Newly Diagnosed Bipolar Please Help Posted: 11-21-05 16:14pm
Hi, I have just been diagnosed with
bipolar and about to start taking a mood
stabilizer but I want to make sure first
that im def bipolar.
The past 18 months/2 years have been a
nightmare for me. Im 22 now. It first
started with me feeling very depressed,
crying all the time, tired and sleeping.
I went to the doctos and she put me on
lexapro. After a few weeks of this I
attempted suicide, and also again about 4
months down the line. Over the period of
a year of tkaing this and making regular
visits to my gp she decided to take me off
it from fear of me being bipolar.
I have had I suppose what you would
call 2 manic episodes. One was a few
months ago where I was up 3 days in a row
and blew 2000 dollers in a casino and
engaged in unappropriate sexual behaviour.
The other has been recent, whre I did not
sleep for weeks, felt like electricity was
flowing through me, my skin was crawling,
and paranoid thoughts, and strange
thoughts/obsesive/couldnt keep still/up
painting composing and writing poetry but
at the same time completly exhausted, also
could not stand any noise.. Felt like it
was resonating through my entire body
this last episode was very scary for me
as its affected my university work greatly
and im in my last year. My dr sent me to
a consultant who both agree I have
bipolar, she is now talking to another
collegue and I have to go back on
wednesday to see her about taking mood
stabilizers.
Im really scared I feel like ive been
given a death sentence and its my fault.
Do u think they are right ? Am I really
bipolar
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billiegail
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 11 Sep 2005 Posts: 1 Location: East Texas
Sounds Like It Posted: 11-21-05 20:02pm
I was just dx'ed last week and I am not
the least bit happy about it, but I am
relieved that I finally have something
instead of thinking I was nuts. You have
the same symtoms as me :(
i'd read as much as you can about it.
Thanks and god bless
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nthdegreeproducts
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 22 Nov 2005 Posts: 1 Location: NJ
Bi-polar: 20 Yrs With It And Experience Posted: 11-22-05 02:05am
I'm not a doctor, but, have been in your
shoes.
Please, do not let them put you on
anything other than lithium carbonate to
see how things stabilize. That means they
draw blood from you every couple months
until things balance out. By no means
take any other phsycotic drug at the same
time. You also know this means no alcohol
or drugs. This is very important.
You were quick to being diagonsed
bi-polar. A few instances normally does
not mean a life event. You may have just
been having a girls night out and fun.
Don't be fast in concluding you are
bi-polar.
Bi-polar is by no means fun, but, not a
"death sentence" as you put it. If you
are indeed that, the hardest part is
admitting you are mentally ill to yourself
and everyone that surrounds you. Even the
best medication does not protect you from
flareups from time to time. At least if
everyone knows, they will excuse you.
My understanding at this time is that
bi-polar is completely genetic. Someone
in your family has it. It normally
errupts/surfaces under extreme stress. It
won't go away. See how your family member
dealt with it and how you can do better.
No death thoughts!!!!!!!! Get it out of
your head and immediately see a
psychologist immediately. All states have
free help for this disorder.
If you are indeed bi-polar, no pill is
going to make it go away. You are
basically, handicapped. However, you get
a blessing out of this. You will see life
on much different terms.
I've been dealing with it for 20 years. I
own a nice home and a business. This is
not a dream disease and it can consume a
lot of your time to work on it, but, i'm
happy. I hope you find yourself happy
too. (i also found out at your age)
hope this helps all out there. Even if
you don't have money and have thoughts of
hurting yourselves, most hospitals will
take you in free of charge and also send
you in the right directions for long term
care. Just don't hurt yourself and seek
long term therapy as well as meds. They
go in tandom.
Best regards;
don
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firefly09
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 02 Oct 2005 Posts: 45 Location: UK
Posted: 11-22-05 09:50am
Why cant I take something else instead of
lithium, I heard lithium has bad side
effects and is an older drug used in
treating this. I have to go back to my dr
tommorow to get a prescroption, im not
sure what medication she is gonna put me
on yet, but I feel uneasy about taking
lithium
