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Bipolar Disorder
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Posted 8/1/2009 8:14 AM (GMT 0)
Hello everyone-

I was dx'd bipolar II about a year and a half ago. Actually for the second time. First was when I was in a treatment program 9yrs ago. I'm taking 200mg of Lamictal since my dx. I have struggled with deep depression since I was 10yrs old.  Right now I'm wondering if I really have bp. I do know that since taking Lamictal, the depression has mostly disappeared. My pdoc says that if I wasn't bipolar, the Lamictal wouldn't have an effect. I still wonder. I still have not talked to him about this, I'm not sure exactly why. I do struggle with some social anxiety, I would rather be @ home than anywhere else, but I do very well @ work. I'm a surgery scheduler and that of course requires to interact with my patients and various other people. It seems to just be when I'm not @ work. I do have family members that have bipolar, some dx'd and some not. Also, my 17yr old son was just dx'd as well. He has issues with depression and anger and controlling it. He is now taking Zoloft and Abilify. I don't know, I just seem to be stuck on possible misdiagnosis. I then I think that all this is just symtoms of bipolar. I do toil with the idea of stopping the meds. This again, I know this could be a part of it too.... confused

Posted 8/1/2009 11:21 AM (GMT 0)
Kolamate,

I know how you feel in so many ways I am on Lamictal and I still get depressed. I have lots of times been depressed while I have been taking it for the last 4 years. I know how you feel about the anxiety. I can do fine at work and then go to the store and I can not look anyone in the face, wear sunglasses whein it is cloudy outside and feel like I need a jacket to cover my self up. I have been there since I was 14 and I am 31 now and have been dx with bipolar II 4 years ago. I can not say in my case that I have fully recovered but it did get better. Do you have a tharapist or someone that you talk to or a phyc dr that you go and see or is this dx from er or other source? Just wondered. I hope that this helps to let you know that you are not the only one that feels this way and Welcome to the forum.

SLZ
Posted 8/3/2009 2:53 AM (GMT 0)
Hi koalamate,

I think you would feel a lot better if you did a little more research about what bipolar is (use reputable sources) and what your med does (ask your doc -- he's right you know, it wouldn't work if you weren't bipolar) and research on the internet reputable sites like rxlist. You can go back and forth your whole life wondering if you have the correct diagnosis because unfortunately, nothing makes the troubles go away. The drugs can alleviate some of the symptoms and make them better for a time, but they'll never been completely gone. And because you're bipolar, you'll always get them back in cycles, depressed for a while. manic or hypomanic for a while.

Good luck,
This is a great place to learn about your disorder. Keep asking questions,
serafena
Posted 8/3/2009 3:40 AM (GMT 0)
Hello,

I'm also new here, and diagnosed as bipolar I. I also take Lamictal as well as Celexa and the occasional Xanax. Fortunately, I was able to find a combination that worked for me, as many other meds didn't!

I struggle with my diagnosis as well. I keep thinking that I can just "turn it off" - which is of course not true! When symptoms go away, it is tempting to go off meds. I would love to go off! But I cycle so quickly that I don't think it will ever be a possibility for me.

Perhaps the schedule and constant activity of work is a positive force for you, especially when it comes to anxiety. I have anxiety as well, but I'm also a high school teacher! I deal with hundreds of people every day, and do just fine. But left to my own devices, I struggle. Not sure why. But I think that is an attribute of mood disorders, especially bipolar - we tend to struggle with routines unless they are defined by someone else.

Check out the NIMH website. They have great info. Also, some books that I've found really helpful are Kay Redfield Jamison's An Unquiet Mind and Peter Whybrow's A Mood Apart.

Good luck. And remember - the diagnosis doesn't matter so much as you, the individual, getting the help and support you need.
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