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.
Hi,
I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at 17 and now i'm 20. It's been 3 years of a rollercoaster. I'm currently studying in Paris, France - a long way from the US - because I didn't want my diagnosis to stop me from doing what I've always wanted to do. However I'm extremely depressed. It sucks because I know this is a once in a lifetime experience, but I just can't get out of bed or even socialize. My academics are being effected. I've made no friends and my anxiety is crippling. I don't know what to do. Upping my lamictal abroad is even scary. I found a psychiatrist here but he speaks little english. I feel so alone and like I can't connect with anyone here because my past 3 years have been so abnormal. I like to tell myself i'm a bipolar surivivor. But this illness sucks. My self care isn't great and i know that's a big part of this disorder but when you're this low the motivation is hard. I don't want to get kicked out of my program for not attending classes but this is the lowest i've felt in a while. Needed to rant.
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Hey All...I hope that you have a lovely, peaceful beginning of your weekI have a bunch of chores that need doing but may put them off til tomorrow and just hang out with my landlord/roomie todayWhat about you?...Anything special going on?Have a great day and take good care of you!!..Xo
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Once again I've had a fever today. I'm not going to the hospital because that's a huge waste of time but I did schedule a dr appointment for Wednesday afternoon.
This would be tough
Before anything else you need the right treatment
I would ask your psychiatrist if he/she can refer you to a doctor that is fluent in English
You need treatment and support
You may well need a med tweak but you need a doctor for that
Try and do things one day at a time sweetie
Don't overwhelm yourself with everything that could go wrong
If you decide that you need to go home you can continue your education there
For now I would see about getting a doctor
If you think you need to please go to emerg
There will be help for you sweetie
Im sorry for what brings you here but glad that you found us
Big hug...xo
I was abroad in England at 18 when I had my first bad experience with bp, but it wasn't dx'd yet. I can share how scary it is to feel so alone and so far away from home. I wasn't formally dx'd until 30 and I'm 70 now.
All I can offer to you is that as you become aware of symptoms, seek out how you are "thinking", not so much how you feel if you can. This is a method I learned in a DBT therapy program https://peerguideddbtlessons.weebly.com/index1.html
many years ago that helped me probably more than medications because it showed me/gave me tools to use to help myself 'see how my thinking was making me react'...I learned how to not let my emotions bring me down to the depths of hopelessness no matter what was happening. The woman who was teaching this program just said do a 'half smile" and this will change the chemicals in your brain when I told her I couldn't think of anything good about myself...I was in hospital at the time, 2010 for depression.
In the end, I went back to England after Christmas break to finish the program...Eastbourne College to teach homemaking. It wasn't easy, but this illness is not easy either. I wouldn't mess with your medications on your own, like SC wrote, go to emergency and perhaps there will be someone who speaks better English.
In the mean time try to drink lots of water as being dehydrated can lead to depression. Get sleep, avoid negativity as much as possible, if you feel addicted to social media try doing a search for healing meditations for anxiety and depression to listen to if you have problems sleeping...I use them often.
You are not alone any longer, this board is slow, but there are good people here who will try to be supportive <3 (((Hugs))) and a Prayer For Peace and Healing <3
https://www.nightline.fr/en/soutien-etudiant
I would imagine the campus would have resources? Also, being abroad is difficult for many, many people even apart from having a bipolar diagnosis! That is a normal reality for many.
As for the language Barrier with the psychiatriste, use your phone to communicate. Compile your written notes for google translate.
Sorry you are struggling- start small with just this week. Focus on tomorrow and your classes tomorrow. Do what you can to get a good night’s sleep and reset. Bon courage.
I was diagnosed at 22 and life was a rollercoaster for the first 5-7 years.
How much longer will you be abroad? I know its not what you want but is it possible you need to drop out abroad and return home for treatment?
Anthony
I know this must be so hard and probably isolating being in a foreign country trying to take care of the responsibility of school, social life and on top of that your sickness. I was around your age when I was diagnosed with BP1, I'm 24 now, and my first couple of years while finding the right meds and all were really really hard.
I agree with everything above, mostly that you need to find a psychiatrist/psychologist that you can meet with regularly. Of course the meds are "major key" but I find it just as important to check in with a professional. Not only because it can help to have someone to talk to, but I find that it really helps to have that security net" to fall back to. I myself attend university and work and I know how scary it is sometimes, as we know that unfortunately we don't handle stress like the normal john. I've been admitted twice already last semester which led me to book regular appointments with the guidance counselor and she helps me make detailed plans about my schoolwork and I find that it really helps having a game plan, it takes away a lot of the anxiety, so I would really recommend that you try to talk to someone at school with that is a possibility.
It's also important to learn to map out your sickness, so you recognise your triggers and learn what behaviours and environmental factors lead to negative outcomes. I get a detailed chart from my therapist every month to fill out daily and it's really helped me, as in helped me understand what might lead to mania/depression, so that I can avoid these behaviours and also so that I can intervene and seek help before things go out of hand. I'd be happy to send you a picture of the chart, it is in Icelandic but I can easily translate it for you.
When struggling with motivation it can help setting yourself small and realistic goals which can lead to a feeling of accomplishment when met. E.g. making the bed, do laundry, take a shower..
I'm also so sorry that you're feeling alone, must be really hard being away from friends and family. You are welcome to send me a message anytime if you need someone to talk to. <3
Freyja