Chronic CNS Hyperarousal

Post Reply New Topic

Hi,

I'm wondering if anyone can relate or steer me towards some info?
I've been diagnosed with bipolar 2 as well as Asperger's and PTSD.
I've come to the conclusion that maybe what I thought was hypomania is really hyperarousal of my nervous system - it fits better.

I've only just recently come across it in my reading about Autism - Temple Grandin mentions it a bit, she suffered from it but has found great relief from antidepressants. I have it all the time to one extent or another - sometimes becoming extreme - unless I'm in the depths of depression. I'm so exhausted by it that I now have chronic fatigue.

I'd love to know if anyone else has come across this in the context of ASD. I think it's the worst part for me.
I do realise that it could well be a part of my PTSD too.

Thanks for reading,
Zel.

Maybe I should have called it Chronic Sympathetic Nervous System Hyper arousal?
I'm not sure. I'm getting some info from Googling 'autonomic dysfunction'.

Googling CNS hyperarousal earlier on mostly brought up results relating to insomnia. Which is certainly something that I suffer from... :-/

I don't have bipolar disorder, but I have its cousin, agitated depression. I get the racing thoughts, irritability, suicidal ideation, etc., but not the euphoria or increased energy - I'd say that's about par for the course with me.

I suspect I had/have PTSD as well. To be honest, I think the symptoms for that have decreased but not gone away entirely. There were things which happened which I thought I was over, but which started haunting me in vivid flashbacks.

Subjectively, it does feel like I'm physically wound up and hypervigilant near continuously. Sometimes it retreats into the background, other times it's more intrusive - but I don't think I ever feel 100% relaxed or at peace. In fact I know i don't.

NCOT: What is the thing that gives you most pleasure?

Thanks NiceCupOfTea,

Yes, I was just fascinated to see Temple Grandin talking about it because it's one of the worst, if not the worst problem I have. Antidepressants keep me from my worst suicidal terror / depression, and Lithium helps prevent my irritability from turning into violent agitation (usually), but this CONSTANT hyper arousal really affects my life profoundly. As i said I now have CFS.

I'm still researching (very slowly due to CFS), and it does seem to show up in autism - both hypo and hyper arousal.
There is a program developed for kids called 'How does your motor run?' to help develop their awareness of hypo/hyperarousal.

I seem to always be going too fast or too slow which does look like bipolar, but as I said, I think maybe it's not mania but hyperarousal.

Thanks for your reply,
Zel.

I meant to say, the only thing that helps is Valium. Have you found anything helpful?

Zel.

Complaining about things? I don't really know... :-/



Does TG suffer from the same thing then? That actually makes me a tad more interested in reading her book if so.

Feels like I'm suffering from rebound fatigue from it as well. Perhaps not to the point of a clinical disorder, but enough to significantly affect my quality of life.

I wonder if you meditated several hours a day whether it would make any long-term difference to your CNS... :-/ I haven't had much success with antidepressants, and I'm too nervous to step up to the antipsychotics. At the moment I'm functioning reasonably okay, but it's always touch and go. I've had periods where I've seriously considered trying to get myself sectioned. If I'm not suffering from agitation, then I tend to be suffering from rebound fatigue - and that is hardly any less unpleasant.

No problem :p

EDIT: Just seen your new reply in Post Review. Nah. Benzos help, but those are mad addictive. I daren't take those, except occasionally.

That's exactly what I thought.


Yes, I think it might. I try to meditate but certainly not for hours at a time. I find it helps at the time but once I'm living life again the hyper is back.


Yeah, that's the problem - although I haven't had that problem myself. I take a very low dose when I really need to - sometimes daily for 2 or 3 weeks at a time and then something changes and I don't need it for a while. I never have any withdrawal symptoms or anything. I don't have problems with addiction though.

You know, another way I heard about the hypo/hyper arousal thing in autism was that I was talking to another mum whose little boy has just been diagnosed and it was really being addressed at the Autism place he's going to, which is a different clinic to the one my daughter and I go to. Interesting how there's a different focus depending on who you're seeing.
Zel.

I have found an effective treatment for hyperarousal to be a beta blocker called atenolol. they gave it to me for my uncontrolled hypertension and found it had the pleasant side effect of mellowing me out. a win-win

Thanks auntblabby,

Yes, I'd forgotten about beta blockers, maybe I should revisit them. I used to take them for performance anxiety when I was studying music at uni.
My memory is that when I tried to take them regularly, I felt they made my low blood pressure worse.
As I say though, I might mention them to my psych when I see her next.

Zel.

maybe take a subclinical dose? or take them in combo with more salt in the diet?

not aware of any weight gain while on them, been on them for about 2 decades now.

Yes, that might work.
Have you had any weight gain on the drug?

but I have noticed a bit of ankle and foot edema, but I don't know if that is related to the beta blocker or if something else is. it runs in my family.

Yes, I think that did come up when I was looking at side effects.

but it is not every day, some days I wake up with it, while other days not so much, and it is much less common in the summer months. all I know is that I was glad to be rid of my intentional tremor!