I was DX'ed BiPolar at 20. I was on lithium and Zoloft. It did not not do much. I went off it (my mother insisted, long story) again, nothing happened. I am sure that some Aspies are BP. But I know with myself, that my BP tendancies are highly reactive to my "interests" my "obsessions" and my "stresses". I can be lower then low, but if DH walks in the door with something neat BAM! I am right there front and center! Or, I can be feeling fine, but when I don't get my way, or something happens to interupt a plan I had, I fall hard and fast into "meltdown".
I think this is also hypothosized as "reactive depression". But with me, it is just so so so severe!
I actually have written a little write up about this "emotional dsyfunction" I seem to suffer from, and what other people have told me about their emotions and feelings.... It is a little rough, needs editing, but the point I think is clear...
Quote:
The individual with ASD often exhibits inappropriate or abnormal emotional responses to various events encountered day to day. It is important to understand, that the spectrum of response may vary from a total unresponsiveness, to an over reaction or outburst with little provocation.
To clarify the “unresponsive reaction” the observer may notice that during events that typically should result in a response, the event seemingly “washes over” the ASD individual or that the ASD individual internalizes their emotions, appearing equally unresponsive, subdued, or in extreme cases; slips into a catatonic like state or falls asleep. It is important to distinguish, that this unresponsiveness will appear as either the event had no effect on the individual (they lack awareness) or it evokes a “shutdown”.
Conversely, with seemingly little provocation, the ASD individual may over react, or seem unable to control the intensity of their emotions. It may come across as an overly strong reaction, rage, a tantrum or a nervous breakdown. It is important to note, that this will also occur for other emotions other then anger, such as sadness.
Sometimes the ASD individual has a tendency of gravitating to one side of the spectrum more then the other. For those that tend to over react, they may appear to suffer from “Emotional Dysregulation”. For those who usually show no emotion, they may be labelled with:
Aexithymia (inability to verbally express emotion)
Apathy, (a lack of emotional reactivity)
or Emotional repression (subconscious but motivated denial of emotion).
Notwithstanding, the ASD individual may not always lean towards one pole or the other concerning emotional reactivity. Some may swing wildly between the two ends of the spectrum, unable to “regulate” their feelings. This may come across as “bipolar” to the untrained observer.
One important difference between this form of ASD Emotional Dysfunction, and Bipolar is that the response is emotionally driven as an inappropriate reaction to events, not an overall predominating mood or chemical imbalance. The individual is unlikely to exhibit periods of psychoses or extreme mania, although many may appear to be suffering with rapidly cycling “hypo-mania”. Great care needs to be taken in determining if the ASD individual actually suffers from Bipolar or not. Self diagnosis is not recommended, as co morbidity of BP and ASD has been reported. Make sure that the ASD individual with symptoms of BP is seen by a professional who is knowledgeable with both disorders.
18 Apr 2007, 4:40 pm
