Hey everyone, I'm Kristjan.
I have a mood disorder. Maybe several. What exactly is wrong with me? I'm not totally sure, since I've never been given an official diagnosis straight to my face. My first psychiatrist would dance around the issue, and say that diagnosing mental illness is kind of like ordering Chinese Food; a little of this, a little of that, maybe some chicken fried rice... My first psychiatrist was a weird guy.
I'm probably bipolar, but if so it's certainly a mild variety as I've never had a full blown manic episode. I've done a lot of dumb stuff in my life that I have mostly gotten away with, but it's all been of the hypo-manic flavor. Depression is the real issue for me. I've been depressed off and on since I was a teenager (maybe earlier), and I had a major depressive episode a few years ago.
I also have longstanding anxiety issues, previously dealt with through years of habitual marijuana use. Social anxiety and fear of social rejection are the big ones. I also hate going outside, and being around large groups of people makes me feel very uncomfortable. For the record, I've been off marijuana since September, 2007.
Add to that a possible side-order of mild OCD and ADD, and I guess we have something that does resemble ordering Chinese food after all. Maybe my first psychiatrist was on to something. Mmmm... Chinese food.
I recently started a private, online journal. I guess the big thing is that I need to keep better track of what's going on in my life; the last 5 years have basically been a blur. I mean I mostly remember everything that has happened, but if you asked me the date of my last psychiatrist visit, or how many months I was on a certain medication for, I'd stare at you blankly.
New doctors tend to ask you those kinds of questions, and I need to start looking around soon. I currently do not have a GP or a psychiatrist, and have to rely on walk-in clinics to refill my prescriptions when my meds run out. That isn't doing me a lot of good, and I feel as though with a bit of work my quality of life could be so much better.
Anyways, that's enough about me. I'm happy to be here, and I look forward to being part of an understanding community.
I have a mood disorder. Maybe several. What exactly is wrong with me? I'm not totally sure, since I've never been given an official diagnosis straight to my face. My first psychiatrist would dance around the issue, and say that diagnosing mental illness is kind of like ordering Chinese Food; a little of this, a little of that, maybe some chicken fried rice... My first psychiatrist was a weird guy.
I'm probably bipolar, but if so it's certainly a mild variety as I've never had a full blown manic episode. I've done a lot of dumb stuff in my life that I have mostly gotten away with, but it's all been of the hypo-manic flavor. Depression is the real issue for me. I've been depressed off and on since I was a teenager (maybe earlier), and I had a major depressive episode a few years ago.
I also have longstanding anxiety issues, previously dealt with through years of habitual marijuana use. Social anxiety and fear of social rejection are the big ones. I also hate going outside, and being around large groups of people makes me feel very uncomfortable. For the record, I've been off marijuana since September, 2007.
Add to that a possible side-order of mild OCD and ADD, and I guess we have something that does resemble ordering Chinese food after all. Maybe my first psychiatrist was on to something. Mmmm... Chinese food.
I recently started a private, online journal. I guess the big thing is that I need to keep better track of what's going on in my life; the last 5 years have basically been a blur. I mean I mostly remember everything that has happened, but if you asked me the date of my last psychiatrist visit, or how many months I was on a certain medication for, I'd stare at you blankly.
New doctors tend to ask you those kinds of questions, and I need to start looking around soon. I currently do not have a GP or a psychiatrist, and have to rely on walk-in clinics to refill my prescriptions when my meds run out. That isn't doing me a lot of good, and I feel as though with a bit of work my quality of life could be so much better.
Anyways, that's enough about me. I'm happy to be here, and I look forward to being part of an understanding community.
