Bipolar Disorder Support Group
Bipolar disorder is not just a single disorder, but a category of mood disorders marked by periods of abnormally high energy and euphoria, often accompanied by bouts of clinical depression. This is the place to talk about your experience with bipolar disorder, learn from others' experiences, and find support.
I have been on both Abilify and Seroquel for over 3 years now (I'm on other meds like klonopin, ambien and adderall). My new psychiatrist says that I shouldn't be on 2 antipsychotics or mood stabilizers at the same time. I wasn't doing well with the seroquel alone, so my previous psychiatrist added abilify to my med cocktail. It helped me tremendously. I was going through a lot at the time...I had just sold my house, that I loved, because I was in so much debt from the upkeep, etc., and moved into an apt. a 1/2 hour away from friends and family. The buyers of my house wanted to move in on closing day which put me in a time crunch regarding finding a place to live. I moved into this particular apt because I had 2 cats and a limited budget and this apt complex allowed pets and was cheaper than any apts that were near to the city where I used to live. I've been in this apt for over 3 and a half years now and feel trapped. I miss the city I lived in before here. I've made some new friends, but it still isn't the same. Anyways, my new psychiatrist wanted to take me off the abilify, but I talked him into staying on it for now. I'm on the lowest dose possible, which is 2 mgs, but feel I need to increase it back to 5 mgs. The main reason I posted this was to ask if anyone else is on 2 antipsychotics or mood stabilizers, and if they've been told by a psychiatrist that they should only be on one. I thought abilify could be used as an add-on drug, per say. Please respond with any info you may have. Thanks a lot.
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Mom and I have errands to run this morning. She said we can get sushi for lunch though. I go back to work today. What are you looking forward to this weekend?
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Quick, before the evil MONday gets here! Let's climb those mountains, dance in the meadows, dip our feet in the ocean....Okay, so most of us won't be doing any of That. Sadly. But today can still be a great day!The area behind our back fence is on an incline, with less than two feet on even ground at the top. I don't balance well enough for the incline, but our mower guy mows that...
I do believe that psych meds are over prescribed in certain instances, in the US maybe. I’ve had psychiatrists refuse to work with me when explaining how uncomfortable I felt, and awesome pdocs who collaborate and listen. I believe in crisis mode and hospitalizations the meds are needed, but I don’t agree that all patients require to be on so many, on so much forever. Some yes, as we are all different, but I do believe in therapeutic measures in conjunction with meds can help cope with future elevations and spikes in anxiety and stress, for example.
I’m sorry you had to give up your old home and city. Can you spend a day in your old city here and there to visit your favorite places? I know that’s not the same as living there but it feels good to stay connected.
SensitiveHoboLady, I do go to my old city a lot (my son and parents live there), but you're right it's not the same as living there. It's too expensive to live there now too. The cost of living has increased by sooo much in the last 3 and a half years since I lived there! It sucks! I'm supposed to inherit my parents house, but I love my parents so much and my mom is a very healthy 79 and my dad, not so healthy, 81! I don't want to have to wait to live back in St. Joe (Michigan) for my parents to pass away! Oh, well, I guess I'm here in this city for a while.
Sorry, if I rambled on too much. Thanks for "listening".
Catherine
I know I've asked you before but my age & memory are showing...what do you take Adderall for?
Kat
In the U.S. a Doctorate Degree is required; a Ph.D to practice Psychology, and an M.D. specializing in Psychiatry to be a practicing Psychiatrist. And no, I don't consider MHNP's as qualified clinicians.
If you've gone to the trouble of getting your Masters in Psychology, generally you finish up and get your Ph.D., unless you had some other specific reason for spending 4 years on a Masters in Psychology. My father in law got his, because it worked into his MBA. He was a Human Resources Reconstruction Consultant for major Pharmaceutical Corporations....he taught people how to be nice and play well together after major market buyouts and large layoffs.
I guess its common sense to me, would you go to a Dr. for treatment that only had 2 - 4 years of training in their specializing field? If that's good enough then save your money and just see MHNP's.
In most states in the U.S. there are not enough Psych beds to meet the demand of an ever growing Mental Healthcare trend. Its only been about the last 20 years that getting help via hospitalization has been acceptable. As demand has grown, the industry has not been able to keep up. If anything it declined...many older mental institutions have closed and public hospitals proportion a very small space to Psych care.
The thing is with Pdocs, its very subjective when you look at how and where they choose to practice. There are plenty of them around, generally between 28,000 - 33,5000 Psychiatrists are licensed and practice each year. But they don't diversify and spread equally among the States.
Its that economic circle.....need vs. cost vs. payment ability vs. need and it goes round and round. Many private Pdocs don't even take insurance anymore, and they aren't cheap. So they practice in places they know people can afford to pay them. The ones who do work for insurance rates, book out quickly. Good Dr.'s and their money populate and grow hospitals, places with limited Dr.'s don't....and the circle goes on.
Everyone deserves the same equal healthcare, but everyone does not have the same means and opportunity.....is the supply ever going to catch up with the need.
It sucks.
To create a new thread you click on the main board -
https://www.dailystrength.org/group/bipolar-disorder
Under the banner, in the white bit, it says in the middle "Mental Health" under that "Bipolar Disorder Support Board".
Just under that to the right is a blue cross "New Post". Click on that.