Coping with Bipolar
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[color=violet:caa1cf9368][/color:caa1cf9368][b:caa1cf9368] I am a 24 yr old woman who, after experiencing horrendous mood swings since the age of 10, has finally been diagnosed with a form of Bipolar 2. According to a few websites, my condition causes \"mild\" episodes of depression. MILD??? My doctor has tried to convince me several times to allow myself to be admitted to a psychiatric unit over the past 4-5 years, and i have came close to suicide countless times over the past 14 years. My psychiatrist pointed out that what was on the site was a very \"generalised\" overview of the condition, and agreed that my depressive episodes were well at the opposite end of the scale. Just another example of doctors assuming everyone with the condition feels the same, and not treating us as individuals! To make matters worse, my CPN has stated she does not agree with my psychiatrist and believes that to be bipolar u must have episodes where you believe you are Jesus, Marilyn Monroe etc! Needless to say, I have told my psychiatrist I cant see much point in having a CPN who is meant to visit me weekly, but in almost a year has seen me no more than 12 times, and who is going to disagree with my consultant! As you will all know, many people go to extremes in many different ways.[/b:caa1cf9368][color=violet:caa1cf9368][/color:caa1cf9368]
0 likes, 3 replies
Guest
Posted
just wanted to tell you that you are not alone with the severe depressive part of bipolar part 2. Unfortunately, it was only picked up after 2 and a half years of being on Escitalipram (Cipralex) that anti-deps cause hypomania in me (I was originally diagonsed as a depressive) and so I am bipolar. I think the £22K I ran up in debt in that time had something to do with it! As well as the newly completly ranged sex/social life and drink and drug habbits that appeared from nowhere!
All I was ever asked was how I felt and the answer was to up me from 10mg of it to 20mg! Now (from experience) I know 5mg is too much even with a mood stabiliser! It definately triggers Ultra Rapid Cycling in me ( several periods of irregular mood change in a week or so).
Now I think I'm depressed, while going through a depressive cycle, trying to put all the stuff I did in that time right.
I would highly reccomend doing your own research from MIND and also rcpsych.ac.uk/. The more learned you are, the better for this one. I have finally been reffered to someone who listens to me and often finds nothing they can recommend me as Im already doing it and admires the way I will research any med (to the best of my ability) before taking it just on their say so.
Good doctors are hard to find, may you find yours.
Just wanted you to know that someone shares your frustration with doctors assuming medications and conditions have the same affect on everyone, after all, it's not them that has to pick up the peices.
Guest
Posted
just read your reply to my post. I am the exact same with anti-depressants, I literally felt I was going \"off my head\" on them and despite being on the verge of being admitted to a psychiatric ward whilst on several different ones, my doctor's response was to say \"we'll change the dosage\"! Eventually I got to the stage where my GP's were too wary of what else to try me on and I finally got referred to a psychiatrist, where I was immediately diagnosed with this form of bipolar 2. I frequently question myself as to how doctors could mis-diagnose me with depression for so many years, yet a specialist saw the signs right away?? Surely some-one must have suspected something!
As you have stated, it's not the doctors that have to pick up the pieces.
Another frustrating thing is that if I am on a high, or having a period of being on an \"even keel\" (so to speak!), and make an effort with my personal appearance, I am immediately regarded with suspicion of faking it, as in general if people cannot see anything physically wrong with you, then there \"can't be anything wrong with you\"!
Fellow bipolars will know EXACTLY what I mean!! :x
markdask
Posted
you were unlucky that your GP spent so much time experimenting with anti-D's before referring you to a Psych. My GP perscribed anti-D's and referred me to a Psych at the same - though by the time I saw the Psych I was la-la. The Psych diagnosed me immediately - thankfully. I hope most GP's would refer their patients when initially describing anti-D's - but maybe not.