Bipolar and ideas of how to help ourselves beyond medication

Thanks, John. Already looked up the number for SC and will also call the FL office!

Thanks, Lisa.
I am trying to wrap my head around all this. Need to do much more research. Yes, I am aware of my financial option here and will request a return of the entrance fee as I believe they have violated my contract. Wish "they" cared more about the people here more than the $$, but most likely not. I'll keep trying.

Yes l was put on depakote and then geodon. I had so many problems with falling, dizziness and slurred speech. They took me off in 2014 because they found out it was my liver. Now l have doctors who are trying to tell me l am psychotic because of not having my cpac machine so l couldn't sleep and not getting my medicine after the doctor prescribed it and several medicine recalls. And several opioids prescriptions that l was in question about. Since in our state we are number 1 in opioids dispense by doctors and also the prison system especially females. Now they are trying to clean house after millions of deaths in the last 5yrs. And l still have a psychiatrist who so desperate to prescribe me meds l can't take. And he's frustrated when l show him why? So he will be out next. They have been racking up these doctors and the rest are retiring quickly before they go to jail. And millions of people are affected and have died. I wonder what will happen with legal medical marijuana. It more of eating good, exercising and eliminating stress but without medication. I too take supplements and l cook a lot. I growing my own herbs and next fruits and vegetables. There recall on so much things nowadays who really wants drugs. If you get it prescribed or over the counter it's not safe. So you have to do the alternative. We work to much and we have so much turmoil so we have to enjoy ours lives and don't stress. I like taking vacation, enjoying being with people and helping. And learning, remodeling my house. All things that are positive and l really don't have any issues. And l am off of so many drugs. I had a doctor who use to see a psychiatrist when l was seeing his wife a psychologist after my TBI. But he didn't know l saw him but he was the best doctor l.had. He was older and he treated every patient with a lot of respect and he made sure he gave you the best care. And he would tell me he gardens, love old cars, and riding horses on his farm. And he was an encourager. Need to go back to those days because l think doctors now a days feel like patients aren't sick they are seeking. And l never liked take meds l.used old remedies. My kids even ask me what did you use to give us when we were kids? So we can turn around our minds and health for the positive. And for me l have to always pray and give God praise for every mild stone.

Hi everyone - I'm new to this forum, and wanted to ask if anyone else has some pointers on getting through panic attacks. I have Bipolar Type 2 disorder, and though I am high functioning, I have occasional panic attacks, often for no obvious or apparent reason, that are absolutely excruciating. Dizziness, labored breathing, racing heart, sweating, shaking, stuttering, dry mouth, nausea, vertigo, blurred vision, muscle spasms.... some are worse than others, but so far things like deep breathing or meditation have been impossible/ineffective, so I always just find myself having to clench my teeth and ride it out, which can be difficult as these episodes sometimes take literal hours to subside. So far these attacks have not terribly affected my work or life in any lasting way, but the pain and distress are hellish and I'm in need of a coping mechanism that works.

Thanks in advance,
Alex

I experimented with strengthening my brain and nerve chemistry with omega3, B vitamins, vitC. Also blueberries at breakfast in cereal. Also, tapping. Some are finding relief with cbd's. We just have to keep working the problem until we find what helps us. I appreciate how debilitating they can be. Less sugar.

Hi Alex,

I have lots of anxiety. A therapist prescribed Lorazepam for me a few years ago and it has worked well, gets me calmed down quickly. I can take several pills a day as needed. I wish you the best. It's so hard to deal with anxiety.

Blessings,
Jamie

@alexsansdieu, Hi there. I had a panic attack last year that lasted the entire night. I had never had one before and thought for sure I was having a heart attack. My heart beat per minute was at 160 and would soar up to 180 and stay at these rates for six hours or more. I felt like I wasn't getting any air and was suffocating. I have a pulse oxometer and I checked both heart rate and oxygen levels. It showed that I was getting oxygen, yet I thought I was suffocating. It got so bad, that at 7:00 in the morning; I called an ambulance and went into the hospital. I was put on an IV with some kind of drug that stops and then restarts your heart. I told my dr at Mayo Clinic about what happened and he explained that panic attack such as what I had are not brought on by thought process but rather faulty wiring where the brain does not detect oxygen coming in. I do have several lung diseases, one being COPD, so there may be a connection with that. He prescribed Alprazolam, which is a sedative for me to take if I ever felt a panic attack coming on. I did get one more attack like that about five months ago. I took two of the sedatives and was able to avoid a trip to the E.R. I hang onto and guard these meds with my life because I do not want to experience another full blown panic attack. It was terrifying. I hope you can get some relief from your attacks. Will you please check back and let me know if you were able to get meds for it?

@tdib, hello to everyone I'm new to connect and to this group and I'm still learning to navigate the website. But what I wanted to discuss is bipolar disorder with major depression I've been diagnosed several years and I think I've had it my whole life but it has gotten out of my control on a few seperate occasions. I have also had fibromyalgia that has gotten alot worse the last 10 yrs. And the extreme pain has usually keep bipolar pushed to the back of my mind, the depression, well it's just always there in the way of any happiness. Recently my pc doctor suggested I see a psych doctor to see if there was anything new to help me with the depression and anxiety. I agreed to try I'm seeing the nurse practitioner who started me on latuda immediately and it was helpful getting me through the holidays better than usual, but she had been supplying me with samples because I live on cad and could not afford it's big price tag on my means $500 monthly after insurance. I went for more samples and found they no longer had them last wk , well myself and the med. Nurse had tried all the ways to get them discounted to be affordable for me with no luck since it is a new drug . Now I was out for a few days and faced with changing to something else the nurse chose seraqual er to me just to get me out of her office i believe she didnt put much thought into what would be in my best interest. I had tried seraqual in like 2006 and it made me like a zombie but she said the extended release would be so much better. But now ive only used it three times and I'm a mess ive never had depression and anxiety this bad in my life ,yesterday I cried all day with anxiety sure i was going to die ,I would get the crying under control few a few minutes the just sit and stare until the silent tears would start again there was no way to quiet my mind . My boyfriend who is my only support person lost his temper at my lack of control a couple times which made me feel I couldn't speak about what I was feeling and that also upset him . By bedtime last night we were both in tears. I took the seraqual er last night and asked that he just hold me until I was asleep because I was so afraid I was going to die or scared I wanted to die I this was the way I was going to feel I don't know . I couldn't wish for death , I just want a chance to be happy and in love with him and life again. Well I did wake up this morning , I'm thankful and find him sleeping beside me but last night I could not convince myself that this morning I would be here. I am ,I feel very hung over ,a terrible headache same as ive had since i started this med. And all my muscles and joints very stiff and painful. I feel restless inside yet I don't feel like I can get out of bed to do anything. The depression and anxiety are still very much with me but I haven't started crying. Does anyone else have experience with this drug ,will these symptoms get better, I was in far better shape before this med. Was started, I had the same problems but at least I could cope with them. I'm no longer coping and feel like everything is slipping away from me and I don't have the strength to do anything to try to help myself. I have little faith my doctors care enough to help . My boyfriend emailed the nurse yesterday nd received no reply. That the third time we have reached out to her since I be on seeing her she's never answered our calls. I know I need help but don't know where to turn for it. I'm sorry I'm rambling on. Buy your input on this would help me so. Thank you

Have you tried CBD to relieve anxiety. You have a sad story. Hot baths and massage therapy relieve fibermyalgia.

@tdib I pray you are feeling better by now. Yes, I have taken seroquel and it made me feel like you did. I had problems driving. I understand about shoving the depression down and not dealing with it, it sounds like it’s time to. A psychiatrist would be great! Don’t ever feel like you have no one! You have me and the other awesome Connectors! We support you and will encourage you ! You are not rambling on. I’m glad you felt safe enough to get everything off your chest. Can your PC recommend a psychiatrist for you? I took Latuda and it saved my life, however it petered out after awhile. That was years ago. My new psych wants to try again but my new insurance won’t pay for it. So we’re looking for something else. See - you’re not alone at all! I’m praying for you and hoping you feel better soon.........Karen