Stress
Anxiety in Depression and Bipolar Disorder
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
About Me
- John McManamy
- I am an award-winning author and mental health journalist. I have been writing about mood disorders since being diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 1999, ranging from a website, an email newsletter, a book, articles for HealthCentral, and this blog. More recently, I have been producing videos. Writing about my illness has played a very strong role in my healing and recovery. Writing allows me to come to terms with my past, gives meaning to my present, and gives me the courage to face the future with hope.
Your conclusion, "Please do not assume that you JUST have depression or bipolar disorder. ..." is so very reassuring.
ReplyDeleteFinally, after years of intense self-examination, and years of being diagnosed with "depression," I can now tell doctors, "I am am NOT depressed! I am scared!"
I have debilitating anxiety (intense fear) due to PTSD, where even the slightest, seemingly innocuous little thing, triggers this intense fear.
These fears make my life miserable, and if I were to describe this "miserableness," it would be perceived as "depression."
But I am scared! That is why I am depressed!
SSRIs, Buspar, Benzodiazepines, and all other "anti-depressants" have never reduced my fear. I doubt others like Tricyclics or MAOIs will work either.
My current bet is on something that will REDUCE Catecholamines; like a Beta Blocker.
Hi, Anonymous. Stress is a contributing factor to literally every mental illness. In many cases, it is the cause. And - of course - stress is based on fear.
ReplyDeleteWelcome to mcmanweb and keep us posted on how the beta blocker works.