Do you think I'm bi-polar? And what meds. are they using now for this condit!
Question: Yes, I see a psychiatrist. However, we never really talk. He knows that I am depressed and gave me Prozac but it didn't help at all. I know I have severe anxiety and he gives me Xanax for that and that does help. One minute, I'm acting almost high and the next minute I'm depressed as hell. I used to do manic things like go on crazy shopping sprees (charging money I didn't have), sleep with many guys for no apparent reason, and I turn to alcohol and drugs to ease my mania and depression. Most days, I just lay in bed all day. I can't work since I cry at the drop off a hat and it's humiliating. However, every few weeks, I'll just take off and go on crazy drinking and drugging binges. I'm going to lose my boyfriend over this. He says it's just all in my head and I can help the way I act but I REALLY CANNOT! I live with my Mom and am in my 30's. I feel like such a burden and such a loser. I also am very obsessive acting especially when it comes to my boyfriend. I need help!
Answers: Yes, you sound very bipolar. I can't understand why your psychiatrist didn't do some blood work and know that right away. Any psychiatrist worth his salt knows a bipolar will not be cured with antidepressants, it will just make them have mood swings to the manic phase. It's not a cure.
Your mood swings seem very bad. My heart goes out to you. Once I was put on lithium sodium, my mood stabilized and I was fine. I got immediate results. I didn't even have to get used to the meds and I had few if any side effects. I don't understand what is going on with that psychiatrist.
I wonder how long you've been seeing him and I wonder how long you've been left to flounder on those inappropriate meds. If it's been over a month and he has no plan to give you anything else, you should seriously consider getting another psychiatrist.
Your mood swings may seem severe, but actually it is just indicative of your imbalance. The more severe the imbalance the worse the mania, and you seem to have a lot of that. I really believe you when you say you cannot help that. I really do. If you were just medicated properly you would calm down, moderate and be just as fine as anyone else. But without it, it really is true you are helpless to do anything about it. This will not be resolved with antidepressants, or will power, for that matter. It is a crying shame you are not being given the proper medication. I can't understand that at all. That boggles my mind. This seems so obvious to me and I'm not a doctor.
You need help! You say he knows you are depressed. Have you told him the same thing you have listed here, about your manic highs and lows? That should have told him a lot just from that. If you did, and this is all he is prescribing, get a second opinion. Be sure to say right from the start that you think you are bipolar, not depressed. This shouldn't be a matter of opinion, and there should be no confusion. You are obviously bipolar. You need the right doctor and the appropriate prescription and then you will be fine.
Hang in there! I know it's hard but somehow you can and you will work this out. I just know it. Allow yourself to show your obsessive side and be determined to get a prescription for lithium sodium. Do some research on the internet if you can and prepare a case that shows those mood swings that show you can't stabilize your mood swings and you are not just depressed. You can do this. Dont become manic and allow yourself to lose focus. Losing focus is so easy for a bipolar.
If you can, drink lots of orange juice or a sports drink and see if that doesn't help curb your mood swings a little bit so you can stay on track until you get this problem resolved. The sodium should help, but it is not a cure. I am saying my prayers for you. All you need is a prescription. If you can just get that far, you will be fine. Come on, you can do this. I am hoping for the best. Try not to judge yourself too harshly until after you find this. You may be something, but it is not a loser.
I hope this helps you.