Are you bipolar?

angelicasmommy

My dr suggested at my last visit that he thinks I may have bipolar disorder. I never thought much of it but I just looked up the symptoms and holy crap it sounds like me. I have been like this for the last 2 ish years but I thought I was just messed up. Is anyone here bipolar, and f so can you tell me how it affects you? Do you take meds? Do they help you?

sizzle92

No. But my dh's ex is. If you are bi polar PLEASE get on medication and take it seriously. Hugs.

angelicasmommy

I have an appt at the end of October and I will bring it up. I am just going to try to read up as much as possible until then.

veganbaum

I'm not but I have known people who are. If your doctor thinks you may be, try and see a psychiatrist and have them prescribe you meds, rather than your PCP. I am always in favor of natural remedies when possible, but for something like bipolarism, I think meds are generally needed. I have seen the most amazing transformations in people when they are taking the appropriate medication for this disorder.

angelicasmommy

I am on anti depressants right now (I was diagnosed with depression maybe 6 months ago) and I have been finding it hard in the last month or so to remember to take the meds every day. I really hate the thought of having to take more.

VelociMama

I'm glad to hear that you're open to getting on meds and getting treatment for this disorder.

My mom has it, and it went untreated for a long long time. She's now on medication, and it has made our relationship and her life 100% better. She's much more steady now emotionally, and it's just wonderful. I know she's had some issues with side effects, and it took a few months to get the dosage figured out, but it's been so worth it to have my mom in my life in a meaningful way.

Good luck to you no matter what course of treatment you choose to go with!

magj0y

My daughter was diagnosed with bi-polar when she was in 6th grade. After several therapists telling I was parenting all wrong, and not helping the situation, I finally found one that sent her in for a psych eval. After a month our house was no longer a war zone.

Seriously look into it. My daughter takes zyprexa and depakote ER with no bad side affects.

AuddAlise

My ex is bi-polar. It was seriously aweful because he wouldn't take any meds.

On the other end my best friend married someone who is bi-polar who takes meds and he is an awesome human bieng. Always the life of the party and willing to lend a hand.

Educate yourself and find some meds that work for you. Its awesome that you're working on bettering yourself.

Bakkasan

OP, please don't listen to that moron. Thousands of men and women in this country have this condition. It is nothing to be ashamed of and there are ways to manage it. Big hugs to you.

I have it too and joking about it isn't off limits to me. And in chit chat with the garbage posted here, it made me giggle.

fatboypup

my wife says I am

ccludden

I am a psych nurse, and some anti depressants can make mood swings worse. You should talk to your Dr. about a mood stabilizer. If you get on the right meds you will feel much happier.

Webona293

go get checked. And don't take any diet pills with stimulants or caffeine until you know because that will send you into mania where you do crazy **** before thinking about it...like oxypro elite or hydroxycut stuff like that.

Webona293

I am a psych nurse, and some anti depressants can make mood swings worse. You should talk to your Dr. about a mood stabilizer. If you get on the right meds you will feel much happier.

^^^ *BUMP* very true! so will some diet pills that have stimulants in them like caffine, guarana extract, and any thermogenic fat burner

Pixi_Rex

Q: Are you bipolar?

A: Aren't all women.

Totally off topic but I got a chuckle out of this, and I am female... also nice buck..

OP, have you had symptoms your whole life or is this just new since you were put on anti-depressants? I was on some anti-depressants that made my depression 100 times worse and made my symptoms act like I was bi-polar. Please do not wait until your appointment, try to get in to see your Dr. before that.

BelindaDuvessa

My husband is bipolar, and he has voiced concerns that I am exhibiting signs of it myself. Any and all meds he has been prescribed turn him into a zombie. Since he was a stay at home dad, being drugged to a zombie state was not good (we were going through MHMR at the time). It's difficult with him not being on medications, but it's not horrible. It really depends on the severity. I work at a jail and see some people who are completely off the wall unless they are on their medication. Talk to your doctor and get an actual psychiatrist referral, or schedule your own appointment. They really do understand the disease and can help you better than any PCP can. From our experience, it takes a while to find the right combination of medications that will help. So don't get discouraged if it doesn't work right away. And I definitely recommend regular counseling (that's what my husband is doing) until they get the combination correct.

sizzle92

OP, please don't listen to that moron. Thousands of men and women in this country have this condition. It is nothing to be ashamed of and there are ways to manage it. Big hugs to you.

I have it too and joking about it isn't off limits to me. And in chit chat with the garbage posted here, it made me giggle.

I get that. I don't have a stick up my *kitten* so to say......but maybe have some compassion for the OP who is newly putting it out there and is very fresh to this all?

cindyhoney2

Meds are SO important and it may take some time to find the right combination for you. Unfortunatley you will probably have to take several to control it if you are actually bipolar (I'm hoping a p-doc made the suggestion not a PCP). It is very controlable but can be a heck of an emotional ride to get there. My B-I-L has gone off his meds and with therapy and exercise he is doing great. Good luck to you and please ignore the insensitive *kitten* on here.

sizzle92

I have an appt at the end of October and I will bring it up. I am just going to try to read up as much as possible until then.

Can't you get in sooner?

emtjmac

I have anxiety and ADHD and I have struggled with depression in the past. Feel free to add me!

Poorgirls_Diet

I seriously feel for ignorant ****s who make ignorant statements on here. Or anywhere for that matter. Especially while holding pictures of dead animals smiling ear to ear like an uneducated moron. Mental illness is no joke and to talk about women that way is disgusting. I feel for your wife. (you are beating the spread by the way). And I hope you do not have daughters. Why even come on this thread???? WHY? I sure hope you or your loved ones never get plagued with mental illness because you obviously don't have the capacity to deal with it and because of you they will suffer even more.

OP, please don't listen to that moron. Thousands of men and women in this country have this condition. It is nothing to be ashamed of and there are ways to manage it. Big hugs to you.

Totally agree with this! There are times and places when joking is ok but even though depression can't be seen doesn't mean to say its not an illness.

OP, I would go and get help hun, I have depression too and I am on tablets every day although one brand of tablets that i was on give me similar symptoms to that off someone that has bipolar so really do get checked out and don't let them fob you off. Demand answers before you settle for any sorts of tablets as unfortunately the medical doctors nowadays (especially in UK) just will give you medication thinking that drugs are the answers to everything. 60% of the time they are not always right so please make sure you look into it and get the help that you need, take care

MaryJane_8810002

My dr suggested at my last visit that he thinks I may have bipolar disorder. I never thought much of it but I just looked up the symptoms and holy crap it sounds like me. I have been like this for the last 2 ish years but I thought I was just messed up. Is anyone here bipolar, and f so can you tell me how it affects you? Do you take meds? Do they help you?

Yes I currently suffer from bipolar depression. It sucks because I can just spend days in bed. And god help you if I skip on my meds...

suckerlove

I am. I was diagnosed in my 20's but have had symptoms since my teens. It's very serious and rough. I have been in and out of the hospital enough times to see people at both ends of the spectrum of the disorder. It is essential you get medicated and stay on the meds, especially if you are feeling better. Most commonly, people don't like how the meds make them feel and make them gain weight, myself included. But not treated, it is a scary scary disorder. Feel free to friend me if you need a friend who has gone through what you are going through.

shezzamess

I am bipolar, I struggled with depression and mood swings for 15 years before I finally had enough of the severe ups and downs. It eventually became more downs than ups. I would try one anti depressant and it would work for a while, then it would quit working. I would try another and it would work 6 months, maybe a year. I had tried all the anti depressants none of them would work for long. It was when I went to a psychiatrist instead of my Primary Doc that I was diagnosed with bipolar. The reason the anti depressants weren't working for very long was because the mood swings werent being treated. It took 9 months to a year of trying different medications to find the one that worked for me.

I take Depekote Er for the mood swings, and Lexapro for depression. I have taken these medications for 5 years with out having to change the dosage. Treating the mood swings was what made all the difference in the world.

Before medication, I would fly off the handle at the drop of a hat, for absolutely nothing! Or something that I imagined! I was mad at every one in the world, it came to the point where I didn't want to live anymore if this is the way life was... life like that sucked!
Today, I am well medicated and very stable, I have great relationships with my children and family. It's like a completely different world!

If there is anything I can do, or any questions I can answer please feel free to ask me. I have been Bipolar since I was 14, but my parents are against psychological drugs. I think that has a good deal to do with why I struggled as long as I did.

All my best to you!

sarah44254

Hello!

I was diagnosed Bipolar II (hypomania, not full blown manic) in late June this year. I started meds (lithium) in mid July and after about 6 weeks of slightly annoying dizziness and digestion issues, I am completely fine with taking these meds twice a day.

Improvements have been a much more stable mood, I don't cry as much, I haven't felt depressed as much (2 days since July.. compared to entire weeks of it that it was previous) I do not throw temper tantrums and snap at people (which was a huge issue, and a large part of the hypomania episodes)

I have had these symptoms since at least 4-5 years old. I recall many situations where I would act out very strangely compared to other children, and continuing on to my teen and early adult years. I took certain risks that should have frightened me, but instead I felt they were normal or even thrilling and didn't think twice about it.

Overall the meds are a boon. They are incredibly helpful to me and I am very glad I went in for help. I initially went in to ask why the heck I am so mean to people! Irritability is a huge part of the UP of Bipolar II and was easily explained after 2 sessions.

Debbe2

I'm not bipolar but I'm a Gemini, does that count? Actually I know several bipolar people. Get help, take meds if indicated and be a hugely successful individual in most anything you set out to do!

AmberJo1984

I was diagnosed about 7 or 8 years ago. However, that is not what I am now being treated for. It is now "Major Depressive Disorder, with PTSD". If I were you, I wouldn't wait for an appointment. If your doctor thinks you are bi-polar, I would get into a psychiatrist now. Medication will definitely be needed. And, please know there's nothing to be ashamed about with taking medicine. Right now, I'm only on one main medicine, and 2 other (sleeping and anxiety) as needed. I hated taking them too... but, it's alot easier than being put in a hospital for suicidal thoughts or depressive / manic episodes. It may take some getting used to, but it's definitely worth it.

I hope I don't sound harsh. It's just something to take very seriously. There are people out there who will understand. Find someone you trust -- a good psychiatrist / counselor -- and don't give up. Also, if you ever need to talk, I'm a message away.

magj0y

I am on anti depressants right now (I was diagnosed with depression maybe 6 months ago) and I have been finding it hard in the last month or so to remember to take the meds every day. I really hate the thought of having to take more.

I have been taking drugs for close to 30 years (epilepsy) and I STILL forget to take it. If you have a smart phone, set it on a timer to go off. If it's a "take twice a day" you don't have to take it the minute you wake up and before dinner. set it on twice a day that works for YOU.

angelicasmommy

Thanks for all the replies guys.
I didn't take offense to the joke that was told, I thought it was a little funny but I know some are sensitive to it.
I definitely relate to the anger issues. I can fly off the handle some days at my toddler and another toddler I babysit and do and say things I regret. Other days the same behavior from them has my more calm, it just depends on my mood that day. On days where I am irritable, when they fight my daughter screeches at the top of her lungs, and the sound just sends me over the edge and I scream for them to stop. I can't stand hearing them scream. Some days I wake up and I know it's gonna be a bad day. I am really irritable sometimes. i live with my sister and she tellsme I am cranky a lot.
Sometimes I feel like I am throwing a temper tantrum when I am not getting my way. I am very impatient, and when I don't get what I want when I want it, holy crap. There have been times when I get so mad, I am slamming doors, throwing things, pulling at my hair etc. I have never been like that.
The pills I am taking are actually mood stabilizers (thats what my dr called them) I couldn't remember the name of them, I thought it was the same as anti depressants?
I have been feeling like this for about 2 years. I have a family history of family illness (my mom probably has a bunch of undiagnosed stuff, I feel like I am turning into her and that scares me because dealing with my mom is hard and I don't want that to be how my daughter sees me when she is older.) but it seems like it really started when I split with my ex, who is my daughter's dad 2 years ago. It was a very stressful event that happened that caused us to split. It has slowly gotten worse between then and now. I do feel like I had mood issues before that, but it was very mild.
I have been off work taking care of my daughter since she was born except for a period of 4 ish months where I was back to work and she was in daycare. Daycare didn't work out and I decided to stay home and babysit at home to make money. I am still doing that, but actually just went back to work part time this last weekend and going back to work has helped a lot. If I am home all day I go crazy.
I read that people who are bipolar spend lots of money when they don't have it, and that is definitely me. Spending money and eating makes me happy, and I tend to do it a lot. I also have an eating disorder my dr knows about, I binge, which also started 2 years ago after the split with my ex.
Anyways, someone asked if I could get in to see my dr sooner than my appt, I could but I guess I don't feel like it's that urgent, I am not suicidal or having suicidal thoughts, I don't want to die.I also have anxiety about talking to people on the phone so I avoid having to call people.

Staceychanges94

No,but I have OCD and I take medication for it. I take anti-depressants for my OCD. In the beginning i had side effects like a tendency to sleep everywhere (those pills make u either tired or unable to sleep),weight gain,depression and more anxiety.

Those psychiatric disorders get worse if you just let them and do nothing about it.
You may need meds but I dont know since im not a doctor.

Stay Strong (=

chimpy_chimp

I am Bipolar. If you take medication, you can live a very satisfying life with Bipolar Disorder. It is not the end of the world. It is absolutely essential that you take medication, however. Feel free to add me as a friend, if you wish. I am a good support person.

Iceman1800

Yes I am