[MissMay1977]

I have been on Paxil for 6 months now. I went from being introverted, quiet and " keep to myself" type of person to a person that has character and flair. I have about 5% of anxiety about what other people think of me. Add that with me being bipolar and I am something else. It makes me wonder if my SA was hiding my bipolar. I don't think I am doing anything " wrong" per say but I am sure people would now describe me as a person with flair. Before I was quiet and boring. An example of my new personality is I put a small stuffed pink gorilla on my desk at work with a sticky note on him that said " Hi, My name is Bamboozie" He has a graduate hat on and a diploma under his arm. I would of never done something like that before Paxil. So I wonder is this really me???

 

[MissMay1977]

I should add that my manager at work has commented on how I have changed over the past 6 months. I am more vocal and have more opinions.

 

[euphoria]

It's weird how SSRIs only seem to work properly for those with bipolar disorder.

 

[UltraShy]

It's weird how SSRIs only seem to work properly for those with bipolar disorder.

Perhaps because they make them manic to one degree or another?

 

[Medline]

Every AD can do this to a person with bipolar disorder.

 

[KurtG85]

As long as you dont find your emotions and behavior drawing you towards things like "steep involvement in pleasurable activities that may have a high potential for negative psycho-social or physical consequences (e.g., the person engages in unrestrained buying sprees, sexual indiscretions, or foolish business investments)." or other stupid ideas, than a certain level of hypomania is pretty much the ideal mental state for our hyperactive and hypercompetitive culture.

I don't remember how much or if you are even on any adderall but, relatedly, it is my opinion that adderall can make most people exhibit symptoms indistinguishable from bipolar disorder, even on low doses. It did this to me for a long time without me even realizing it. Of course when you have never experienced a 'stable' non-depressive emotional state to compare the often euphoric effects of adderall to then its pretty easy to mistake its effects for what 'normal' people experience everyday.

As long as your med combo is keeping you happy, stable, and functional then I say congrats and good going.

 

[MissMay1977]

Thank you Kurt!

 

[UltraShy]

Every AD can do this to a person with bipolar disorder.

Yes, I know.

 

[MissMay1977]

You guys I really don't think I am manic. I think I just have a lot of character. I am more creative now. But I don't have many manic side effects.

 

[MissMay1977]

I am just not boring anymore. lol

 

[anxiousdude]

I'm on Paxil too. I find that it dulls my emotions. In the past I would easily get nervous, than get depressed and freak out in social situations. This is why I couldn't hold a job for more than a few weeks. My life is much better on it, but it's far from a miracle drug. I'm still pretty much a loner with real bad social skills. At least I can make a living now and won't end up a hobo lol , but I still doubt I'll ever get married or have a steady GF.

 

[stealyourface722]

sounds good miss may. Its fun to have flair and express your true self. Im proud of you! I'm so happy for you! Also, if your on a mood stabilizer, then you should be fine. A mood stabilizer really makes all the difference.
keep livin it up missmay, ill soon too

 

[MissMay1977]

sounds good miss may. Its fun to have flair and express your true self. Im proud of you! I'm so happy for you! Also, if your on a mood stabilizer, then you should be fine. A mood stabilizer really makes all the difference.
keep livin it up missmay, ill soon too

Thank you! I am on a very high dose of a mood stabilizer. I take a nice cocktail of meds like some of the others.

 

[MissMay1977]

I'm on Paxil too. I find that it dulls my emotions. In the past I would easily get nervous, than get depressed and freak out in social situations. This is why I couldn't hold a job for more than a few weeks. My life is much better on it, but it's far from a miracle drug. I'm still pretty much a loner with real bad social skills. At least I can make a living now and won't end up a hobo lol , but I still doubt I'll ever get married or have a steady GF.

Not with that negative attitude sir! You have to think positive and not negative. You become what you think about!

 

[nothing to fear]

like someone said, an SSRI can be very safe when taken with a theraputic dose of a mood stablizer.


maybe i should suggest paxil to my doctor. i'm wary of SSRIs too but i'm on good doses of seroquel and lamictal anyway. i am quiet and boring right now and it doesn't feel like my SA is getting drastically better with CBT and exposure. still depressed too.