I don’t mind at all and I’m glad you ask, if I can help someone going through this I’m thrilled! :)
Turns out I’m bipolar (although several doctors told me I wasn’t, I’m not a psychiatrist and I’m absolutely not trying to diagnose you but I wouldn’t take one doctor’s opinion for granted).
Exactly as you did I first showed an improvement with Escitalopram but then it kinda faded (I wonder if it doesn’t modify the dopaminergic system because after the first phase of improvement I started craving for pleasures, and started eating, drinking and smoking a lot of weed…i.e. gaining a lot of weight). In the end and after several years (Escitalopram was the first treatment I tried) I finally found a good psychiatrist who decided to try a bipolatoty-oriented treatment, which worked and confirmed the diagnosis. I now have a two-molecule system: lamotrigigine every day (acts as a “floor” for my mood preventing depression) and aripiprazol as a “ceiling” which I adjust (0, 1, 5 or 10mg in the morning) depending on my mood to avoid manic phases. It’s worth noting that I too had a couple of relatives with likely (but undiagnosed) thymic disorders (whether bipolar or cyclothymia, it’s unclear). Together with regular sessions with a psychologists and a good hygiene (regular sleep schedule, limiting stress as much as possible and fighting my addictions) it does the trick and I’m no longer suicidal or clinically depressed most of the time.
Don’t worry about the long message, these things deserve to be discussed at length. If you ever wanna talk to someone who knows what you go through, I’m available btw, some internet anon had been there for me when I needed it, I am happy to help if you’d like.
Ah! Lamotrigine is one of the ones my relative takes! It also seems like they take another medication in a similar class as your aripiprazole. The one they take in that class is called Vraylar.
Tbh I don’t think I really need a second opinion look for bipolar. I don’t think it really fits my issue. I know I’m no mental health expert, but borderline personality disorder seems to fall a bit more in line with my “symptoms” of rapid and dramatic mood swings, although I’ve never inquired about it (plus my online friends have occasionally cautioned me of the stigma surrounding it). It seems that there isn’t really a standard mode of treatment for it, but that certain bipolar meds like lamotrigine are found to be helpful. After hearing that my brother found it to be really helpful for him, it made me even more curious to ask about it. But idk if that would be weird if I ask about a specific medication. I might just bring up that my issue is more related to mood swings than overall base depression.
One of the difficult things I’ve had in seeking proper mental health care is that I feel totally normal in between “episodes.” Often I’ll be feeling just fine when I have an appointment and don’t feel like I have any complaints or anything to say. Then I’ll end up in a crisis some time later that doesn’t correspond to an appointment. Bleh.
I don’t mind at all and I’m glad you ask, if I can help someone going through this I’m thrilled! :)
Turns out I’m bipolar (although several doctors told me I wasn’t, I’m not a psychiatrist and I’m absolutely not trying to diagnose you but I wouldn’t take one doctor’s opinion for granted). Exactly as you did I first showed an improvement with Escitalopram but then it kinda faded (I wonder if it doesn’t modify the dopaminergic system because after the first phase of improvement I started craving for pleasures, and started eating, drinking and smoking a lot of weed…i.e. gaining a lot of weight). In the end and after several years (Escitalopram was the first treatment I tried) I finally found a good psychiatrist who decided to try a bipolatoty-oriented treatment, which worked and confirmed the diagnosis. I now have a two-molecule system: lamotrigigine every day (acts as a “floor” for my mood preventing depression) and aripiprazol as a “ceiling” which I adjust (0, 1, 5 or 10mg in the morning) depending on my mood to avoid manic phases. It’s worth noting that I too had a couple of relatives with likely (but undiagnosed) thymic disorders (whether bipolar or cyclothymia, it’s unclear). Together with regular sessions with a psychologists and a good hygiene (regular sleep schedule, limiting stress as much as possible and fighting my addictions) it does the trick and I’m no longer suicidal or clinically depressed most of the time.
Don’t worry about the long message, these things deserve to be discussed at length. If you ever wanna talk to someone who knows what you go through, I’m available btw, some internet anon had been there for me when I needed it, I am happy to help if you’d like.
Ah! Lamotrigine is one of the ones my relative takes! It also seems like they take another medication in a similar class as your aripiprazole. The one they take in that class is called Vraylar.
Tbh I don’t think I really need a second opinion look for bipolar. I don’t think it really fits my issue. I know I’m no mental health expert, but borderline personality disorder seems to fall a bit more in line with my “symptoms” of rapid and dramatic mood swings, although I’ve never inquired about it (plus my online friends have occasionally cautioned me of the stigma surrounding it). It seems that there isn’t really a standard mode of treatment for it, but that certain bipolar meds like lamotrigine are found to be helpful. After hearing that my brother found it to be really helpful for him, it made me even more curious to ask about it. But idk if that would be weird if I ask about a specific medication. I might just bring up that my issue is more related to mood swings than overall base depression.
One of the difficult things I’ve had in seeking proper mental health care is that I feel totally normal in between “episodes.” Often I’ll be feeling just fine when I have an appointment and don’t feel like I have any complaints or anything to say. Then I’ll end up in a crisis some time later that doesn’t correspond to an appointment. Bleh.