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.
Welcome to DS bipolar world. Everyone has questions and this is a great place to ask them. Here are a few of the things you can expect from your condition, and any OLD TIMERS FEEL FREE TO ADD MORE..
cycling: mood swings from depressed to manic sometimes both at the same time the goal is to become neutral most of the time. Neutral may start out as just feeling numb which is good but in time the right meds can help you actually feel happy and content again.
Meds: weather you think they are working or not DO NOT EVER NOT TAKE YOUR MEDS you really need them and they do help. It may take time to find just the right cocktail for you but communicate with your doc as best as you can andy togeather you will be able to adjust.
Normies: Most normal people can not comprehend the struggles and challanges of bp. If you were wearing a cast from the neck down they would fully understand but since you cant wear one from theneck up they pretend it doesn't exist or isn't real
Family: the more they know about bp the better and hopefully they wont reject it out of fear and disassociate themselves from you. A good support system is really important always remember you have one here on DS but we are only part.
emotions: Ups and downs there are always people here who can relate. don't be afraid to share how you are feeling sometimes it can even save a life. but try your best to find JOY in all you do.
Welcome and best wishes for your future health and may God bless you with the tools you need to thrive....tim
cycling: mood swings from depressed to manic sometimes both at the same time the goal is to become neutral most of the time. Neutral may start out as just feeling numb which is good but in time the right meds can help you actually feel happy and content again.
Meds: weather you think they are working or not DO NOT EVER NOT TAKE YOUR MEDS you really need them and they do help. It may take time to find just the right cocktail for you but communicate with your doc as best as you can andy togeather you will be able to adjust.
Normies: Most normal people can not comprehend the struggles and challanges of bp. If you were wearing a cast from the neck down they would fully understand but since you cant wear one from theneck up they pretend it doesn't exist or isn't real
Family: the more they know about bp the better and hopefully they wont reject it out of fear and disassociate themselves from you. A good support system is really important always remember you have one here on DS but we are only part.
emotions: Ups and downs there are always people here who can relate. don't be afraid to share how you are feeling sometimes it can even save a life. but try your best to find JOY in all you do.
Welcome and best wishes for your future health and may God bless you with the tools you need to thrive....tim
Withdrawal from lamictal isn't fun either so the lower the dose the better. the max recommended dose for Lamictal is 400mg, I take that much because my bp is that bad.
It tends to keep your lows from being too low and has a good success rate but everyone responds differently to different drugs.
Getting you the right levels and cocktail will take time and it is critical you communicate with your doc as best you can so togeather you can form a plan of attack
Here's my schpeel I usually give, of general BP info.
That is usally when you feel like crap when you stop taking them cold turkey.
Woops. here is my general info.
Helps to actually paste it.
Generally speaking, bipolar disorder is different from everyday highs and lows because of the extremes of the moods, and the rapid changes.
Depression symptoms - loss of energy, sadness, lack of intest in pleasurable activities (that the individual normally enjoys), withdrawing, feeling hopeless, self-reproach, excessive or inappropriate guilt. Difficulty concentrating, thoughts of death, suicide, etc. But it can also manifest by being too busy, irritable, sleep disruption, weight gain or loss,and increased activity.
Mania is evident by an increase in activity and thought, racing thoughts, increased speed of speech, less need for sleep, weight loss due to decreased appetite, risky behavior, increased "feel good" behaviors (in adults - increased sex drive, drinking, drugs, spending) I'm not sure what those symptoms would be in children.
Some of the symptoms of depression can also be seen in mania. But if you only have depression, you should only have one set of symptoms.
Bipolar disorder can itself manifest in many ways with varying degrees of severity. Usually the symptoms worsen over time. It will usually cause a great deal of disruption in a person's ability to have close relationships and to be gainfully employed for any length of time.
The two main ways Bipolar disorder presents itself, is (Md)-which is more manic than depressive, and (mD) which is more depressive than manic. Add to that the possibility of having coexisting disorders, including overlying depression on top of the depression and mania, (which often masks BP because the mania is not recognized until antidepressants are taken and that catalyzes [starts] a manic phase) or schizophrenia. Also, the swings may vary in their intensity and frequency - from occurring every several months or even years, with long periods of normal moods in between, to rapid cycling, which can happen every few minutes.
Another differentiation in bipolar disorder is bipolar I, and bipolar II. In bipolar I, the symptoms are undeniable and clearly depressive and manic. It is easily recognizable to the person who has it, and they often are hospitalized, in jail frequently, can't keep a job, etc. With bipolar II, instead of full blown mania, the afflicted person has hypomania - which is to a lesser degree than full blown mania....and is often only recognized by the friends, relatives, and coworkers of the person afflicted. After a hypomanic episode, the afflicted person often forgets they had it when they become depressed again.
So you can see why it is difficult sometimes to diagnose.
www.livejournal.com
www.webmd/diseases_and_conditions/bipolar_disorder.html
www.psycom.net/depression.central.b...
www.mentalhealth.com/dis/p20-md02.h...
www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/bipolar...
www.healthyplace.com/site/tests/psy...
I suffered the equivalent of an identity crisis. I found it extremely disorienting, trying to sort out what was 'really' me, and what was 'just' the BP!!!! Things that I had always considered 'personality traits' had to be recategorized as 'symptoms!!'
Every thought and feeling I had was now suspect. I felt a partial loss of myself, and I grieved for that loss.
That passed with time, but I didn't find it an easy transition.
Accepting that BP is a life-long disorder wasn't fun to get used to, either.
But the discomfiture of all that passes, or did for me. As time went on, in spite of my newly defined self, I felt like 'me' again, which was quite a relief.
I've always looked for support online, for whatever concerns I've had in life, but I do have to say that, when it comes to being BP, I find it almost crucial.
I can connect with others who truly understand what I'm going through, which is much more difficult to accomplish in my day to day 'real' life.
Best of luck to all newcomers!!!! I hope (and think!) that better days lie ahead for you!!!!
Some of my doctors have just dx'ed me with depression, others bipolar, which I assumed would have been Bipolar II (if I had believe I was bipolar at all). Now I've had a huge (for me) mania for six months and I'm afraid the doctors were right. Its a very confusing time and I see myself in some of these posts, which is very helpful.
Thanks for listening.