Bipolar....?!
Question: Bipolar!.!.!.!.!?
I was diagnosed with being Bipolar since I was 17 yrs of age!. I am now 30!. I hold down a full-time position and I have a live-in partner!. Some days are fine and some days I am either really high or really down!. Today is a down day -( I had a high yesterday and really enjoyed it!. Anyway, today I feel useless, worthless and I'd never think about suicide but I want to run and hide from everyone as I feel I'm no good today!. Does anyone else have these days!? And how do you manage them!? I am on Prozac 20mg daily and Amitriptylne 10mg (can't spell that one) anyway, I'm feeling totally worthless and thinking that maybe this world would be better if I wasn't here!. I don't normally think like that but today I am!. I'm at work so I'm keeping myself busy but I can't help feeling worthless and useless and I'm ready to cry!. I do have PMS/PMT which isn't helping either!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Answers:
I have had anxiety and depression since i was a child and i am heading toward my pension now!.The only thing you can do is appreciate the good days and ride out the bad ones because at the end of the day you are alive and can choose to be alive for yourself and the people who love you!.Not like some who have a terminal illness and have no choices to make!.Chin up i know its hard i've been there!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
I'm not sure if my answer is going to be helpful or not, but please confide in someone - your partner, friend, family member!.!.!.
If you feel you are having more bad days than good, then see you doctor because your meds might need tweaking!.
Try simple things in the meantime, treat yourself to a nice lunch/massage/swim/present!. Make a list of all your achievements no matter how small and remember, tell someone how you feel so that you can get the support you need!.
Good luck!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
If you feel you are having more bad days than good, then see you doctor because your meds might need tweaking!.
Try simple things in the meantime, treat yourself to a nice lunch/massage/swim/present!. Make a list of all your achievements no matter how small and remember, tell someone how you feel so that you can get the support you need!.
Good luck!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Read - Undoing Depression: What Therapy Doesn't Teach You and Medication Can't Give You by Richard O'Connor!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
See your doctor - prozac is good for depression, but generally not advised for bipolar depression because it really accentuates the highs - ie making you super manic - which is not good - when you need to be aiming for stability!. You don't appear to be taking any mood stabilisers!. Most doctors will advise prescribing either lithium carbonate or sodium valproate as mood stabilisers - which seem to work very well!. Although not advisable unless you have alot of support from friends and family - you could also try supplementing with the alternative approach - recent studies have showed mood improvements in those taking high concentrate fish EPA oils (1000mg +)!. You should also try a magnesium supplement, taurine and lithium orotate - a more bioative version of lithium which is available online from healthfood stores!. It's all to do with your brain chemistry!.There is no solid scientific research behind it, and I have to offer it to you with that caveat ,but my husband finds it works very well!. - check out online resources!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
To be perfectly honest there is alot of reserch that shows that medication for depression and sleep disorders are not as effective as we are lead to believe and can be harmful with prolonged useage!.
There is also alot of evidence that suggests that depression, bipolar depression and PMT are cause by chemical imblances in the person!. Somthing we could be born with!.
I would say you need a councellor / therapist to help you through the lows!. Go to a good Dr who may be able to advise changes to you diet that will keep you balanced!. This is speaking as someone who has managed Bipolar depression since I was 15!. If you are low you dont feel like eating if you are manic you eat whatever your limited patience will allow you to get hold of (often junk foods!) so your blood sugar and nutrients are right out of wack!
You can find several web sites that can offer alternative advice, even many medical practitioners!.
You clearly have a good rational part to you as you are staying at work you know thats important!. I had a low like this recently and I know how hard it can be!.
See if any of this helps and go speak to your Dr they may be able to help!.
Take care!Www@Answer-Health@Com
There is also alot of evidence that suggests that depression, bipolar depression and PMT are cause by chemical imblances in the person!. Somthing we could be born with!.
I would say you need a councellor / therapist to help you through the lows!. Go to a good Dr who may be able to advise changes to you diet that will keep you balanced!. This is speaking as someone who has managed Bipolar depression since I was 15!. If you are low you dont feel like eating if you are manic you eat whatever your limited patience will allow you to get hold of (often junk foods!) so your blood sugar and nutrients are right out of wack!
You can find several web sites that can offer alternative advice, even many medical practitioners!.
You clearly have a good rational part to you as you are staying at work you know thats important!. I had a low like this recently and I know how hard it can be!.
See if any of this helps and go speak to your Dr they may be able to help!.
Take care!Www@Answer-Health@Com
Hi Bell, firstly I must say I have complete respect for you for doing a job with a mental illness!. I know people who have less worse conditions and dont work, so well done!. Secondly, I have depression and have alot of down days!. I had an ok day yesterday too, but the other day I had an exam that didnt go too well and I was really bad!. Prozac medication can help, but have you tried Clozapine or Zopliclone!? (not sure if spelt right) They may/may not help, it might be worth having a talk with the GP and finding the right sort of medication for you so that you dont keep on having ups and downs!.
I also had problems with PMT, very badly, and was like an evil gremlin when I was on!. The thing I find that helps this majorly though is having a contraceptive injection once every three months called Depo Provera!. This stops your periods and your mood does improve alot, plus you dont get agonising painful periods every month!. A supplement such as evening primrose oil capsules works wonders too!.
I hope you are feeling better soon, take care!.
EDIT: Keep your chin up, it sucks but as you say yourself it wont last long!. Tell yourself you are a good person over and over!.
EDIT2: Ok Bell, the best thing you can do is to get an appointment with your GP today, they need to know how you are feeling!. P!.S sorry, didnt know about the Zopliclone thing!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
I also had problems with PMT, very badly, and was like an evil gremlin when I was on!. The thing I find that helps this majorly though is having a contraceptive injection once every three months called Depo Provera!. This stops your periods and your mood does improve alot, plus you dont get agonising painful periods every month!. A supplement such as evening primrose oil capsules works wonders too!.
I hope you are feeling better soon, take care!.
EDIT: Keep your chin up, it sucks but as you say yourself it wont last long!. Tell yourself you are a good person over and over!.
EDIT2: Ok Bell, the best thing you can do is to get an appointment with your GP today, they need to know how you are feeling!. P!.S sorry, didnt know about the Zopliclone thing!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Hello there,
I would have a word with your doctor about using a mood stabiliser such as lithium carbonate or sodium valproate!. These can be very effective for 80% or so of people with bipolar disorder!. Ir is just possible that they could help with the PMT as it is a cyclical problem!. I have seen this happen!. The only problem with the treatments I mentioned is that they need to be monitored carefully, especially during the early stages, to get the dose right!. Good luck!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
I would have a word with your doctor about using a mood stabiliser such as lithium carbonate or sodium valproate!. These can be very effective for 80% or so of people with bipolar disorder!. Ir is just possible that they could help with the PMT as it is a cyclical problem!. I have seen this happen!. The only problem with the treatments I mentioned is that they need to be monitored carefully, especially during the early stages, to get the dose right!. Good luck!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
If you are bi polar i have heard of better medication!. Antidepressants can make bi polar worse, I have heard that Wellbutrin is better than prozac, and a mood stabilizer would be better than amitriptiline!. There are some better!.
Usually a bi polar person has at least a combination of three medications
You might need to check on this!. you should be more stabilized!. Mood stabilizers keep the highs and lows from happening, They are don't always make you feel great but they keep the down side from feeling so bad!. And you do not have the highs!. Some people miss having the high feeling but it always ends up with the low, so they have to compromise to just have a more stable emotion!.http://www!.helpguide!.org/mental/bipolar_!.!.!. this sight gives information about mood stabilizers and other medications!.
There are two medications that some doctors still give because they have not kept up with the latest news!. Do not take Effexor or Neurotin!. Effexor as of two months ago has been shown to cause severe problems in bi polar and neurotin has been sued for false usage and admitted it does nothing for bi polar!. good luckWww@Answer-Health@Com
Usually a bi polar person has at least a combination of three medications
You might need to check on this!. you should be more stabilized!. Mood stabilizers keep the highs and lows from happening, They are don't always make you feel great but they keep the down side from feeling so bad!. And you do not have the highs!. Some people miss having the high feeling but it always ends up with the low, so they have to compromise to just have a more stable emotion!.http://www!.helpguide!.org/mental/bipolar_!.!.!. this sight gives information about mood stabilizers and other medications!.
There are two medications that some doctors still give because they have not kept up with the latest news!. Do not take Effexor or Neurotin!. Effexor as of two months ago has been shown to cause severe problems in bi polar and neurotin has been sued for false usage and admitted it does nothing for bi polar!. good luckWww@Answer-Health@Com