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Bipolar and ideas of how to help ourselves beyond medication

Mental Health | Last Active: Jan 31 12:55pm | Replies (147)
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@karen00

@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

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tdib | @tdib | Mar 11, 2019

@karen00 that for listening and when you find the next helpful med. Please let me know!! I was so bummed when I couldn't stay on latuda it really seems to make a difference for me even in the few months I was taking it. Take care now

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renwald | @renwald | Jul 14, 2019

I have bipolar too and it wasn’t diagnosed til around age 43, I think. The best result for medication that I have experienced is the mood stabilizer Lamictal/ lamotragine. I believe it was originally intended as an anti convulsant for epilepsy. It keeps the moods from dipping too far but it isn’t perfect.

Venalafaxine/ Effexor is a creature worth avoiding if you can help it. Once on it, you’re loathe to get off because the symptoms can be brutal.

So having meds in place at least created a buffer. After that, I picked up strategies that worked from cognitive based therapy in less than a month.

The usual self maintenance issues always apply:

Good quality sleep (I use melatonin and L-theanine, either little noise or white noise, blackout curtains and no tv, phone, computers etc 2 hours before bed, no caffeine 6-8 hours before bed.

Making sure food is nutritious

Some exercise

And diversions/hobbies

BUT, there are triggers that come regardless and identification of those is both tricky and important. Coping strategies for those are vital to defuse them like a ticking bomb or in alternate slow poison.

Non-bipolar people are severely strained in these relationships and it’s common knowledge that the mortality of bipolar/non-bipolar relationships is high.

It takes a tremendous amount of mental effort to try and stop the downward spiral even when I recognize what’s going on.

I can’t speak to fibromyalgia at all but I have to believe the added stress and unique wiring of the neurotransmitters and stress hormones in bipolar aggravate the condition.

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