Lithium and Coping - Help (Bipolar Disorder 1)

[Rosie3901505]

I just had a meeting with my psychiatrist today and she said it's time we try lithium because SSRIs are giving me serotonin syndrome or are making me manic. I have bipolar disorder type 1 with psychotic features and I'm taking Risperidone at the same time for psychosis. I've never tried lithium and it sounds scary and like no one has good experiences with it so bonus points if you can help me feel better. I am extremely depressed and very anxious.

I'm also having a hard time coping with ups and downs and situational stress and it just feels like the sadness is going to last forever and I have no hope of stability. I don't really have anyone to talk to about this and I don't really have an outlet. Does anyone have any coping strategies to get through bipolar disorder?

[Ballerina123]

When I was on lithium I found it very good for mania but not so great for depression.
I did find that I had less intense mood swings though.
A good book for bipolar is "overcoming mood swings".
Cbt is recommended for bipolar so you could ask for that if its available.

[tiptoes]

I have the overcoming mood swings book too, it's pretty good.

Sorry I don't have any personal experience of lithium but it was the med I was going to try next had my current one not work so did do a bit of reading about it. It appeared to have helped quite a lot of people.

What support do you have in place at the moment? I engaging with my team after an episode to go through what triggered it, what behaviours/situations made things worse and others that helped. I had some self compassion focussed CBT which made a big difference in stopping me falling back into the same thought patterns over and over again which accelerated me further into episodes.

Being regimented in monitoring my mood and learning to react to earlier and earlier warning signs is keeping my mood more stable.

One of things that has given me greater stability is a blanket ban on antidepressants, even with an AAP and mood stabiliser they would send me high really fast and it would take ages to settle down again.

[Ktulu]

I have been taking lithium for over 6 years. My last significant mood episode was over 4 years ago. I have minimal side effects from it even though I take quite a high dose. Like Tiptoes, I also have a blanket ban on anti depressants having been sent manic on every time I've tried them, even with lithium, seroquel and lamictal as cover. Lithium isn't as good for depression, I find lamictal works better there.