Bipolar support thread

abby1234519

What does "her affect was reactive" mean? I got my letter from the psychiatrists today. Its basically a letter from the psychiatrist to the doctor saying what he thought? Its weird! I've quoted some bits, I don't understand it all lol

Because I'm not suicidal he "could not identify any significant risk issues"

Apparently I
"presents with several years of umpulsivity, volatile interpersonal relationships and mood instability. I do not think she has had an episode of full blown mania but the periods of high mood she describes may represent hypomania. As such she may have Bipolar II disorder"

"In addition she almost certainly has personality isues or emotional instability, low self esteem and a lack of fixed identity. Her quality of life is being adversely affected."

starnight_2

"her affect was reactive" obviously there should be more to that, hopefully giving you some insight into the meaning behind it.

Doctors will always speak to each other in there own language, (well it may aswell be a different language lol) but if you want to understand it better you have the right to ask your GP/psych to explain what it means in laymans terms.

abby1234519

I did google it but couldnt work out what it meant! I need to see the psychiatrist sooooon, Jan 14th is too far away and I'm miserable again

System

sundries wrote: »

make sure you are monitored closely on them. ADs are well known to trigger manic episodes. I took seroxat (banned now but used to be popular), had a psychotic reaction and ended up in hospital for quite a long time.

Similar happened to me, on 2 different AD's but am now being just put on a mood stabiliser (seroqual?)

The first time bf and friends noticed i was going hyper, second time no-one noticed but had psych appointment anyway and she saw it straight away and changed my meds, and made sure i saw her the next week. Basically you should be monitored closley so if anything happens they can step in straight away.

megc_2

abby1234519 wrote: »

What does "her affect was reactive" mean? I got my letter from the psychiatrists today.

Hi Abby, on it's own this statement means nothing unless it's explained more. Your affect is basically a mental health way of saying the expression of your emotion- for example, the way your facial expressions display your emotional state, whether you laugh/ cry/ speak in a monotone or normal ups and downs in your speech/ are lively and animated or just look 'flat'. It's the general appearance you give of your emotional state- other than the words you're saying.
The reason why it's often considered important, is because often people claim to be feeling okay, but their appearance and expression denies this- they appear extremely depressed, but claim to not be (for many reasons- fear of being hospitalised, stigma, being seen as weak etc).
In your case however, the statement in the letter means nothing unless the sentences around it say more, as it just says your affect was reactive. It doesn't state whether it was abnormally or excessively reactive, or just normally and appropriately reactive.
Hope this helps.

megc_2

I haven't posted on these forums for a while, as been too busy, but when I saw this thread I decided to join in.
I've had bipolar disorder since I was 14, diagnosed at age 19, and am now 38. I've had 2 major manic episodes in that time, and too many hypomanic or depressive episodes to count. I've lost count of suicide attempts, but am still here despite my best efforts; have been sectioned three times and hospitalised more times than I want to remember; got in unbelievable debt due to bipolar; and wrecked my family relationships.
Then 9 years ago, my meds were changed, and I have now been more or less consistently stable for that time. I have about one episode now every 18months or so, it is mild and lasts only 2 weeks or so. (that's down from 4 x 3month episodes a year, every year!)
I take tegretol retard twice daily, and seroquel and citalopram at night, and that keeps me well and able to work and function well. In fact, in 6 months I will finish my MA degree and qualify as a social worker, and intend to work in mental health, helping other people who are experiencing the same sort of difficulties I have experienced.
Bipolar disorder has brought hell and chaos into my life- but things can and do get better, if you take your meds and learn to manage your illness and symptoms yourself. The main thing, as someone else said, is to not give up hope. I wish somebody had told me that at age 19, that my life was not over, that I could still live normally, work, have a career etc. But it's not.
There are things you can do to manage your illness- there are meds that can help. And life can be good, even with bipolar!!!!

pink_numbers

I'm on super manic at the moment and I am becoming exhausted. Only sleeping 4 hours a day, over spent about £1000 last month. Have given all my cards for safe keeping to my OH until I even out again.

I hate this

Sammy1978

Hello

I'm new and have no idea whether I am posting properly or whether my question is totally relevant to this board but here goes...

I have Bipolar I with episodes of psychosis and currently receive the Lower Rate Care Component of DLA. I don't get a mobility component at all despite having a severe social phobia and suffering from agorophobia when I am unwell.

Does anyone else get DLA and what rates do you get? I'm not sure if I am entitled to a higher rate than I am already receiving. Any advice or comments would be great!

Thanks :-)

skipsmum

pink_numbers wrote: »

I'm on super manic at the moment and I am becoming exhausted. Only sleeping 4 hours a day, over spent about £1000 last month. Have given all my cards for safe keeping to my OH until I even out again.

I hate this

Lol me too, hardly sleeping and just been given zopiclone which helped me sleep but made me so depressed I'm frightened to take it again.
OH has confiscated my cards so I'm even more miserable and I can't get out with the dog because of the ice

de1amo

Just thought i would say hello to the thread-i am bi polar but hope to give a message of hope1 i was in and out of the system for 4 years until i was 38-i got on a cocktail of ventlafaxine carbamazipine and a small amount of resipirdone at night --i have kept well and balanced for 9 years now-my (new) wife notices in the day if i have forgotten my morning meds-i cant sleep without my respiridone at night-its all a fine line but i am well and getting on ok in life-i see meds as a positive so never knowingly forget!-
-i am vigilant but not pre-occupied with becoming ill again-(-İ once set up and ran a self help group for bi polar and 90pc of the talk was with this obsession and very stressing!)-Bi polar is not a blessing but it neednt be a curse!! keep taking the pills and the people around you!