Topic : Bipolar Disorder

I have been on Lamictal since May of this year.  It has been slowly titrated up to my current dosage of 250mg.  I have to say that I was also on the Wellbutrin until 3 weeks ago - this was discontinued due to my mood changes with severe agitation and rage.  I have been calm but still have a little manic and a little depression, not too high above the normal.  No rage to say the least.  The lamictal was increased yesterday to offset my depression.  Psych is trying to keep the antidepressant out of my regimen for now - if needed her desire is to put me on Paxil.  I'm not too happy with her choice. 

I forgot to add another observation - when I first started the Lamictal - I took it in the evenings and slept well.  I'm not sure why but I then switched it to the mornings - I did not have fatigue but insomnia became a problem so I again switched it back to evenings about 9 pm.  Sleeping much better.  

take the caps off

xanax isnt the answer, you can get addicted to them and make things quite worse. youre husband is in a constant manic state. He needs to see a professional, and he needs a mood stablizer.

He proabably needs somthing like effexor to stave the anxiety and panic attacks, xanax is only used to create a ceiling for the anti depressants.. so that you can prevent a manic episode. your husband is in a constant manic episode so the xanax isnt working. He needs different medications, and needs to see a professional.

actually exercise in the middle of the day if you can, I havent so Im a bad example but when I did I overcame a lot of fatigue.. Its really hard to get started. but once you start you cant stop going. plus its good for you and your bipolar.

it does get rid of the fatigue because your endorphins overcome it. Its such a good feeling and then when your ready for bed you have that natural sleepiness. OK OK.. Im going back to the gym after I refinance my house! i had to quit because it was 40 bux a month... but theres this other place thats 20 bux =).

I have know my husband for about 10 years, and have been married for four.  He has days, sometimes a week or so of being "normal".  Then it is followed by eratic behavior, such as going to bed at 7p.m. and staying in bed most of next day.  He won't tell me what is wrong, just that I am "bitching" at him every time I speak.  Then he insults me about ironically the things I feel are my best qualities ie. being a mom, taking care of the house, and working.  It also seems these are the things he is really poor at, but insist on blaming me.  He never says he is sorry, and will just pretend these episodes never happen.  He has been very loud and yell at the top of his lungs at me almost like he is out of control with his emotions.  Then he always rambles on even on good days, he can't complete a sentence.  He describes it as his thoughts are way to fast to verbally get them out, and also he is so smart, and most people especially me are not fast enough to keep up with him.  It is destroying me emotionally,  I am exhausted from walking on egg shells, and constintly agreeing with him, to avoid any conflict.   He has been diagnosed with different things over the years, bi-polar being one of them.  Currently he is taking aderall for ADD and valium for anxiety.  I see some difference in his focus, but he still is up and down, Also everytime he takes meds, even if family sees improvement, he will soon say "I am losing my mind, this medicine doesn't do anything" The Valium I am sure has destroyed his liver, and He is most definatly addicted to it.  I have been around him when he takes stints with out it, and I much prefer when he has it!!!  He can ping of the walls and talk 90 miles an hour, with out ever completing what he originally started talking about. 

So I now about once a month, wish I could save money to move out..  I am tierd of dealing with his issues. 

But the meds he is taking have no effect whatsoever on his bipolar disorder. Can you get him to concuslt a doctor about meds for bipolar? Does he admit he has it? If he knows he has biplolar disorder and refuses to admit it or  take meds for it, you may have to remove yourself from the situation for your own good. Bipolar disorder does not improve without proper meds and adderall and valium are not proper meds for bipolar.

 

Sometimes you can convince a bipolar to face his issues by leaving; sometimes you can't. But he is not doing himself or you any good with the current situation. He needs to be on meds, and you need a rest.

Thanks for the advice.  I actually have a gym membership that I'm not using.   Maybe we can start exercising together.    :)

I am a single mother of a 7 month old.  It took me a little while to realize what I can do and cannot do.  Well, I just got logged on, and I am going to need to go.  Have a wonderful week.

     What a day!!  Sometimes living with a mental illness isn't much fun.  Let alone living with someone with a mental illness must be really tough.  I have been really stressed out lately.  Today I was a crying idiot to my general manager at work.  Now that I'm home chilling, I'm thinking what a stupid thing to do.  She didn't really care to hear my stupidness.  But as a manager she was polite to listen.  She doesn't really care about me and what I have to say!!  I know this but still had to take up her time.  Oh well I guess I can't change it now.  I really don't know what my manager thinks of me but I have a good clue.  Just by some of the action and reactions I recieve.  I guess I should of saved my non-sense for my doctor.  At lease he gets paid to care.  My hang up to day was that people just don't care.  I have been feeling really sad that people just don't take the time to care about me.  I have been on a poor me kick.  I guess I need to get over it and just don't care like everyone else.  I'm a very caring loving person that cares about everyone but who takes the time to care about me other then family.
    I would love a friend.  I promise not to be so negative all the time, just some of the time.  I'm a great listener when I'm not being lazy.  Sometimes I go on the computer and sometimes I don't.
    God Bless you having to cope with a bi-polar person.  I have been bi-polar since I was 13 and I'll be 34 tommorrow.  My poor husband has been through so much with me.  He has been through the no medicine times.  I though I was doing fine but looking back God Bless him.  I have been able to hold jobs very well.  I just seem to lose friends because I go through I want to be left alone periods.  Some people understand and some don't.  It would be nice to develop a good friend that know a little about mental illness and who can be there for me and I can be there for them.
    Now that I have went  on and on I'm going to get off the computer now.

This is the best response I have read about the situation we are in with bipolar disorder. I have tried to get my daughter to understand that she has to make her own decisions and then live with the consequences. If they aren't the ones you want then make a different decision next time. She hates to take the responsibility for her own decisions and is always asking me what she should do. I give her my answer and then she complains about it. if she gets the wrong results, then I ask her to make her decision and support her in that decision.

She is having a problem in her work situation she is in. She is working late evening and sometimes doesn't get to bed till 2-3 in the am, then the baby gets her up at 5-6 am and she doesn't get enough sleep. She expects us to take care of the baby so she can get more sleep. I tell her she has to either find someone to take care of the baby while she sleeps or find a different job with better hours. She just always responds with " but I like my job". I can't make her see that this is not a good answer. We are trying to find someone to watch the baby while she sleeps after a long night but then she drags her feet in following through with what I ask her to do in making arrangements.

Do you have any ideas what I can to do to help the situation?