Quote:
|
Other medical conditions. Other medical conditions or illnesses can sometimes mimic or worsen depression. These include thyroid disorders, chronic pain, anemia, heart problems, anxiety disorders, and substance abuse or addictions. |
I just want to make PERFECTLY CLEAR to many who read this that substance abuse often "masks" mental illnesses -- especially bipolar disorder. The two often go hand-in-hand, but because addictions like alcoholism and others mimic bipolar disorder so much.....docs often refuse to diagnosis a person as bipolar until sober for several months, but that doesn't mean they aren't quite often BOTH addicts and mentally ill.
I just don't want people to get to that part of the article and think that if they (or someone else) is an addict and are depressed then it's ONLY the substance abuse causing all their problems. That may be so, BUT often what really happens is that the illnesses like bipolar disorder are what LEAD a person to addiction in the first place (the person was unknowingly trying to self-medicate the mental illness when they became addicted).
Quote:
Have the cytochrome P450 (CYP450) genotyping test. This test checks for specific genes that affect how your body uses antidepressants. The CYP450 test helps predict if you're likely to experience side effects or if an antidepressant has little chance of working for you. This may lead you more quickly to a better medication choice.
In addition, testing for certain genes that regulate serotonin trafficking between neurons may help predict if someone may respond to a serotonin antidepressant and in what time frame that may occur.
|
Oh My Freaking Gosh!!!!!
I can't believe i've never heard of this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What the...?!!
Ok.....why in the heck haven't any of my freaking doctors ever done this???!!!
Grrrrrr.