Living with it

Hi there! I know what you mean.

I was hospitalized for the first time 12 years ago. My primary diagnosis at that time on discharge was major depression recurrent severe. I was on a LOT of meds before I began seeing my current therapist 3 years ago . She said she had never treated anyone on so much meds. Still, I was reluctant to come off. Then, for financial reasons I did and went without anything for over 2 months -- (not anything I would ever recommend to anyone to do, especially as I did it without any medical permission). I discussed with her at the end of that time, that since I had been depressed for a long time, I probably did indeed need to be on something. She suggessted Lexapro as she had other patients who had told her it worked well for them. My psychiatrist cooperated. I'm a fanatic perscription details reader and one of the things the drug company says about Lexapro is that it is not for use in bipolar disorder.

Just recently though, I have been rediagnosed as bipolar as I have actually been since teenage years (I'm 55 now). It's just that no one with the right credentials had ever observed my manic behavior before now -- and this recent episode was only observation by self report. I have long suscepted that I am bipolar anyway. Both my 61 year old brother (diaganosed and fully disabled since the age of 35) and recently my nephew (now 11) are diagnosed bipolar. For years, my brother, his wife, and I have known that our mother was an undiagnosed bipolar and My 18 year old daughter is as well and I'm still trying to get her the help she needs, even against her wishes, because she is in the judicial system for criminal trespass now and I have a shot of seeing her mandated to treatment by a judge.

As for me, I can't see my shrink again until Dec. 22 and will be discussing with him possible medication changes. I don't care what the drug company says, I have no intention of going off my 20 mgs. of Lexapro! The only other med I am currently taking is 0.5 mg of Risperidal, which is both a tranquilizer and an antipsychotic. The 1 mg. I began with was already considered a very (if not extremely) mild dose. One of the reasons the mania came on is because I had talked myself out of taking it. Also, the extremely significant stress I have been under recently concerning my daughter's activities. I have also figured out just this week that positive stress is just as likely to bring on the mania as is negative stress. I have just recently discovered 2 excellent web sites on the subject but I need to sign off and get the URLs which I can't do right away, but I promise I'll come back with them in a day or 2 or 3.

What I am trying to figure out for myself right now is exactly what is the difference between mania (bipolar I related) and hypomania (bipolar II related) and how the heck the doctors recognize the difference. I'll keep you posted on that.

By the way, how old are you? Do you have other depression and/or bipolar and/or acloholism/substance abuse in your family of origin family tree such as grandparents, aunts, uncles, or cousins in addition to parents and siblings? One last thing that you may not yet feel comfortable disclosing -- were you ever exposed to what you would now consider inappropriate sexual behaviors (initiated by anyone 2 or more years older than you at the time it took place) before the age of 18? There seems to be an approximately 80% chance that you were if you are bipolar.

Keep the faith, though. The meds around today and all that the psych world has learned from the substance abuse world are well interwoven for the benefit of all!! Hope I haven't offended you or distressed you.

So how do I become a member of this group? I only started using Opera about a week ago...

Now I'm trying to post this to you, but can't quite figure what to do after the edit/delete option appaears. I just saw the save button and will try it.

Good news for your nephew, I've heard that if they are diagnosed at a young age, there is the possibility that they won't have to be medicated for the rest of their lives.

What I have gathered from my therapist is that the difference between type I and type II is that type II is less severe. I reach the hypomania stage while on the other end of the spectrum, I reach severe depression.

I am now 21 years old so have dealt with this for a little over a year. No one (except myself) has been diagnosed with any mental illness. Alcoholism runs deep within my family tree. I myself don't partake in the stuff.

Unfortunately, when I turn 22, I am no longer covered by my parents' insurance company. That's gonna hit me something fierce because all of my meds are about $200 a pop. I try not to think about that, at least not yet.

By the way, you are already a member of this group.

Hi, I too was diagnosed with bi-olar disorder about 3 years ago. I too had to go through alot of different meds until my family doctor put me on lamictal about a year ago. Inow take lamictal xanax and seraquil. No one in my family has been diagnosed with it either until last yr my nephew was diagnosed. I still have a hard time alot my dr is thinking of trying me on some more other treatments. thats something I'm not too thrilled with, but I guess I should do what the dr says. or maybe not??????????

Hi, I was diagnnosed June 2006 with bipolar 2. Initially I was upset with this "label" I have been dealing with depression all my life with meds. I went to college, received a degree, raised two sons successfully as a single parent and had a successful career. Everything went to hell in February 2006. Tragically 3 family members died and my coping skills let me. One day I couldn't get out of bed. I have been severely depressed and occasionally suicidal since then. I feel no joy. My doctor initialy changed my anti-depressant meds with no success. Then I was diagnosed with bipolar 2 and started taking (in additon to my anti depressants Wellbutin and Lexapro) Lamictal a little over a month. I feel somewhat better but not like my old self. I haven't worked since February and I am frustrated. My recovery has been slow. I feel like I am the only one Out there with this illness. I have a brother with bipolar 1 who is homeless. I am afraid I will never be a functional member of society. Please if anyone with a similiar experience who can share their experience strength and hope, I would be so grateful.

Hanging in there

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