Ask Me Almost Anything About Bipolar

Hello and hugs @Bunniekins , @RL43 ❤❤

Hello my @frog sending you understanding hugs my friend xx, sitting with you

Yes today was a lot better, Mr shaz slept alot today and he felt he was able to share a solution xxx

Hello @Kit8 😀❤

@Jynx , @Former-Member , @tyme

@Shaz51 ,

I'm glad Mr Shaz felt better today. Rest and sleep really do make a huge difference.

Take care my friend,

tyme

Hello @bipolarbunny
My husband was diagnosed with bipolar in January after years of trying different anti-depressants. It was a shock diagnosis but then he finally realised that there was an issue and was not just me saying something was wrong. He was put on an anti-epileptic (commonly used for bipolar), gradually increasing the dosage. Now he is decreasing his anti-depressant. He really struggles with tiredness and now excrutiating headaches since he as been taking the new medication. Seems to me as if he can be up and down often within one day and I'm not really sure if its just a matter of balancing the medications or whether its not a correct diagnosis or medication. He had a scary episode over the past weekend. Friday evening and Saturday he was all jumpy, ate his meals like his life depended on it and interupted when kids were talking but forgot what he was going to say if told to wait until they were finished. Driving home after an evening out with family he had been discussing how jumpy he had felt over the last day or two and felt so exhausted then suddenly just went quiet and starey - as if he has lost connection with anything. I made him pull over and when he started to get out of the car he realised where we were and said he would continue driving as we were nearly home. He had not been able to recall the few minutes prior and was nearly in tears but all that jumpiness from earlier was gone and he was so so tired. I just feel helpless to help him when either in overbouyant mood or depressed and would like some advise how others get on/manage their partners moods and if anything can be done to minimise the ups and downs as i expected the medication would help with that.

Hello and welcome @Fearful

My husband was given soo many diagnosis and put on anti depression medication which were not helping until he had a breakdown and put in hospital

Then diagnosis with Bipolar 2 , then they added a anti anxiety medication as well

I would see his doctor again and let him know what is happening, medication might need to be adjusted

We also have some members @frog , @Bunniekins , @Dimity , @Olga , @HenryX , @Mazarita , @eth

And we also have another thread Let`s talk about Bipolar that you can click on to 🥰

I have a daughter 31yo who has ben diagnosed with bipolar disorder for about 8 years. She goes off and on her medication. We have done this many times. Today she told us she may stop again. We notice that Family things trigger her which is a part what is going on. Please help.

Hi @Evie4 welcome to the forums. I'm sorry to hear that things are really difficult with your daughter. It can be really challenging to navigate, and sounds like it's having a big impact on you.

I hope your daughter has a decent support system - like a gp, psychologist, etc.

Do you have some support for yourself? You deserve to be able to talk to someone about what you're going through as well.

You can sign up for SANE's Recovery Club for some extra support; it's free, and you can get 1:1 sessions with a psychosocial recovery facilitator, as well as access to resources, groups, and mix-and-match support. More info here - https://www.sane.org/recovery-club

Or you can see what Carers Australia has to offer - https://www.carersaustralia.com.au/

Looking after yourself whilst looking after a loved one with a mental health issue is incredibly important. I'm glad you've found this space to connect with others about what you're going through.

Hello and thanks for this space. My father had bipolar. Manic depression is not apt, he was always manic. He took me to his psychiatrist when I was 21 as I wanted to travel alone. It was his session but after he told me the dr was sure I had it too as I had been so emotional, and I was manic at the time.

I did travel, and later married and had babies. I was estranged from Dad, but my husband, who had lost his Dad, coaxed me to reconnect.

I went to a therapist after that and was diagnosed with bipolar 2. I took an anti convulsant and anti-psychotic for 17 years, the dose increasing till I was not sleeping, eating and felt like I was on amphetamines. I lost jobs, many friendships and my ability to cope. Had family issues so my husband became my support person.

Frenetic thinking was the worst. I made erratic decisions and acted before thought. I left my marriage 3 times. And came home shattered.

My g.p. increasingly worried about my health, but not ever convinced I had serious mental health issues.

i ended up changing from psychiatry to psychology. After many months of weekly emd therapy, she suggested I had psd from Mums alcoholism after we left Dad, and his relentless crazy antics were not my history. It’s not always inherent…and I did not have bipolar2.

i saw a new psychiatrist who concurred and i prepared to go off the medication very slowly, and there i was!!!

6 years on and i have a wonderful family and friend circle, a job teaching Art to children, I am happy in a way I never ever thought possible.

Im still scared every now and then when I start getting invasive thoughts.

Are they right? Am I ok? Or am I in a phase. Will it reappear? Was it me or the drugs) or my inability to deal with emotions when life threw its shit down…will I ever know?

I recently lost my best friend of 24 years, who never believed the diagnosis of bi polar 2.

i got so down I wanted to be with her and I almost watched myself sedate and withdraw.

its been 2 years and I think I managed to get through it (text book) and feel positive again without any medication or even therapy.

Lord it’s good to explain this, if only to myself. Whenever a therapist asked me what was the most manic thing that I can recall it was travelling to the other side of the world with $30 and a one way ticket. The absolutely best fun and least dangerous year of my life!

I survived and just hope others with a diagnosis that doesn’t feel true, seek a second opinion and listen to the ones that really know you far better than any amount of hour long therapy sessions( especially if your a people pleaser and agree with everything they say!)

at the darkest hour I read a quote:

i can’t go no I must go on I will go on.

hope that helps someone else

Thanks again

Welcome to the forums @Tessateapot ,

Thank you for sharing a snippet of your life and what you've been through. It sounds like a long and difficult journey. I commend you on your resilience and your power to "go on" despite the challenges.

Your story is powerful. I hope you find the connection you deserve here on the forums. I can see how your journey can help so many others.

Remember, you are not alone in what you are going through.

If you ever feel you want to have an additional ear to help you on your recovery journey, you may be interested in SANE's Recovery Club: https://www.sane.org/recovery-club

This is a free 6-month recovery program where you take lead in determining the recovery path that you want.