posted
can lyme cause bipolar disorder or other mood/anxiety disorders? does anyone know if mood stablizers or antidepressants help?
my therapist suggested I consider medication to help through this tough time with all I'm facing lately.
I made an appointment with the phsychiatrist in his mental health practice for thursday. truth is I wonder if I am actually mentally ill or if its just another lyme related condition.
I wonder if mood stablizers or antidepreaasants will help as I have to be as "together" as possible to deal with child custody battle.
even if all my stuff is caused by lyme isn't it possible to get myself less anxious and as my mom calls "wiggy"?
cheryl
Posts: 36 | From woburn,ma | Registered: Nov 2007
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shazdancer
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1436
posted
Hi cheryl,
Yes, absolutely, Lyme can cause psychologic symptoms. Depression is common, both due to Lyme itself, and due to coping with a severe illness. Bipolar can also be Lyme-based.
posted
Panic attacks, anxiety and depression were my first symptoms of lyme/bartonella back in 1996.
It is under control now with only an occasional anxiety attack or mild depression. That usually happens during my monthly herx.
I have taken Paxil CR for several years. Everyone has their own opinions on these medications. They have been my savior and have allowed me to function better mentally. It really is a personal choice. If I hadn't started taking something I don't think I would be here anymore. My mind was really causing havoc.
Best wishes, kit
Posts: 655 | From Pennsylvania | Registered: Jul 2006
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posted
I have a degree in Psych and decided I'd never take anti-depressants. I thought I could talk myself through any mood issues! NOT TRUE!!
I had so much anxiety and depression that just kept getting worse and I finally went on Lexapro. It has helped SOOO much, not only with mood, but I think with pain.
-------------------- "Never underestimate the power of a few committed people to change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has." --Margaret Mead Posts: 290 | From New York | Registered: May 2007
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map1131
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 2022
posted
lymie07, no doubt it causing mental issue. For one thing I've been told by professionals that anyone that has a chronic illness that is robbing them of their life and health will most likely have mental depression or some other form.
Of course these professionals don't know lyme & co the way those living it do. We KNOW it messes with your head.
I've had issues that I had never had in 42 yrs prior to becoming ill. Would I have gone there anyway without the lyme & company?
The right medication will help. I was told that you shouldn't be surprised if you can't find the right one for yourself the first time. Sometimes it takes trying this or that. Or combo.
I'm so glad to see you starting to head in a direction that will help you and your children. Keep up the fight, lady.
Pam
-------------------- "Never, never, never, never, never give up" Winston Churchill Posts: 6495 | From Louisville, Ky | Registered: Jan 2002
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adamm
Unregistered
posted
I feel that Anafranil has helped my cognition, but unfortunately
it suppresses the immune system (like pretty much all
posted
I would really recommend using an antidepressant for mood issues associated with Lyme. I take 50 mg of Zoloft daily, and it helps me manage my depression. I know that depression and fatigue were my first symptoms after the EM rash appeared.
Ditto to GenaD. I have a Master's degree in counseling psychology, and currently work as a counselor. I really didn't want to take medication for depression, but realized I needed it desparately.
Being that many of the mood changes from Lyme are physiologically based, it makes sense to utilize medication to address your neuro-transmitters directly. Also, finding a really good counselor can help you deal with the emotional fall-out of chronic illness including family stress, job issues, and financial worries. Recovery from the psychological/psychiatric issues of lyme takes medication and therapy.
-------------------- Mountaingirl
"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson Posts: 138 | From West Virginia | Registered: Sep 2007
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posted
Yeah maybe antidepressants might help but you should be aware that they can cause mania too. That happened to me twice on antidepressants then I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. None of the medications helped me. Then I was diagnosed with Lyme disease. My doctor said Lyme disease can cause depression and mania.
Posts: 255 | From where we don't have Lyme disease | Registered: Jan 2007
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tailz
Unregistered
posted
I spent 16 years on psych meds, and lots of doctors, therapists, and pharmaceutical CEOs are now planning their early retirement, thanks to me.
I would not touch them again, as I no longer believe there is such a thing as mental illness, and I think they only serve to depress an immune system that is already compromised even more. Brain inflammation and infections? - yes - but mental illness? - no. That's just my opinion.
I also discovered my ex-husband was not really in need of therapy, but had developed a brain tumor from his heavy cell phone use. I'm guessing he had infection, and later, a tumor developed. So the 'Domestic Violence Containment Program' the two of us once participated in was pretty much worthless in that situation.
Add to that the fact that I have electrosensitivities/microwave sickness,
and I really have to wonder now how many of the mentally ill people in this world are really suffering from some combination of infectious disease and microwave sickness, and somehow only getting sicker by taking the psych meds/Dr. Phil approach.
So I would have to recommend you be careful using antidepressants. They basically corrected a few select neurohormones of mine, rendering me less aware of my infections and the fact that cell phones were (and still are) making me sick, but they did nothing to alert me of when I was in danger of DNA damage from the radiation.
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posted
thank you so much for your replies. I'm glad I asked this BEFORE my appointment tommorrow.
I'm needing to keep an open mind when I go tomorrow and I printed out the information I got here for my reference.
I've been reading so much information from this site, posts, groups, your links, and more lyme stuff, divorce stuff, custody stuff, suicide stuff, neuropathy stuff, sleep stuff, memory stuff, so much important stuff I NEED to know.
LYME REALLY SUCKS!!! here's a new symptom, my eyes feel they are ready to pop out. I'm running out of paper for my printer.
I have a phone appointment with a legal advocate tomorrow. hopefully I will get the ball rolling quickly with my custody issue and disability issue. hopefully ill get referrals for both.
I really feel like knowing my plan and taking the steps the best I can is key. my mom called me 3 times today to remind me to eat, breathe, stretch/excersize, and most of all sleep. she's worried I try to do too much all at once.
she's been amazing. telling me my health has to come first. although I have a lot on my plate. the little things are big things. No medication or vitamin can replace theese. she's proud of me. hearing that made me cry happy tears.
God, my family, and the angels here called the lymenet family have given me so much hope in the most hellish of days I've ever lived. although my head feels like it will virtually explode I'm glad I'm not feeling hopeless and suicidal today.
thank you all from the very bottom of my heart. --cheryl
Posts: 36 | From woburn,ma | Registered: Nov 2007
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posted
There are a few Lyme literate psychiatrists around. Perhaps you could post on seeking a doc and get a recommendation. (The only one I know about is on the west coast.)
Posts: 991 | From California | Registered: Feb 2006
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Cass A
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11134
posted
Psychiatric drugs are expensive, and can cause brain damage that shows up as structural change on MRIs.
Psychiatric drugs can cause mania, violent rages, diabetes, heart problems that can result in death, and many other adverse effects.
posted
My Daughter's LLMD says to treat the symptoms that Lyme disease causes. So we do. Depression, anxiety and OCD are some of the mental things she deals with.
She was suicidal and had panic attack after panic attack until her LLMD put her on meds for these things. She takes Cymbalta for the depression and mood swings and Xanax when needed for her panic attacks.
If it weren't for those 2 RX's I don't think she would be here. We trust our LLMD. IMO I would treat the symptoms and if you have bad side effects worry about it then. You can always wean off the RX's and try something different.
HUGS,
-------------------- ICEY Posts: 468 | From Las Vegas NV | Registered: Jun 2005
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