Living Well said...
forever7 said...
Living Well said...
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Pay special attention to PTSD and limit it impacting on the BP as much as possible - with use of Seroquel PRM as early as possible.
What is Seroquel PRM? I'm on Seroquel XR. I didn't know there was another version.
And best of luck with your goals:)Hey sweetie, it is very easy to get confused with all these acronyms. I take standard Seroquel 100mg each night for bipolar. Seroquel also has fantastic sedative qualities for Post Traumatic Stress. As you know, post traumatic stress is something that can get triggered at any day or time, so I take it only when required. Taking something only when required is called Patient Required Medication - PRM for short.
I'm going off topic of this thread but I just want to mention something else in my experiences with the dual diagnosis. I often mistook a ptsd episode for bipolar hypomania. I have learnt to identify the adrenalin rush that comes with the ptsd episode, that distinguishes it from the dysphoric hypomania. What I do with the adrenalin rush is take 25mg for a small rush, 50mg for a moderate rush and 100mg for a extreme rush. I will sleep for three days if I need to to avoid getting the POST ptsd depression and fatigue. PTSD responses deplete our body's reserves and for me I do everything I can not to experience the dreaded post PTSD symptoms. (Chart your mood and energy two days after an episode and you can be guaranteed it will be depressed and fatigued, in the same proportion of the PTSD episode). Try not to mistake those symptoms for a bipolar low - they are a PTSD depletion. The PTSD episode and depletion will in most cases destabilise the bipolar if not treated with a drug like Seroquel.
People are all different - and managing comorbid illnesses is not an exact science - but I hope I've given you some info that you might like to try.
I think even 25mg of Seroquel prior to being intimate with your husband, may reduce the amount of havoc PTSD can wreak on one's sex life.
Dialectical behaviour
Therapy (DBT) can help nurture and manage your emotions, urges and behaviour
. You seem to have absorbed your learning as many of your goals seem to parallel DBT teachings :)
https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=13&m=2201452&p=3That's a very interesting perspective. Thanks for that! Dealing with dual diagnoses is very difficult.
I find that on days I'm triggered (it could be anything really)the world becomes louder, brighter, just more scary. So I'm more inclined to retreat. I seriously can't even handle a little bit of light coming through the blinds and get paranoid that someone will be able to see me.
Obviously that leads to depression and like you said, I feel extremely tired.
I will try up my seroquel before having sex. I used to just drink 2 glasses of wine. Now I take benzos. But neither really worked.
The DBT has be REALLY helpful with by BPD and Bipolar. PTSD symptoms seem to come out of nowhere, but I'll try and track it more. I'd really like to understand how to handle my PTSD better. It's hard remain mindful of something when dissociation is such a huge part of the illness.