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.
Hello,
I am newly diagnosed Bipolar, was diagnosed with Depression for MANY years but nothing ever seemed to work, after research on Bipolar and talking with my doctor we decided to try treating for Bipoloar disorder. Been on the meds for about a month now.
Seems like it has helped with the real low (down/depression moods) but also appears like it is lowering/restricting the good feelings and my motivation/desire to do things (anything really) has gone down/away. Not sure if this is due to the meds or just my normal self. I dont have the meds with me say what I am on right now.
I have been trying to get things figured out, find a diagnosis that fits/helps me deal with my issues and thought this woudl be it but it seems like it is just the same old same old, I am missing something (someone described it like missing a puzzle piece) and I need to find that one piece and if I do it seems like everything will fall into place (not saying my life will instantly be better I know that but I will have a feeling of knowing what is wrong and what I have to do to fix things/be normal).
That not knowing is what is getting to me and I thought this was going to put me on that path, it could just be the meds I am on and I need different ones or what, but my question to you all is:
If you came from being treated for depression and went to bipolar disorder treatments did you get that feeling that you found that missing puzzle piece? Or did you end up feeling more like I am now, a little depressed that it seems to not be working, and feeling like I dont want to do anything with no motivation (or that could just be my normal self).
What did you all do to find the right treatments?
Any other advice?
I am newly diagnosed Bipolar, was diagnosed with Depression for MANY years but nothing ever seemed to work, after research on Bipolar and talking with my doctor we decided to try treating for Bipoloar disorder. Been on the meds for about a month now.
Seems like it has helped with the real low (down/depression moods) but also appears like it is lowering/restricting the good feelings and my motivation/desire to do things (anything really) has gone down/away. Not sure if this is due to the meds or just my normal self. I dont have the meds with me say what I am on right now.
I have been trying to get things figured out, find a diagnosis that fits/helps me deal with my issues and thought this woudl be it but it seems like it is just the same old same old, I am missing something (someone described it like missing a puzzle piece) and I need to find that one piece and if I do it seems like everything will fall into place (not saying my life will instantly be better I know that but I will have a feeling of knowing what is wrong and what I have to do to fix things/be normal).
That not knowing is what is getting to me and I thought this was going to put me on that path, it could just be the meds I am on and I need different ones or what, but my question to you all is:
If you came from being treated for depression and went to bipolar disorder treatments did you get that feeling that you found that missing puzzle piece? Or did you end up feeling more like I am now, a little depressed that it seems to not be working, and feeling like I dont want to do anything with no motivation (or that could just be my normal self).
What did you all do to find the right treatments?
Any other advice?
-
I find myself going places in the car and not wanting to get out of the car. I come back home and I don't want to get out of the car. I think it's the only time I spend reflecting. Chronic tiredness from Long Covid plus the immunosupressing meds for my Crohn's is slowing me down but everything just seems a massive effort. I am dealing with the paperwork following my father's death but it's not...
-
Wow, it's the middle of the week already!Today is our 11 year anniversary, so we're going out to a nice dinner. I'm losing a lot of sleep these days, hence a wonky schedule and uncomfortable feelings. But I know it will pass, eventually.I hope all of you have a peaceful day, and may good things come your way!
I am curious of what meds you are on. Sometimes Antipsychotics can make you feel weird, no pleasure, no motivation, just not like yourself.
It does get better but you have to be honest with your psychiatrist about how the meds make you feel.
So talk to your doc.
Do you go to therapy or real life support groups? Maybe DBT or CBT, Mindfulness? Believe it or not - Alanon gave me the best tools....
Welcome, awesome people here! Ask away : )
But after a while the bad habits and things I had acquired while undiagnosed came back. So my doc upped the meds over and over. One day I realized it was time to take some responsibility for myself, and I structured my life and started recognizing my triggers. But that is a long, long process.
So don't give up. Maybe a med tweak, and be proactive in your treatment. There are many things you can do to stabilize, which you might not have been able to do before, when you were extremely depressed
And welcome to DS and bipolar.
I think the average is nine years to find what works.. the more you try the more you know.. i went thru a few switches before i found what worked best for me..
Good luck, keep trying
I read your post as saying that you don't really have bipolar symptoms but because the depression is resistent to treatment you are using BP meds to see if they work?
I've seen that increasingly some BP meds are being used for resistent unipolar disorder.
Be aware risperadal is principally an anti-psychotic so it's perhaps not suprising you are feeling flat. celexa is a standard anti-depressant.
Do you actually have BP symptoms? Do you have periods of rapid speech, lots of ideas, no need for sleep, impulsivity, lowering inhibitions etc?
I have been working with treatment with my normal doctor but just switched jobs and have insurance so a psychiatric should be covered now (when it wasnt really before), so I plan to go to see one and hopefully get a better/more detailed medication list that fits me better.
Finding a good psychiatrist, getting a proper diagnosis and monitoring meds that are for you, will do you better.
I've noticed more and more people with Bipolar 1 AND 2 put on an anti-psychotic and an anti-depressant coming onto this site - or people being switched to that.
When I first arrived here most were on the "mood stabilizers", ie lithium, valproate or lamotrogine.
I've seen seroquel now being called a mood stabilizer and also used for depression.
Basically anti-psychotics are being rebranded and used much more widely.
I've seen abilify being used to treat irritation in autistic children.
Not sleeping/getting like 4-5 hours but feeling fine/not like I needed more, and when I get 7-8 feeling dead tired like I got way too much.
Having depression meds work but only short term.
Major racing thoughts about many different things
Easily distracted/concentration issues, getting ideas (not the crazy ones above just normal/good ideas) that I want to do/follow through with but getting distracted and not working on them.
Getting fits of anger (this is a newer symptom and one of the reasons I started searching for other issues besides just depression (before I started BP meds)). Anger for no real reason.
For the down turns/depression side of it, feeling low, down, or just feeling numb/no emotion at all (this was the big one that made me stay with depression as my main issue for so long).
There were others but these are what I can think of off the top of my head/the main ones.
I know meds wont be the magic cure as I know I have things going on in my life and things I need to do to help the symptoms but I need to find something, like that missing puzzle piece, to get me feeling like myself (if I even know what that is, I just know this is not it) then once I find the puzzle piece I can do all the stuff I need to put it (and keep it) in place. (if that makes sence)
Oh, self diagnosis and a general practitioner are not going to get you the results you are seeking.. promise..
Finding a good psychiatrist, getting a proper diagnosis and monitoring meds that are for you, will do you better.
I agree, but lack of good insurance and money hindered that till now.
In the past I have seen a psychiatrist for long periods of time (a couple different times but over the cource of at least a year each time) and doing therapy as well. The psychyrist was monotoring meds, dosage/etc and still that did not help. One therapist said there was nothing he could do, I was fine as far as therapy was concerned, but I could keep coming if I wanted. Some things have changed since then so therapy would be helpfull, but the core issues I have, have not changed, just expanded/grown (thus the need for therapy).
But hopefully I can find one that will work well with this new diagnosis. I want to go to my normal doctor first to get a list of all the meds I have been on/dosages/etc so I have that when I see the psych doctor.
i'm glad you now have insurance...that's great.