Joined: 20 Mar 2007 Posts: 4 Location: san francisco
New to Bipolar Posted: 03-20-07 17:59pm
I was just diagnosed bipolar 2 and my
psych wants to put me on lamictal or
lithium. I am really frightened of taking
this medication and becoming all dopey and
zombified. I just started taking Zoloft a
couple weeks ago, and feel a little
better. I am an freelance
artist/illustrator by trade and am afraid
that if I take lamictal or lithium i will
lose all my creativity and become lazy
(like how I feel when I am depressed) all
the time and being unable to work . I am
questioning if the psych is wrong and I am
not bipolar. I have extreme mood swings,
extreme highs and lows, and my dad and my
half brother have bipolar disorders. I
also put relationships in jeopardy because
of these mood swings. So I know I am a
mess. I guess I am just frightened of
this whole thing, and possibly in denial
that I am sick. I am very scared of
taking a drug that seems as heavy as
lamictal or lithium.
I guess I just need some reassurance in
taking these meds. I am debating whether
or not to go on them at all.
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geekylotus
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 10 Jun 2006 Posts: 15
Posted: 03-23-07 14:44pm
Ultimately, this seems almost like a
philosophical question to me in addition
to being emotional (and physical).
In my opinion, you have to consider what
it is you value above other things, what
you can endure and what costs come with
each decision and then weigh all of them
together.
Something led you down the road to being
diagnosed, so I am guessing you had a
significant life event. That is one of
those things you have to weigh. Whatever
it was... do you want to deal with it
again? Can you endure it? What about the
collateral damage? Who is being caught in
your wake?
I am a bit of an artist, and I have
suffered some creative problems, but they
are older than my medication, so I can
offer nothing there.
Research it and ask your doctor. Ask your
therapist.
