PLEASE HELP! Is this psychosis?

[gibbons482]

I've been feeling really happy and joyful, making big plans. I guess that's a little manic-ky. But my question is this: I've been paranoid I'm going to be posessed by the devil, I'm afraid it's lurking behind me sometimes and I have to put my back to the walls. I say things in my head like Satan posess me, and I quicky think of something else. But sometimes I feel posessed. IT doesn't last long like a few minutes and I tell myself I'm being ridiculous. Is this psychosis?

I'm really afraid, embarassed and don't know if I should bring this up with my doctor because it only lasts a few minutes at a time. i'm really embarassed by it actually and am afraid he'll think bad of me.

Please someone respond. My appointment is tomorrow.

[fropunka]

Sounds like mania to me. And omg YES tell your doctor!!

He's heard worse I promise you!!

[gibbons482]

Thank you for your quick response. I'm terrified he'll take me off my Adderall which I really need for my ADHD. I'm just so afraid and embarassed.

[Lunacie]

Lots of people have ADHD and another disorder (or even several). Your doctor may need to take you off your ADHD med while he tried one for the paranoia - but chances are if you mention how much the ADHD med has helped you he will leave you on that while he adds an anti-psychotic or an anti-anxiety med. My youngest granddaughter takes an anti-psychotic med for her anxiety, it doesn't mean she's psychotic. I'm sure your doctor can help you figure out what's going on and change your treatment to address all the problems.

[ginniebean]

It sounds like anxiety run amok...

[Lunacie]

It could be that your dosage of Adderall just needs to be adjusted. (was reading in another thread that too much medication can cause something like paranoia)

[gibbons482]

Thank you all for your replies. I did tell my doctor. It took a few minutes to discover where all this was coming from. He did say I was manic and he upped my dose of antipsychotic. He wanted to decrease my adderall, but I told him he didn't understand how much it helps me and so he left it alone. He said he hopes my ECT will help level me out too.

[fropunka]

Sounds like you have a good doc, glad to hear everything went ok

[Lunacie]

Originally Posted by gibbons482

Thank you all for your replies. I did tell my doctor. It took a few minutes to discover where all this was coming from. He did say I was manic and he upped my dose of antipsychotic. He wanted to decrease my adderall, but I told him he didn't understand how much it helps me and so he left it alone. He said he hopes my ECT will help level me out too.

You say the doctor said something about you being manic. Have you been diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder? Sometimes stimulant meds can really mess with Bipolar, causing paranoia and other problems.

[gibbons482]

Yes, I've been diagnosed with Bipolar I. He thankfully left my stimulant meds alone. Said if I got any worse to call but that the ECT should help.

[Lunacie]

It can be hard to find the best med at the best dosage for either ADHD or Bipolar - trying to find the best meds for both without making either worse can be really tough. I wish you the best in your balancing act. It sounds like you have a doctor who will actually listen to you, in my experience that's rare, and that should help.

[DADHD]

Doesn't the antipsychotics reduce the effectiveness of stimulants? I am prescribed Risperidone and seems it blocks dopamine, but stimulants are supposed to increase dopamine, right? Or am I missing something here?

[mezzanine]

Originally Posted by DADHD

Doesn't the antipsychotics reduce the effectiveness of stimulants? I am prescribed Risperidone and seems it blocks dopamine, but stimulants are supposed to increase dopamine, right? Or am I missing something here?

You are correct.

[DADHD]

So how much do they effect each other? Do they cancel each other out? Why do they prescribe them both?

[Trooper Keith]

For some reason, they both work together. It's one of those bizarre mysteries of the pharmacy world. No pharmacist has been able to tell me why they are able to work together, though they certainly do. I suppose you could ask a psychopharmacologist if you've got access to one at a college campus. It may have to do with action in different parts of the brain, or with the sympathomimetic action of Adderall on noradrenaline.