Topic : 08/01 Extreme Highs and Lows

My name is Linda I'm in Ontario Canada and my doctor put me on two different types on anti-depressents/ anti-pshycotics. The kicker is she says I'm bi-polar but has not officially diagnosed me as such. Now that I'm on this medication I have been left on my own with no answers. I have had difficulties getting my meds refilled and have had major lows because of it. I am unable to maintain a normal lifestyle. I can't stay motivated to do anything. I am an intelligent young woman and I feel like I have no control over my life and I feel like I am flying by the seat of my pants with no guidance and no proffessional to turn to. I don't know what to do. I know that the meds are making me feel better but does that mean that I am bi-polar of am I just hopped up on happy pills?

 

My daughter was told she was Bi-Polar about a year and a half ago. She is 27 years old and has a seven year old son. She has been in numerous relationships. but they never last. After they move in together and arguments begin to intensive, she says horrible things and does a lot of damage to property. Sooner or later the men decide to leave.

 

She does not hear voices, but she seems to have gotten worse since they told her she was bi-polar. She says the meanest things she think of when she is mad. Even as her mother it is so difficult to deal with her. I have blamed myself but how much abuse will ever be enough. Most of the time I feel like it is her goal in life to make my life a living hell. But I still wonder if it is just her being mean or really a disorder. The doctors had her fill out a questionaire and then said she was bi-polar is it really that easy to diagnosis?

 

mistymom

 

 

 I'm impressed u are actually having kids with the bipolar diagnosis.  I've specifically decided NOT to have children because of it.  I was "iffy" before, but after I learned I'd need to go off my meds while pregnant, and the fact that my dad, grandma and myself all have the disorder, and tho its' something like 25% chance that my child will have it- my family seems to be batting 1000.  Best of luck to you!!

 I really wish that Dr. Phil had discussed some of the peoplediagnosed with bipolar disorder who are out there every day working andfunctioning like "normal people" while on medication.  The hardestthing I've found is explaining to my boss why changing medications caneffect me and my performance so drastically. 

For a long time Ididn't tell my supervisor that I was bipolar type II.  But my moodstabilizer finally quit working and I was rapid cycling again.  So I knew this medication change was going to be a tough one.  I finally told him, but it took a lot out of me to trust that he wouldn't use this information against me somehow. He was very understanding about it, but I still worry that my performance is substandard while going through a medication change - forgetfulness, fogginess,confusion, etc.  It feels like my brain just doesn't want to function in a normal way on a new drug.

I wish employers could understand how hard it is to get on the proper medications, that those medications may stop working, and that medication changes in and of themselves are extremely difficult at times.  I fear for my job every time I end up going through an episode or something leads to a medication change.

I know sleep deprivation can cause hallucinations.  Why couldn't you sleep? Were you taking any recreational drugs which gave you so much energy you just couldn't sleep? It could be bipolar - some people do not have psychotic episodes. Stay in close contact with your doctor and journal every episode to see if there is a pattern. Did you recently have a baby? Sometimes post-partum depression can cause delusions and hallucinations also. Good Luck!

Do you take Trileptal at night?  It made me sleepy.  Currently I take Seroquel at night for sleep--I've seen it knock out some very hyper people in the hospital.

I couldn't sleep because I was manic.  I have never taken recreational drugs.  My "baby" is eight years old.  I have BP1.

     I'm 34 and was diagnosed 10+ years ago bipolar II with major depression.  I have tried to kill myself more times than I care to remember.  Almost every day is a struggle in this world. I feel ashamed, hopeless, and unworthy of life.  I hear the demons in my head trying to get the best of me quiet frequently.  If only I can get my brain to focus on only one thing like reading a good book is as peaceful as it gets.  I appreciated the show today but want the world to know for some of us the extreme lows and highs aren't something that happen on a day to day basis.  I have had periods of my life I was stable enough to hold down a job, get a degree and was a professional functioning in society.  But this disease has robbed me of my life, my career, any social life I may have wanted and most of all my mind.  I pray the voices will quiet enough that I can hear the tv, or listen to what my child has to tell me.  During my manic phases of spending beyond my means has done damage to our finances to the point each day I pray my electric or water won't be turned off. I have been having what is called mixed rapid cycles for about 3-4 years now.  My doctor is still trying to get my meds right which has been about 5 years now.  The thought of suicide is always in my head, I just haven't come up with a proof free plan yet to carry it out. I have promised my doctor I will tell him when I do.  I hear the angels talk to me at night sometimes but don't remember what they say.  I feel like a misfit in this society and only stay here for one reason that being my son.  I chose to bring him into this world and will not abandon him.  I will not let the demons get the best of me.

 

Hi, My name is Tamara and I have been diagnosed with bi-polar over the past five years. I was 40 yrs. old when I found out my disorder, wishing I had found the dillema to my problems much earlier in life.  I take medication for anxieity and panic disorder which is Lexapro. I also take Strattera for my ADHD which helps a great amount.  I did sucessfully complete college with a BA

but found no work comprabale to my education.

Over the past year my counselor adviced me to apply for Social Security Disability due to my ability

to not be able to hold down any job more than 90 days.

 

I wish I knew more about the medicines for bipolor disorder.

 

thanks,

Tamara

you can go to www.bi polar.com and they may have the info for you or i heard on Dr phil today that you can find resourses for bipolar at drphil.com. I also have bi-polar ,and add. My niece also has bi-polar and my oldest son has add and i think he has bi-polar also ,if he would go get checked for it. I hope this is some help to you.You can also go to the library to read about bi-polar and how to cope with this illness.