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Bipolar Disorder
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Posted 8/23/2012 10:34 PM (GMT 0)
Hello-
My 20 year old son was recently diagnosed with bipolar depression (though I have never seen signs of bipolarity in him). He took a leave of absence from college last semester (in his junior year), but is returning for this fall semester. His meds are still being "tweaked", as the Seroquel dosage was making him extremely groggy. (He will see a counselor at school while he is there.)
I am extremely worried, because I feel like he still is not at the point where he should be. He wants to go back to school, and my husband and I have told him that we will support him in whatever decision he makes as far as college goes for now. I am hoping he has the ability to focus, concentrate and study (he is studying neuropsychology, ironically, which is a very hard major). Besides the usual things we worry about when our kids go off to college, we now have his mental issues to stress over.
I know I have to let the cards play out (and pray alot :) ), but my question is whether someone in his situation can effectively continue to take college classes and go on to be successful in life... And how do I stop stressing over this so much??!!

Thanks!!
Posted 8/23/2012 11:43 PM (GMT 0)
You only have to have one manic episode to be bipolar. And mania doesn't always mean happy. I get irritable even aggressive. I was diagnosed 14 years ago and they still have to change my meds from time to time, this month in fact. Its a never ending process. Your body gets used to a drug and you have to change, then you have to adjust the dosage. Please don't doubt his illness he needs your support, something I don't get from my own mother, so I try to hide the symptoms from her. Gotten pretty good at it over the years. I'd hate to see him go back to school and have to hide from you too. That kind of stress can trigger ups and Downs.
Posted 8/24/2012 12:28 AM (GMT 0)
I truly don't doubt his illness (have even seen the psychiatrist with him) and totally support him in his road to "betterness". And we have always had a wonderful relationship! I am just saying that I have never seen evidence of bipolarity- he has always been even-keeled, extremely social, funny, witty, etc. He has complained to me about feeling depressed at times and says that he was having irrational thoughts (hence the bipolar diagnosis?) I only want the best for him and am just curious as to what to expect as he tries to navigate his way through college again. (We have tried to keep his stress to a minimum, even suggesting that he not take as many courses as he plans to- and just try to do his best- all A's are not necessary!)
Posted 8/25/2012 3:45 PM (GMT 0)
He's in college, away from home and studying medicine, pretty much the hardest and longest major you can take and he's 20yrs old which means he's not even out of puberty yet. He's a little depressed and has some irrational thoughts and all of a sudden he's Bi-Polar? BP is a serious mental illness that lasts a lifetime and if your son starts on the drug train now he will never again feel anything real. Psychiatrists are drug pushers, that's literally all they do, prescribe, until he's cutting class to go shoplifting or suicidal but too depressed to get up and do anything about it, that's Bi-Polar. When did being a normal human being become a mental illness? Why does he think he's BP? Has he done something wrong that he needs medication instead of incarceration for? Before you help turn your son into a zombie, Please get a second opinion, preferably from a psychologist.
Posted 8/25/2012 3:47 PM (GMT 0)
This is for the moderators.And I am not judging or attacking, I am speaking the truth. Yes I am sometimes a little harsh, its not on purpose this is just me and i am no longer interested in drugging me into submission to please everyone else.
Posted 8/25/2012 3:57 PM (GMT 0)
The side effects of medication can make college impossible - severely impaired memory and congnition, for example. I withdrew because of it. I'm a smart lady - in the 90th or higher percentiles on stanardized testing. But with the medications I was on at the time, I lost reading comprehension and memory. It was extremely frustrating.

Some people can do it, some people cannot.

My parents thought I was "always a happy child" even when I was suicidal at 8 years old and had severe, long depressive episodes throughout my childhood. The hypomanias and mixed episodes became severe in high school. My parents did not recognize that anything was wrong until I was on correct medications for 2 years and got stable. Thankfully they are no longer in denial.

If there is any doubt in the diagnosis, a second or third opinion should be obtained ASAP. Psychiatric medications are nothing to mess with.

Seroquel is very sedating. Taking it exactly as prescribed - never taking it even an hour late, a perfectly regular bedtime, no alcohol of course, and EXERCISE to combat the fatigue may help him to feel more alert. The sedating effect subsides with higher doses and long term medication. After 2 years on Seroquel I had no sedation from it. But I also couldn't remember my own name 1/2 the time, so I am off it for now.
Posted 8/25/2012 8:54 PM (GMT 0)
I agree with Recoveryme2Day and Forum Moderator. I was diagnosed Bipolar in November. In January, I went for a second opinion and psychiatrist said that I wasn't bipolar and didn't recommend medication. I'm dealing with depression but its not severe. I've taken an all natural approach using supplements, eating healthy and exercise.

Supplements is three tablets that include vitamins & minerals plus green foods, enzymes, mushrooms, amino acids, antioxidants, & reveratrol. Also Mangensium Glycinate, DHEA & Krill Oil.

Eating Healthy = emphasis on fruits, vegetables, salads, whole grains, legumes, seafood.

Exercise = I'm walking about 8 miles a day.

I'm seem to be doing fine without medication.

You need to get a second opinon for your son. Also consider seeing a Holistic Doctor.

Very young people especially away from home have poor diets which can elevate depression. Seeing a Nutritionist would help.

The Forum Moderator is so correct in advising you for a second or third diagnosis ASAP. Yes, psychiatric medication is nothing to mess with.
Posted 8/27/2012 11:47 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you all for your input!!!! I greatly appreciate your comments!!!

My son did see a psychologist at first, and it was her thought that it sounded like he is bipolar that sent us to a psychiatrist. (For what it's worth, my son does not feel he is "bipolar"- just depressed with some psychotic thoughts.)

At first he was put on Zoloft, which had him in bed all the time, unable to function because he became so exhausted. That is when he had to take a leave of absence from college. Once he was home, he was put on Seroquel, which drugs him as well. He says that the Seroquel definitely helps him as far as mood, but it makes him tired and hungry all the time. He eats well and went to the gym regularly (until he felt that he was too tired to go).

He got through 2 1/2 years of college with decent grades, but just did not "feel right" and sought help at student health (they are the ones who put him on Zoloft). He just returned to school and we are waiting to see what happens. He went off with a very positive, upbeat attitude- but once the stress hits, it may be a different story... Hopefully he will find a great psychiatrist there who be able to help him!

Michael- i'm sorry for prying, but if you don't mind me asking, do you know why you were diagnosed as bipolar at first and then the diagnosis was depression? Were you on medication with the 1st doctor? (I am asking because your situation sounds similar to my son's- though he says he has irrational thoughts at times.)

Again, many thanks all!!
Posted 8/28/2012 7:51 AM (GMT 0)
The first PDoc that diagnosed me with Bipolar suggested medication but I refused. I went for a second opinion and was told that I wasn't bipolar. I don't know why the first PDoc thought that I was bipolar. I also refused medication for depression.
Posted 8/28/2012 12:48 PM (GMT 0)
I agree that seroquil is VERY sedating and makes you eat more. I couldn't take the stuff. I was always fuzzy and gained 30 lbs. There are tons of different meds out there and it may take awhile to find the perfect fit for him, but don't settle just because the Dr. says "here take this". Find one that is better suited for him. I couldn't imagine going to college and having to concentrate while on that stuff.
Posted 9/12/2012 10:14 PM (GMT 0)
Well, my son has been unable to attend classes/ do homework because the Seroquel is too sedating. In the back of my mind, I knew this was going to happen but he seemed so positive about going back to school that I wanted to give him that chance. Now we are back to square one. He says he would like to see if he can find a psychiatrist at school that can help him, as all of his friends are away at college and there is nothing for him to do at home. If he can get his feet back on the ground, perhaps he could get a job for the remainder of this semester. I spoke to the doctor's office here -the nurse practitioner called me, (which, frankly, I have not been happy all along that they always scheduled him with the nurse practitioner instead of the doctor!) and said that we could try Abilify. I am so upset that my anxiety is skyrocketing and I can't eat (though I won't let him know how upset I am!)
Posted 9/13/2012 1:25 AM (GMT 0)
Abilify is a risky choice. It can destroy memory and reading comprehension. I withdrew from college because of this medication. If I was on correct meds for me (Seroquel, Lamictal, and Lithium) I would have been able to continue in school.

The school does not have their own counseling center and psychiatrist?
Posted 9/14/2012 12:44 AM (GMT 0)
He is on Seroquel and it is making him too sleepy all the time.

He has contacted the school's counseling center/psychiatrist and they can't get him in for at least a couple of weeks. He has to call a triage counselor for a phone interview first, then they will schedule him in a couple of weeks. This is the route that we are going to take for now, but he won't be able to attend his classes in the meantime because he is way too tired all the time.
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