Where's the line before madness?

[BeeKeeper]

So i'm noticing in just my posts here that I am hitting a major depressed episode at least once a month...and I'm here again.  I feel like I'm going mad....shaking, hallucinations, severe headaches, crying,  feeling as though I want out of my skin, thoughts of suicide but not suicidal, finding energy and motivation a really hard struggle...and no one to understand these things even though they could not help if they did.

Where is that line between madness, manic and depressed?

[BeeKeeper]

I've been here many, many times before...and am just so tired of it.  tired of hearing voices, shaking uncontrollably, feeling as though I'm being followed, trying to be normal for work and family.  I've never had a pdoc or therapist yet that has helped me and won't turn to the ones I have now.  i stopped smoking over 20 years ago when that was my vice to escape depression.  i need to just go sit by the lake tonight and have a smoke I think.  just so freaking tired of this...

[adel_ezz]

it's depression my friend. it can come with psychosis as well and that was new to me not only in mania. also once a month it's too much meaning you cycle. you need to meet your pdoc right away. there is nothing of the sort as madness. there is mania, depression and mixed states these are the 3 phases i know of BP but of course you can feel you have panic attacks sometimes or OCD or FEARS and that is often the case with me. To conclude see your pdoc. At least to adjust your meds

[Xila31]

I would say that it sounds like you need to talk to your doctor right away. I think the term "madness" comes in when you've just gotten to that point where you lose all touch with reality. I do think that people reach that point in all the spectrum with bipolar, schizoeffective, and schizophrenia. All of us can have paranoid delusions, halucinations, etc. But I do think there is a spectrum in that as well, ranging from mild to sever. I think that anywhere along there you can feel like you're going mad, though. :(

It sounds like you're not well, so do talk to your doctor.

[dame_wilbur]

Have you been using the mood tracker option that MedHelp has? It sounds like you should be tracking your moods and your symptoms. You also need to let your psych know about this monthly cycle. Is it tied to your menses by any chance? Hormones can do really weird things to our brains.

I'll say it again, you need to talk to your psych about this pattern. They might be able to discern something from it, and be better able to help treat you.

Good luck,

~Dame