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can GAD be a symptom of a type of bipolar disorder?

I have suffered with PTSD and GAD and panic attacks for the last 7 yrs.  My dad was manic/depressive bipolar.  I was in for my first visit with a new phsyciatrist almost 2 yrs after a hospitalization for benzodiazepine dependency and panic attacks. A year after my hospitalization, I weaned myself off of all my meds and felt great for a few months.  Slowly however over the last year I have begun to experience anxiety and migraine headaches.  The migraines are frequent and the anxiety is daily and worsening.  I also have fibromyalgia and am taking Lexapro 20mg, Flexeril 15mg, Robaxin 700mg (4 times a day).  My phsychiatrist is starting me on Lamictal because she thinks I could have a type of bipolar disorder thats symptoms include anxiety and depression, not mania and depression.  I have never heard of this type of bipolar disorder before and I can't find any info online when I look up bipolar disorder.  Does this sound right to you?
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Avatar universal
I too was concerned that I am bipolar, but they say it's anxiety and depression. I have the mood swings and agitation and all but they say that's common with anxiety.Just try the meds and see what happens. My psyc doesn't think I am bipolar because I have never been manic just have insomnia. Good luck fighting these things is scary and they use us a guinea pigs to find us the right meds.Everyone is different. So far they haven't found anything to work for me but I am still trying.Just hang in there
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Avatar universal
There's a dispute as to whether there is such a thing as bipolar 2.  It was invented by pharmaceutical companies to explain the side effects of ssris, so they could add a drug to the mix instead of subtracting one that was causing side effects.  Of course it caught on with psychiatrists.  I would say, if you're not having manic phases, then don't concentrate so much on labels and work on what's bugging you.  If the meds you're taking aren't working, layering on more meds isn't the answer.  If they are working but just not quite well enough, then layering on more meds can help.  What I would do is see a different psychiatrist and get a second opinion -- and make it one who doesn't work with insurance companies, someone who will charge you a lot but see you long enough to actually hear what's bothering you.  Because that's a lot of meds.
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