Bipolar

So, you say the tremors have subsided from the abilify?

 

I'm bipolar... I don't remember the specifics. I was first diagnosed at 16, depression, after that my bipolar became apparent, my doctor knew but I wasn't diagnosed because I moved. Then I was diagnosed with anxiety disorder, which I knew was not true... I have a mild amount of anxiety but it's completely related to my depression and bipolar, the doctor was incompetent and didn't recognize those things even though I told him about it. I was without a doctor for a few years and had a horrible rollercoaster ride of it. Then in college at about 19 I was finally diagnosed as bipolar. When I was almost 21 I went into a mental hospital, by choice, but also by recommendation. They put me on a cocktail... I'd always done one med at a time before that. I did that for awhile and then I weened myself off some of them and then just quit all the meds altogether. I changed my diet... stopped focusing on anything that would stress me out, kept a detailed journal of how everything affected me and basically dedicated my time to being my own doctor.

Eventually I moved and got deeper into nutrition and I didn't have a problem for over a year... then I had a stressful couple months and wasn't taking complete care of myself and had my first manic episode after 1 1/2 years of being medication free. It was nothing near my worst, it was pretty mild really, and one of those sleepless, artistic, high energy things, then I crashed... and when I got back up the next day I started taking care of myself again... I think it was just a sort of warning to not forget what I've been through. That I definately need to continue to take care of myself.

I choose to never medicate again. If this hadn't worked, I would've kept trying medication, because I really like being healthy, but I prefer living this way. I support anyone's decision to medicate because I know that if I'd never taken any medication I wouldn't be where I am right now... but it was a journey and it's not for me.

 

wow, I've been reading things that are a lot like my own experiences. I'll never medicate again mainly because of the tremors but I remember what a bitch withdrawal was. The exercise and nutrition worked pretty good but once I got a life going I stopped.

 

Sorry about the delay, but yes, the tremors did stop.

Peace and love

 

I'm bipolar type 1, have generalized anxiety disorder, an am a borderline personality. i take a phaymacy worth of meds. soemtimes i feel like they work and othertimes i don't even want to deal with them but i take them any way. i take a mood stabilizer called Topamax which kind of keeps the moodswings in check. i'm now on a second anti-depressant called Cymbalta (it's fairly new in the U.S.) that seems to be helping with the mental symptoms and with my chronic pain (i have Fibromylgia, too). I also take Geodon (an anti psychotic) which helps w/ anxiety, paranoia, and the mixed states. i too have gained weight with my meds but it was 70 lbs when i was on Effexor which i am now off thank goodness. i was diagnosed when i was 14. i've been on just about every anti-depressant and mood stabilizer available to no avail. my father is bipolar and derpression runs in our family. in fact, i can't work because the wonderful doctors can't get me stabilized; so i understand. i live on disablilty.
Peace.

 

I have a problem, I was diagnosed with Bipolar 1 disorder last year. Then, I met someone very special in my life and things were great, new job, graduation, etc. Now I notice that the symptoms have came back. They were always there, but I supressed them with drugs and alcohol. Now, I called my psych, she said that I am not allowed to be treated there because I got into a fight with the secretary. How else can I get help. I don't want to do the talking sessions anymore. I want to see the psychiartrist to get medicine, instead of taking other people's pills. I don't want to start all over. What should I do?

 

Find a new pyschiatrist, but your probably going to need to see a therapist too.

Peace and love

 

Can I ask a question? My family thinks that I might be bipolar and I'd like to know what you guys think.

Okay so like 3 years ago I had to live with my friend's family and I became really moody, like I was either depressed, angry, or happy every two weeks (almost clock work). I remember that I'd get into a lot arguements over stupid things like, "who left the windows open" when normally that wouldn't bother me and I even got into several fist fights (normally I never fight). Then other times when I was acting like a total retard (I didn't care how I was acting at the time) and it really embarassed the people around me.

However, when I left to visit my dad for the summer (3 months) I went back to how I was before I moved in with my friend. Sure I did have some mild depression and sometimes ran around the house like mad person. But my mood swings weren't nearly as bad. Then when I went back to live with my friend it all started again!

The only pattern that I can pick up on this is that when I'm around a lot of people all the time I get moody (my friend's house was always like this) but when I was living with my dad everything toned down significantly (my dad's house is a socially isolated environment).

So what do you think? I'm not really sure what to think so that's why I'm asking. Thanks!

 

You might have a mood disorder, but it's best to see a pyschiatrist to diagnosis you rather than try to do it yourself. I recommend that you see a doctor.

Peace and love

 

I was diagnosed with Bipolar in my teens. Don't know what type as I'm not sure they ever mentioned it. But I'm on Lithium and it really helps me. I stopped taking it for a while and just in the past few days I started seeing the signs of it coming back again, so I started the pills again.

I stopped taking it because I have problems remembering to take my pills. But now I see that I definitely need it since getting two cats in my apartment. It calms me down when I get angry or depressed, something that happens quite frequently when you have a kitten and an 8-month-old cat.

I also take Seroquel, but it's mostly for obsessive thoughts before bed. I don't like seroquel because it can become habit-forming and it has a tendency to knock me out for 15 hours at a time no matter how little of it I take.

 

you might want to ask about Risperdal

 

If that was directed at me, I do not need that pill. I had it before and the only effect it ever had was to put me to sleep.

 

I was given risperdal as a sleep aid. One drug that is interesting is abilify. It is an antipsychotic with mood stabilizing properties. My b/f is taking that alone as a mood stabilizer. It seems to make him jittery. I also take abilify, but I'm part of 10% of the population that is affected by it in a different way. I get tired and sleep. Not all drugs have the same effects for everyone. It's up to a doctor to decide what s/he thinks is best. Self medication can be bad if you don't have a doctor to talk to about what your doing.

Peace and love

 

my doctor prescribed abilify after I have had problems (like that jitteriness, tremors) with other meds but WTF it does what I have problems with. I really would like to get back on meds, but just cannot tolerate anything anymore.

klonipin, ativan, pazil, zoloft, xanax, lithium, depakote, risperadol, tegratol. all make me jittery to say the least (well not the paxil, it was pretty benign but difficult to come.

 

I met a guy with bipolar disorder on the bus today.


I was reading an article on bipolar disorder and he asked me if I was a doctor. I said no, I was just reading some random reading material. He said he noticed the article was about bipolar disorder and that he had it. He seemed kind of nervous after that, like he had just embarrassed himself. I guess he thought if I was a doctor it would have been more appropriate. Anyway, I tried to make him feel at ease by asking questions about it. I asked things like does he find the medication makes the symptoms disappear entirely or are there unwanted side effects, or does he have a strong support group to help him out, etc. I also told him I have a degree in psychology hoping that might be the next best thing to a doctor (well, maybe third or fourth ). But all throughout the conversation, he seemed really nervous. He kept saying he's come a long way and that a lot of the things that have helped him improve were of his own doing.

Is this typical of bipolar disorder - the nervousness, the way he initiated the conversation?

Anyway, I asked if he rides this route often and he said he did. So I told him I'd probably see him again. I got his name so I know how to say hi. Is there any advice you guys can give me as to what I can say to him next time to make him feel less nervous? How does someone with bipolar disorder typically want to be approached?

 

There's a stigma attached to having bipolar disorder-"not being right in the head" which he might have been afraid that you would judge him. I don't disclose that I have bipolar disorder to just anyone b/c of what they might think if they are not educated about the disorder.

Peace and love

 

So do you think that if I just talk to him casually, like I would any other person, he'll feel less nervous?

 

I use to take Trileptal, but when I turned 18 I decided that I didn't want to be on any medication to control my emotions. I think I have gotten better although I still will get unreasonably angry, but its definately better then how violent and unpredictable I was.

 

Maybe. Each person is different and you never know what kind of reactions he got when he told other people, including family, that he had the disorder. Some people act weirded out by it while others are like, "I knew it!" He might have had bad expirences in the past.

Peace and love

 

I've read that bipolars tend to be extroverts, I initiate conversations and am nervous too so maybe that's the trend.
I kinda miss being on medications but not that jitteriness which can be permanent from some of the medications.
Wouldn't suggest telling anyone you are bipolar though, that's just asking for negative judgement.