Hard to get diagnosed and hard to get treatment

[jjjaspar]

The circadian rhythm problem is often connected with mental illnesses (usually bipolar disorder) but even knowing that, the psychiatrists and general practitioners often ignore it, shrug, just increase the psych meds.
Here are some articles listed on the sleep / psychiatric issue, http://itsnotmental.blogspot.com/p/important-topics.html and you can see from http://itsnotmental.blogspot.com/2009/01/sleep-timing-of-melatonin-light-dark.html how seeing someone who specializes in sleep issues can really help. But neurologists often do not want to deal with patients on psych meds. So shouldn't it be all psychiatrists who are knowledgeable about this not just specially trained ones?

Weird.

[crazycatnapper]

I've always had sleep issues. I was diagnosed with depression in my mid twenties; however, I wasn't moody or unhappy. My problems were lack of energy, loss of interest, etc. I tried every psyche med there is and the ONLY one that worked for me is an old fashioned MAOi. Just so happens my med turns into an amphetamine in the body. At 41 I was finally diagnosed with Narcolepsy.

My sleep doctor has often questioned my "depression" diagnosis. I feel great on the very few occasions I actually get some good sleep. I am "down" when I'm exhausted.

I am positive all my "issues" stem from my sleep disorders, and I have several of them, including circadian issues (always have been a night owl).

So, which comes first, the chicken or the egg? Sleep disorder causing a down mood or mental illness causing poor sleep? I think the sleep problems are WAY overlooked.

[jjjaspar]

YES!!! Depressed when not getting good sleep. The depression is the SYMPTOM not the disease. This is what happens to me as well, only with me, I do believe my allergies have a lot to do with it. I really think you would like the book on the website It's Not Mental because the girl in it had major sleep issues and was being given meds for schizophrenia for them.