Thanks for the tips. They were very helpful. I noticed that there is not an introduction thread. How do I befriend members or vice versa. I am new and would like some friends. I think I am going to start an introduction thread.
Hello, I am hoping you can help me shed some light on how I best deal with my boyfriend. He is a wonderful, super intelligent, gifted, photographic memory, spiritual and a wonderful lover kind of guy and understands me better than I do myself at times. But....of course there is always one of those! He is Bipolar. This is something he was diagnosed with years ago, but does not take medication for. He tried for a couple of weeks last year, but they made him so high and tight jawed that he gave up. Also at that time he was at a friends house, drank most of a bottle of whiskey, got in a car and lost his license. I was called up at 2am from a hospital asking did I know this man and would I come and get him. Of course I hadn't slept a wink anyway, as I had a feeling something was not right. He has a problem with drink, does not drink often, but when he does he gets very drunk very quickly and either loves the world or on the other tip of the knife edge cries and hates everything most of all me of course. The day after he invariably tells me he wants to break up, that I would be better off without him or that I'm such a princess that he can't even stand the sound of my voice anymore. I can't just treat him like someone who is ill as he has a very strong nature and when he feels something, my god he really feels it. I find it hard to cope, now luckily he has got himself a dream job, I have been supporting him for about a year now financially , in another country, but as you may know Europe is small and flights are cheap so it is no huge deal. I am, as is my family, hoping that he can cope. So far so good, they all love him. We are all sitting here waiting for the chain to break and hoping that wont happen, that might sound mean but that's how it is when experience shows that is what normally happens. This job really is one of those that could set him up for life in an exciting environment, yet with the routine I think he needs. He tried to start a business himself but mostly couldn't get out of bed in the morning. Now I do not resent him for turning me into as he calls me a 'stress bunny', I just would love to know how I best deal with him, so that I don't have to walk on eggshells, yet pretending not to be, so he doesn't howl at me. Hope this makes sense to someone out there...
My doctor has me on Geodon and Lamictal. I've been taking the Geodon for about 6 months and the Lamictal for the last 2 months. Now in the past month I have had enormous trouble swallowing. It feels like my esophagus has closed in compared to how it was before. I am getting chokes every time I eat something solid. Anyone else having this trouble?
Antipsychotics (Geodon is one of many) can cause temporary movement disorders such as dystonia. Difficulty swallowing can be one sign of this. That can be treated with a side effect pill. Speak to your psychiatrist about this.
I just joined the community for the reason to hear what other people go through with Bipolar and making some friends. It's lonely living in the mind of confusion. I was diagnosed with Dual Bipolar. I am a recovering alcoholic. I quit drinking March 31, 2009. The only difference is now I know what I have and how to treat it. Well sometimes. They're are times that I ask myself what's really wrong with me. Am I really ill. Do I just talk myself into thinking I'm ill. This is the craziness of my illness.
Well its best to educate yourself on what bipolar is and how to understand what is going on. The websites linked up are one good start but there are some helpful books that would be available at the library as well but since the knowledge of bipolar and its treatment advances at a regular basis the websites linked up (and any others that would be clinically accurate) would be more up to date but NAMI would have some good informational material as well. Having a dual diagnosis is a further form of recovery that can sometimes be complex but I know people who have gone through this process.
I have been diagnosed for years now, and still wonder if I'll ever feel truly good again. I take lithium seroquel, and effexor. I've also had two rounds of ect and hoping to have another round soon. I also have a vagal nerve stimulator (vns). Part of me thinks in this day and age there should be something more permenent and stable yet the other part knows that I have a progressive disorder that needs constant monitoring. I don't want to die or cut myself anymore but sometime the urges are so srong. Sometimes I just get tired of fighting. twitching, wiggleing. and just generally feeling like crap. HELP ME ! Tammy43
Well if you look at the top of the page you are posting on there are lists of websites that can be helpful and one has a listing of mood stabilizers that are FDA approved or are FDA approved medications used experimentally for bipolar. If things aren't working out you could discuss that information with your psychiatrist. I went through the same process with what was then treatment refractory schizoaffective disorder and I could not tolerate any known medications including Clozaril but have made a recovery now with an experimental antipsychotic in Phase II FDA study. There is research and development on new anti-psychotics, mood stabilizers and especially anti-depressents and on a regular basis there is one that is FDA approved and becomes a new option and there is continuing research into whole new classes of treatment. Its worthwhile to keep track of that. If things aren't working out and you have tried all options in standard use you might ask your psychiatrist for a referral to a mood disorders specialist or consider going to a psychopharmocologist who have specific knowledge as regards medications that may not be otherwise in regular use.
Hello, I'm Janessa and I've had bipolar 1 w/ rapid cycling since 2005. it hasn't totally ruined my life but it has caused me to loose a lot of relationships and friendships. i would love to talk to other people who have the same thing as me and know i'm not alone, and see how other people deal with the symptoms.
Yes welcome. You could post a thread with a question that people would then respond to. I know that many people with bipolar have noted its effect in judging other people's mood and reactions and other factors that may impact on relating to other people at times.
I would suggest that you open a section or subsection for people diagnosed with Cyclothymia. We have may of the same symptoms as people with BP1 and 2 but not as extreme and we tend to get drowned out in forums. Thanks.
It would be worthwhile to post any specific comments or concerns you have about this forum (or any other) in the "suggestions" forum. Then your comments would be read there and answered.
I'm nineteen years old, I have not been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. However, I feel strongly there something wrong with me mentally. I'm not stable at all, I have mood swings, sever depression, and many other things. I've noticed my behavior change about six months ago. Even my friends and family said they don't know who I am anymore. That got me thinking. I've heard a few different theories. One person said I seemed really depressed, another said I could be schizophrenic, and my friend who is Bipolar said I sound just like him so i could very well be Bipolar as well. Getting these theories thrown at me is frightening. What's the best thing for me to do?? I don't have insurance, I don't have money to see a psychiatrist. I'm scared if I don't get help something bad will happen. Please help, and I'm sorry for the inconvenience.
Yes there are a variety of types of bipolar and some can potentially have aspects of psychosis and only a psychiatrist could provide an exact diagnosis so it would be worth seeing one. As per insurance at an emergency room you could be eligible for emergency Medicaid which could transition into standard Medicaid which would cover seeing a psychiatrist.
Hello. I haven't been diagnosed with anything but have a mix between bipolar and schizophrenia. I haven't been feeling all that good lately but it might be the cold weather. I look forward to chatting to you all.
I was literally diagnosed 2 days ago, and i don't know what to think. Im 18 years old, and i only started out with simple anxiety. when i was younger i would get so angry sometimes over the littlest things. Now, i'm anxious constantly with little bouts of depression thrown in there. I've been starting to get mad at little things again too. But i really dont feel like myself. I feel foggy all the time. And i constantly try to figure out whats normal, and why i look ok to everyone else, but on the inside i feel like im going nuts. I was put on seroquel xr, only 50 mg to start, but it makes me sooo incredibly tired, and it doesnt wear off until later on in the day. I'm not even sure if i am bipolar or if it is just anxiety... I'm so confused.... please give me some advice if you can, thank you.