dont know if I am just being hypomanic or my brain isnt working right. Doesnt Bi-polar generally manifest in the teens and early twenties? Would it be normal to see a spike of symptoms in my early thirties? What do you guys think?

HELP!!!
 

David Baxter PhD

Late Founder
I dont know if I am just being hypomanic or my brain isnt working right. Doesnt Bi-polar generally manifest in the teens and early twenties? Would it be normal to see a spike of symptoms in my early thirties?

No, not necessarily. You might be thinking of schizophrenia, which is more likely to be diagnosed in the late teens and early 20s. Bipolar can be diagnosed at any time of life.

Additionally, I think you were diagnosed in your twenties, were you not? It's not uncommon for bipolar individuals to go through periods, sometimes extended periods of stability with few symptoms and then have a significant manic, hypomanic, or depressive phase. It's the nature of the illness, I'm afraid.

That's why it's so important to educate yourself and your loved ones as much as you can to be on the alert for the early warning signs of another episode. You can then limit the destructiveness of that episode by getting in to your doctors and resuming or increasing the dose of your medications.
 

Atlantean

Member
David,

Thanks for your feedback. I was actually initially diagnosed when I was 14, but I actually once had a psychologist tell me that my diagnosis of ADHD when I was ten could possibly have been the beginning phase of my hypomania sprouting, although the fact that I was able to take ritalin without counterindications seems to call that into question.

I would like to know if the early onsets of a hypomanic episode can actually be noticed far enough in advance to give me ample time to get with my psychiatrist and get my meds upped or prns made available, or if it will generally always be something that just starts without much advance notice. What do you think?
 

David Baxter PhD

Late Founder
I think for most people there are early signs that give you enough time. The problem is that they are not necessarily the same for all people so it may take time to identify your particular warning signs. Another problem is that they may not be as apparent to you as to your partner, friends, or family members, so enlisting their aid is a good idea.

I would say that often they can include sleep disruption, increased stress, or increased irritability.
 
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