i'm new...i just joined tonight i didn't post in the introduction thread yet so this is my first post....i have bi-polar....i just found out this summer, but they said i had it most of my life...i feel depressed, upset and alone most of the time...my parents don't exactly understand how i feel...i talk to them about it sometimes, but i don't tell them everything because i feel uncomfortable...i have one friend who tries to help me a lot, which i appreciate, but she doesn't have it herself so she can't understand fully....i don't know anyone else with bi-polar....i tried so many meds i can't count, but i had to go off of all of them because they either made my symptoms worse or made my stomach worse(i have really bad stomach problems as well) This makes me feel really FRUSTRATED and ANGRY because NOTHING IS WORKING AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO!!!!!1 I NEED HELP!SUPPORT! UNDERSTANDING! i don't even know who i am.....i guess that's it for now...just needed to get all that out....
The way back to the right track, maybe you can help me find the door
Is it too much to ask, too much too fast, too much to ignore?
It feels like your body's getting closer but you seem so far away
Medicine make it ok
Hi, Well you have come to the right place. At least you have been diagnosed things can only get better from here on in right? I have bi polar too and i understand what you are saying. There are days when i dont know who i am because of the changes in moods, I am rapid cyclying. What medication are you on? There are heaps available. I also have a heart condition and it has been a hard long road trying to find medication that doesnt affect it. HAve you considered therapy? It can be very beneficial. Pm me if you want to chat. Big hugs
First of all welcome to RYL. You are definitely not alone. It can be scary when you are diagnosed with a mental illness like bipolar disorder where you don't know many people with the same problem, but believe me there are MANY people on this board with the same diagnosis.
I know its frustrating trying to find the right medication, but try to remember that there is a very wide variety of medications out there and you WILL eventually find the right combination for you, don't lose hope, things can and will get better now that you are getting treatment.
Have you had any therapy? Sometimes therapy + medication is better than just medication alone. Many people with depression or bipolar find they need both.
Take care, and if you want to talk, I'm only a PM away. x
s a r a h
* pm me * eating disorders info *
"Between two worlds life hovers like a star,
twixt night and morn, upon the horizon's verge."
- Lord Byron
hey
welcome.. i was diagnosed in the summer too. i understand how you feel, that you dont know who you are cos when you are up, you are everything and when you are down.. you're noone .
wow thanks for all your replies i didn't expect so many! i guess this really will be a great place for support, which is good because i need a lot of it! i do go to therapy,and i like her a lot,but i only see her every three weeks because i don't have insurance and my mom has to pay for it....my parents and my pysch(i have a pysch and therapist)both decided not to try anymore with the meds....it just drives me crazy because i feel like i don't have control over myself or my own mind!(i'll explain more about that at another time since i don't exactly feel too comfortable as of yet)....i just feel so alone......*pouts*
The way back to the right track, maybe you can help me find the door
Is it too much to ask, too much too fast, too much to ignore?
It feels like your body's getting closer but you seem so far away
Medicine make it ok
And all you want is sleep/But all you get it pills
Join Date: Aug 2007
I am currently:
Hey, welcome. I too was diagnosed with Bipolar disorder not long ago. I also have had it most of my life in a weaker form, but it went misdiagnosed as unipolar depression.
It's good that you have a psych and therapist, great start for anyone who is having serious mental issues. My only concern is that your doctor and therapist agreed to not try anymore meds. Of course, I can't justifiably question your doctors, but I'm sure it's common knowledge that Bipolar patients need medication, considering it's an organic disorder rooted physically into the brain, and it can't be controlled completely by therapy singularly. Meds are normally used as your first line of treatment, next would be some sort of therapy. I'd be concerned about the meds personally, but it's your doctors and also your situation [which I don't know much about, really]. Only you can make the judgement. I'd be suspicious though.
I know you also said the medications you've tried irritated your stomach problems. I have IBS [primarily nausea, a weird uncommon symptom], and I know Lithium tore my stomach up. Not long after I would take a dose, I would get pretty severe stomach pain and burning, on top of that a good deal of nausea. My doc switched me to Lithobid though. Lithobid is another form of Lithium Carbonate. The medication is the same, the fillers are different [I believe that's how it goes]. I've had no problems since. Perhaps it would be a nice direction? Lithium is kind of the staple drug, cheap, mostly effective, few side effects.
The other mood stabilizers can get kinda messy though. Lamictal is pretty good if you have coexisting depression. I'm on both Lithobid and Lamictal at the moment [add to that Neurontin], and I'm doing pretty good. No manias at least, occasional depressive episode. Meds work differently for everyone, and also suggesting meds to a doc doesn't always work. It just sucks that it sounds like they are blowingg your treatment.
But yeah, glad your here. Hope you like it. Hope you get the help you need.
