Let`s talk about Bipolar

[MermaidHair]

Hello @PerthBipolarII,

Welcome 👏 Your story sounds similar to mine as I also struggled with depression and anxiety throughout my 20's and then was diagnosed with bipolar when I was 32. I was also surprised but same as you said, it made a lot of sense!

I'm currently quite stable and happy with very manageable high and low swings here and there, but it hasn't always been this way. Navigating and conquering bipolar is hard work. It sounds like you're off to a really good start with getting onto meds and therapy and cutting out alcohol for the time being. 

Happy to chat or share experiences anytime, you are definitely not alone on this journey 💜

[PerthBipolarII]

Thanks @MermaidHair

[MermaidHair]

Welcome @Serenity4,

this is the bipolar discussion and support thread I was telling you about.

And some of our lovely members @Shaz51 @Dimity @KirSa_EnigmA @Spookums @PerthBipolarII @Appleblossom  

💜

[Shaz51]

hello and welcome  @NoonianSingh 

this is the thread i was talking about 

come and meet  some of our lovely members  @Dimity @KirSa_EnigmA @Spookums @PerthBipolarII @Appleblossom  

[Dimity]

Hello @NoonianSingh 

There are lots of people here with Bipolar 2.

I myself have had psychotic breaks so I guess that would make it Bipolar 1 (I was diagnosed before the 1 and 2 was a thing).

Once you've given the increased dosage a fair trial it could be worth asking your Dr if it's really the best med for you - there's others you could try. 

Way back when I had rapid mood swings I found one mood stabiliser really effective (not sure if I'm allowed to say it's also used for epilepsy @moderator ). These days I'm just on an antipsychotic but badly depressed. 

Anyway, welcome aboard and I hope things work out for you. 

[GonePirate]

Bipolar type 1

diagnosed 14 years ago

had to cease taking my lithium after 8 years. 

feeling more ups and downs now

learning to navigate it again

doing alright I guess 

but with the increased frequency and broader range of moods it's been an adjustment.

realising I havnt really been learning to cope or navigate the lows just been waiting for them to end I guess.

thats a hard one to explain aye

knowing the depression is real and intense but also having the prior experiences tell you that you just gotta ride it out cos THIS TOO SHALL PASS

until it doesn't one day and realise you havnt really had to pull yourself out of it in a long time thanks to a suppressed intensity making it more manageable and less of a crash

[Dimity]

Hello @GonePirate I can sympathise. I recently had a psychotic break after many years of relative stability.  I'm sorry you're navigating an extreme low. I tend to be low ordinarily. My psychiatrist tells me there's a mood stabiliser - not lithium - that helps with depression when most are more for mania. 

Hoping you can find some glimmers in the current darkness and rediscover coping mechanisms - for me refinding daily routines is part of the puzzle.

[GonePirate]

I can never remember the rules on this forum for medication speech but I'm on an anti epileptic [edited by mod] that works as a mood stabiliser they upped its dosage when I ceased the previous medication [edited by mod] it's supposed to work more with the depressive side of things.

but meds can only do so much and I'm trying now to be a little more on top of stratgies to help and stick to a routine of self care and mindfulness and gratitude stuff. Eating better, excercise more, lean into creative hobbies, sleeping better (or trying to)

I know I can ride it out and stay afloat but I'm trying to be a bit more hands on with steering my ship through these rougher waters 

[Ru-bee]

Hi @GonePirate in regards to talking about medications on the forums we just can't use specific medication names or dosages. To make sure your post could stay up we've edited them out here.

If you're ever unsure always feel free to ask, or you can find the guidelines on the right side of the page towards the bottom, or here 

It's so great to hear about the extra strategies you've been implementing as a well-rounded wellbeing routine. What sort of creative hobbies do you enjoy?

[Dimity]

The med suggested for me sounds similar @GonePirate . Well done on the trifecta - meds, psychological,  behavioural. I'm trying them too but unfortunately there's upsetting circumstances in play as well that I don't know how to deal with. Hopefully I can get some counselling and therapy on that. Actually I do fall short on the creative hobbies, there's definitely a gap there. I feel very untalented.