Can anyone offer any advice. Bipolar.

[Lamenameagain]

Hi

I'm currently in the midst of a significant depression. Only a couple of days ago I felt on top of the world. I have had one fairly long episode of mania in the past which then lead to months and months of extreme depression. This time it's been a much faster turnaround.

I've taken medication for depression in the past but have never been given a diagnosis of bipolar but I'm pretty sure I have it. My fear is the future, I have a career and kids and am terrified of being taken over by this again. I would like to find a way to tackle it without needing medication as I am very aware of the side effects due to my current career.

Has anyone managed to successfully treat bipolar disorder without medication?

I would start by seeking health care advice - a mental health nurse or GP for advice and help. If you engage with them early, there is a better chance of successfully coping with things. They will be able to work with you to find a good balance.

Thanks for your advice Tisme. Unfortunately I am a mental health nurse (apologies for not making that clear, I suppose I was hoping to ignore it- it makes me very ashamed that I have mh issues)so it makes my situation quite delicate as I really don't want to be referred to services. I have contacted my GP and am expecting a call back at some point.

Being diagnosed won’t stop your career, it’s how under control your condition is.
I take lamotragine, no side effects for me really.
Bipolar doesn’t really affect my life when medicated, hardly anyone even knows I have it. Never any involvement with agencies other than psychiatrist and gp.

What are you afraid will happen?

I'm concerned about the side effects from medication. I experienced a lot whilst taking antidepressants and did not feel like myself.

I also worry that I will be stigmatised at work as there is often sadly a "them and us" mentality.

And I don't want to acknowledge that I have this condition because until now I've always believed that I'll be ok in the end as if my mental health will magically be normal at some point. I'm scared to admit it and for that to make me feel more hopeless.

Private psychiatrist or can you get to referred to services in different area if you don’t want to go you’re local.

I have had a health visitor, psychiatrist and doctors receptionist telling me that they take antidepressants and they suffer from depression etc.

AFAIK if they get the medication right you should be fine, it's all about finding the right one at the right dosage. It might take a little while to get it sorted, and adjustments made but once they have figured it out hopefully you could live a normal life without side effects.

Well, if you do have bipolar then antidepressants are likely to have an adverse affect on you. That’s one of the reasons you should find out, because some medications are contraindicated for the condition.

I think you need to remember is that in your job you will be seeing the people who are really badly affected, often those without much supports and or other issues. It’s not really representative of most of us. The patients you see are likely to be on the heaviest meds too, again, that’s not how it is for most of us.

As a mental health nurse you must be aware of the dangers of self diagnosis.

See your GP.

The BP folk who live without meds have used all the regular ways to optimise exercise, good sleep habits, healthy diet, creating a schedule that suits their needs etc .... but been stricter with the healthy lifestyle than most... Please be aware that the DVLA would require being informed of the diagnosis of significant mental health issues, and will require a period of stability in order to grant a driving license..

I have this, and lost my driving licence. I'm still on a one yearly licence.
Antidepressants make me manic, I simply cannot take them. I'm not saying don't pursue a diagnosis but the implications of it are huge. My life insurance is 90 per month for what would usually cost 15. My children's schools all had to be made aware.
In some ways I wish I'd never sought help but I had psychosis and it was taken out of my hands.
I'm also a nurse and now cannot work clinically.
However had I not been treated the impact on my children would have been worse than it is now. I hope you feel better soon.

I don’t think it’s usual for schools to be made aware, my child’s school certainly doesn’t know.
Maybe that ^depends on symptoms though, I’ve never had psychosis.

Perhaps not Fission. But I'm on my own so they had a list of relapse signs to safeguard the children. I was psychotic at the time. My bipolar means I get manic psychosis and depressive psychosis. I'll never get a 'full' driving license. Bipolar is a name for a condition which varies in severity and symptoms, it depends on your personal experience. x

Oh dear, I didn’t mean mean to imply that what you said isn’t true, is that how it read? I’m very sorry if so, I absolutely understand there can be a massive range in symptoms, I just didn’t want the op to think thats what happens in every case.

No not at all! I was just explaining as I don't think telling schools is typical! Please don't apologise xx

One possibility is not the be on permanent ‘prophylactic’ medication but to be hyper vigilant about potential relapses and hit it with medication then

Oh, good, was worried there

I’m currently inpatient. Two of the nurses have self declared MH issues- one is covered in self harm scars, the other told me he has bipolar and a CPN

Hope you're k FFSOMG. Thinking about IP myself but probably won't.

I’m getting better as my lithium increases. I am sectioned so didn’t have a choice!

Oh dear. For mania or depression? x

I have bipolar and take olanzapine just now but in the New Year I'll be cutting down and hopefully coming off it. My psychiatrist thinks as long as I don't take antidepressants I should be okay. I'm not sure how I'll sleep tbh but will see how it goes in the ny

Mixed bipolar disorder. All the worst bits of both