Is anyone else out there bipolar? Need help!

[Skinned Knees]

I was dxed soft bipolar. I am on meds for it. I'm the type of bipolar that spends more time depressed than up. I have been doing really well since quitting drinking 9 days ago. My meds were really working. I woke up fine this morning, but then later on this morning, it was like a light being switched off. I'm down again. This is the first time in a few days that I'm down again. I really thought being on a mood stabilizer and not drinking would keep me up. I don't even know what set if off, if anything. Those few days were wonderful. Anyone else out there bipolar and struggling?

SK

[JAMMS]

Is anyone else out there bipolar? Need help!

I sometimes joke that I think am, but I know that it is no joke. I'm manic. I have not been dx bipolar. How do you get that dx? is there a test. My mood changes almost instanly.

I'm wish I could help you.

[Accountable for Me]

Is anyone else out there bipolar? Need help!

I was diagnosed BP in August of 2007. I still was struggling with AL and taking meds for BP. Not a good combo. I was always down in the dumps.

Once I stopped drinking my meds started to kick in. I started to feel better - much better. I did have to go through the stop drinking withdrawals, etc... which brings on all sorts of moods. I stuck it out and have felt consistently happy; and able to tolerate what life brings me.

If you commit to AF, you will go through the normal moodiness that quitting brings you. This can last for a few months. Me, it lasted a few weeks. You will then notice that your medication will start working and before long everything will level out as your body heals. There are definitely NO miracles. Just a lot of hard work and determination.

Since then my medications have been adjusted. I don't take nearly as high dosages anymore. I feel very even keeled at the moment. The dark has lifted. AL is a depressant and there are many here who didn't feel depressed anymore once AL was out of their lives. Eat healthy, get some exercise, drink lots of fluids and stay away from AL.

You will feel better in a while. Are you in therapy at all? I found it extremely helpful this year. I stopped for a while, but will be starting again on January 7th.

Having BP isn't the end all. You aren't nuts. They have wonder drugs out there now. Combined with therapy and a healthy lifestyle it is manageable.

Hope this helps.

[on my way]

Is anyone else out there bipolar? Need help!

Skinned, I'm glad you had a couple of great days, must feel great. It may take a bit of time for your bod to adjust to everything. This is a tough time of year...lots of ups and downs put bp on top of it....not easy. Have you thought of going for a walk, maybe a little fresh air, change of scenery? I’m not bp, I’m just a stupid booze hog, wish there were some great words of wisdom I could give you. I am however sending you a BIG hug,

nat

[Skinned Knees]

Is anyone else out there bipolar? Need help!

Jamms ... I have been seeing a psychiatrist for close to 4 years now. At first I was dxed as chronic severe depression. But I would have these days where I was really up. Too up. It almost felt like being high. For me, these would happen about once every 3 weeks or so. I realized that I was hypomanic. It's not as severe as being manic. That's when my pdoc got the feeling I was soft bipolar. About 3 months ago he started me on a mood stabilizer in addition to my anti-depressant. It took about 2 months to kick in. I realized that my drinking wasn't helping for the meds to work. So 9 days ago, I went AF totally. I was doing really good, until late this a.m. I'm not as severely depressed, but I'm definitely feeling down and don't feel like doing much again.

There is no physical test for bipolar, but I answered questions to a written test. That may be how they dx you. I'm so frustrated right now after doing so well.

SK

[JAMMS]

Is anyone else out there bipolar? Need help!

Skinned- Don't be mad at yoursefl. I know it's hard, but you have been doing great. It's just a minor slip up and you will recover form it. TAke you meds, we are here for you.

Stick with it. You can do it. :l

[Skinned Knees]

Is anyone else out there bipolar? Need help!

Accountable for Me;496407 wrote: I was diagnosed BP in August of 2007. I still was struggling with AL and taking meds for BP. Not a good combo. I was always down in the dumps.

Once I stopped drinking my meds started to kick in. I started to feel better - much better. I did have to go through the stop drinking withdrawals, etc... which brings on all sorts of moods. I stuck it out and have felt consistently happy; and able to tolerate what life brings me.

If you commit to AF, you will go through the normal moodiness that quitting brings you. This can last for a few months. Me, it lasted a few weeks. You will then notice that your medication will start working and before long everything will level out as your body heals. There are definitely NO miracles. Just a lot of hard work and determination.

Since then my medications have been adjusted. I don't take nearly as high dosages anymore. I feel very even keeled at the moment. The dark has lifted. AL is a depressant and there are many here who didn't feel depressed anymore once AL was out of their lives. Eat healthy, get some exercise, drink lots of fluids and stay away from AL.

You will feel better in a while. Are you in therapy at all? I found it extremely helpful this year. I stopped for a while, but will be starting again on January 7th.

Having BP isn't the end all. You aren't nuts. They have wonder drugs out there now. Combined with therapy and a healthy lifestyle it is manageable.

Hope this helps.

Thanks so much. Do you think it's just withdrawals? Maybe my brain just needs time to adjust. I am on 200 mgs of Lamictal (mood stabilizer), 50 mgs of Zoloft, and I take 10 mgs of Ambien to sleep. I slept well last night and was in such a positive, up mood this morning. I'm not in therapy, but do see a psych doc every couple of months to adjust meds, if needed. I think my meds did kick in for a few days. Usually, I am severely depressed, with the exception of going hypomanic every 2-3 weeks. After having a few really good days, it's very frustrating to find myself depressed again. Although, I do have to say it's not as bad as I was prior to the mood stabilizer.

SK

[Skinned Knees]

Is anyone else out there bipolar? Need help!

on my way;496411 wrote: Skinned, I'm glad you had a couple of great days, must feel great. It may take a bit of time for your bod to adjust to everything. This is a tough time of year...lots of ups and downs put bp on top of it....not easy. Have you thought of going for a walk, maybe a little fresh air, change of scenery? I?m not bp, I?m just a stupid booze hog, wish there were some great words of wisdom I could give you. I am however sending you a BIG hug,

nat

Thank you so much NAT. It means alot to me that you have responded. :l

[Skinned Knees]

Is anyone else out there bipolar? Need help!

JAMMS;496413 wrote: Skinned- Don't be mad at yoursefl. I know it's hard, but you have been doing great. It's just a minor slip up and you will recover form it. TAke you meds, we are here for you.

Stick with it. You can do it. :l

Jamms ... I haven't drank. Not for 9 days now. I really want to get well. I'm trying so hard! It just frustrates me. I have so much to do and to be depressed again ... well, how will I ever move ahead?

SK

[JAMMS]

Is anyone else out there bipolar? Need help!

Skinned- sorry I must have misunderstood. MY bad. I think that OMW is on to something. This time of year is bad, especially for peoplewith depression and BP. It a hard time. :l

You will move ahead, it's just seems really really bad now. That's part of the BP and depression. It will not be forever.

Frustration in a bitch! Try to think about how you'll feel when you've defeated it all!

Hugs :l to you.

Your doing fine!

[Guest]

Is anyone else out there bipolar? Need help!

Skinned...youve been doing great and your a great mum ad one day I really would love you to come over and me , you and Oney would have a great time.....
there are great times still to come my friend.

[Accountable for Me]

Is anyone else out there bipolar? Need help!

Skinned - a lot of what you are feeling is the withdrawal. You are doing so great! 9 days!

I am on two types of medication for the BP. I am on Epival and Wellbutrin XL. I was on trazedone for a while - but I am able to sleep without an aid now.

I understand what you are feeling. I HATE those really high-flighty feelings because I know that there is a dark-assed crash coming. Honestly a lot of the lows was because I was abusing alcohol quite regularly. I am much more stable with sobriety. It is so worth staying away from AL. It makes a huge difference in BP.

Are you a apart of any online communities that specialize in mental health? Sometimes time doesn't allow us to get to a doctor and you if you are going through something - it is nice to have support, just like on here. I have a link which I will get you if you are interested. I go on it maybe once every few weeks or more. It is just nice to know you aren't alone and you can find many different ways on how to manage this.

Are you taking any supplements? Your body has been drained of all B vitamins from the drinking. I take a B-50 along with 1500mg vitamin C, Vitamin D, Womans 1 a day, Omega 3,6,9, and a magnesium/calcium supplement. It seems like a lot, but the damage I caused by drinking is starting to reverse itself. I don't look like I am 500 years old anymore.

Getting a bit of exercise, lots of sleep, drink lots of water and eating right will get you out of the mood-Hell before you know it.

The first 3 weeks after quitting Al was the hardest for me. My moods settled down after that.

Anytime you want to chat - you can always PM me too.

[Accountable for Me]

Is anyone else out there bipolar? Need help!

BTW, here is the link. I find a lot of the information pretty helpful. I haven't posted there yet, but read sometimes.

Mental Help Net Community

[Skinned Knees]

Is anyone else out there bipolar? Need help!

limers;496481 wrote: Skinned...youve been doing great and your a great mum ad one day I really would love you to come over and me , you and Oney would have a great time.....
there are great times still to come my friend.

Thank you so much Limers. :l The support here is so wonderful.

[Skinned Knees]

Is anyone else out there bipolar? Need help!

Accountable for Me;496630 wrote:

Are you a apart of any online communities that specialize in mental health? Sometimes time doesn't allow us to get to a doctor and you if you are going through something - it is nice to have support, just like on here. I have a link which I will get you if you are interested. I go on it maybe once every few weeks or more. It is just nice to know you aren't alone and you can find many different ways on how to manage this.

Are you taking any supplements? Your body has been drained of all B vitamins from the drinking. I take a B-50 along with 1500mg vitamin C, Vitamin D, Womans 1 a day, Omega 3,6,9, and a magnesium/calcium supplement. It seems like a lot, but the damage I caused by drinking is starting to reverse itself. I don't look like I am 500 years old anymore.

Thank you so much AFM. I am a member of a bipolar forum. I usually visit there every few weeks. I did visit yesterday and explained what was going on. They said that although I'm on meds, that I would still experience lows, but those lows wouldn't be as deep or go on for as long. They also think the lows might be coupled with AF withdrawal. So I have a bit of a double whammy going on.

I'm not on any supplements. I'm afraid that they will interfere with either my thyroid med or my bipolar meds. Plus, because of my acid reflux alot of the supplements aggravate it.

I'll try to keep my chin up today and stay as busy as possible. The good news is that I am still AF! :yay:

SK