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 im new to this board but not to ds. I was good friends with rubyblue who i miss sooo badly.
Anyway, ive never been diagnosed with bipolar but a few friends here have sugguested i might have bipolar. Im diagnosed formally with emotionaly unstable personality disprder, ptsd and on autistic spectrum.
I often feel what could be described as bipolar mixed states in between periods of either extremely low and suicidal or a phase of being happy and ok and not self harming or suicidal.
I literally feel and have been reminded in my lows i will cycle back around to being well again if i give it time.
Right now ive just come out of a severely suicidal dangerous period. I feel like being silly and playful. Im irritated though. I dont know what to do when i feel like this, nothings quick enough or keeps me entertained for very long.
Basically i want to approach my mental health nurse about the idea of maybe having bipolar too. Not sure they beleieve u can be bpd and bipolar at same time here.
I was on top dose of lamotrigine/lactimal but came off it very slowly stopping totally about 2 months ago.
im of a age i want to have children but the mood stabilizer isnt safe to be on if i were to fall preg so i wont be on it. I also got fed up of having to take so many pills every day.
Anyway im waffling. Just wondered if anyone knew how to approach my nurse without sounding stupid?
Thank you.
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I did the dumbest thing today. I charged my earbuds, unplugged the block and put the block in my little bag instead of the earbuds. I wasn't happy about that when I got to the gym. What a dummy!
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Ever since I stopped doing therapy because of insurance, I've been feeling that old tense and irritable sense of anxiety and stress. I hate that. I was making so many strides and changes during therapy, my therapist would acknowledge all of my progress and accomplishments, and I miss that reassurance. Today I thought about it, and I made those changes! She would always tell me that I chose to...
I can relate about the pregnancy thing. I am at the stage where I don't want kids if it means stopping my meds. I can't risk that instability. Whatever happens, good luck
And as for mood stabilizers, lamictal is one of the safer ones. Please do your research thoroughly. The threat with lamictal is a slightly increased risk of cleft palate, but this was only shown in one registry and no other has replicated the results. MGH is one of the premier research hospitals in this area and they keep info here:
https://womensmentalhealth.org/specialty-clinics/psychiatric-disorders-during-pregnancy/
I had two children on medication after rapid cycling after a miscarriage. I thought I needed to do without medication, but received 3 specialist opinions, perinatal psychiatry, plus 2 geneticists and my regular psychiatrist. I didn't leave it all up to them either and informed myself. It is such a personal decision.
It looks like you are taking care of yourself and sometimes it's the hardest thing.
I am very sorry about rubyblue. I was shocked.
The lion's share of my own formal therapy has been for BP, starting back when it was still Manic Depression. I am clueless on the pharmaceutical end of BP vs. PTSD, but I find the psychotherapy tools used in both camps to be highly compatible. For sure, the symptoms overlap mightily. Just my just-a-patient opine. . .
Hope you find the confidence to ask your psych nurse. When it comes to managing my own mental health issues, the only stupid questions are the ones I didn't ask. Ya just never can tell which little thing will make the big diff.