Confused about emotional regulation
Hey all! I've been on Lamotrigine for 18 months or so as treatment for seizures, stable dose of 2×100mg daily. While it has been very effective at episode prevention, I'm somewhat confused by the effects on my mood, though I'm sure it's a combination of life factors as I've had a few ups and downs the last year. I have clinical ADHD and take Dexamphetamine at 1-2×5mg daily, sometimes more depending on the daily requirements.
I experience emotions more regularly, it's almost like a tap got turned on and stuff comes flooding to the surface more and more. They can also be more intense. I know I've suppressed emotions for a good chunk of the last decade. I can get my emotions under control faster than I used to be able to, for sure, but they seem to turn up more often and escalate just as fast as before - I'll have flashes of frustration or sadness and I still feel intense emotional reactivity. Other people have remarked that I feel aloof, distant, yet it really doesn't feel that way. I suspect it's just ADHD and life stressors, or maybe hormonal changes.
It's also interesting that it has only started to become predictable the last month or so, I can notice when emotions are rising, though they still turn up so much more often than I feel they should be. Maybe it's just somatic work actually having an impact.
I guess I just wanted to ask if others had similar experiences and actually if people have experienced changes later down the track too.