Anyone have experience with bipolar?

[BippityBoppity87]

Sorry, already posted this on another thread, but I would be greatful for answers!

There had been mention of a bipolar diagnosis, don't know what to do. Ok I was a bit hyper in therapy today, but I'm just happy. I have to fill out a mood/depression chart thing and I have honestly had nothing to grumble about the past few weeks.

I've picked up more shifts at work, I don't need as much sleep, my spending has been a bit bad ok, I'll admit that, but I'm not in huge debt or anything. I get by. My DP said I sounded hyper on the phone after I left CBT this morning, but I was just being chatty? Nothing wrong with being a bit happy and chatty surely!

Does anyone have any experience of this?

I was staring at a light today because I swear it was flickering in my work, so I stood there for about a minute, then realised I must look a bit strange doing that, only reason being is because I went under another light the day before and it started flickering and only stopped when I left 😱

So yeah, I'm now confinced there are either ghosts in the building who are fucking with me (highly probable) or have some wierd electricity thing going on, and now, I swear to god, there is a fly in my flat and it keeps flying towards me and making me jump out my skin! I can't hear it like you would think I fly would, is this anxiety? And my knee hurts, my knee is absolute agony.

I know this probably sounds like a cliche, but I finally feel like I've found my people

Bip I think you need to ring the crisis team, now, and tell them that three people with bipolar themselves think your mood is elevated.
Tell them that you are having some strange experiences, you can't sleep, you are doing things threatening your job and it's getting worse.

You keep focusing on your therapist and your psych being 'in the same building'. That's irrelevant. Your therapist sounds crap.
You need a psychiatric review, soon.
You need a mood stabilising drug.
Last thing you need is an accident or to be sacked.

Get them rung tonight and read what you've put here. They'll be able to fetch you some diazepam to calm you until the stabiliser has kicked in. Don't risk it going any further.

I don't think I'm that bad. The therapist is the same building to the psych I was seeing, literally about 4 doors away. My job isn't threatened as far as I am aware? But here is a bloody fly that I can't get rid of that likes to fly in my face, just the one and it's only small, but enough for me to notice it, if that makes sense?

Also, I don't want to ring them because I have to take my DC to nursery tomorrow morning.

Hi @BippityBoppity87,
We've been keeping an eye on this thread and just wanted to pop on to remind you (and everyone else who reads this) that advice from strangers on the internet shouldn't be a substitute for proper medical advice and to please seek help from appropriate professionals if needed.

Hi @EstherMumsnet

I appreciate your concern. It probably sounds a lot worse than it is. I just vent and talk shite. In the words of Ross..

Hi everyone, I also feel like I've found my people!

The oversharing resonated with me so much

I'm seeing the doctor today ( need meds and also have a terrible head cold ) and am
going to mention a re-referral to the psych team. Last time I saw them it was 2 years ago and the appointment was unbelievably quick. I know i fit perfectly in the bi polar box.

Bip. Go to the doctors.
If you don't they could section you.
I've given you all the advice I can, you sound psychotic.
You are potentially a danger to yourself and others including your child because you are not thinking properly.
There is no fly on your face.
Trust me and others
Ring the crisis team. Or PM me your name, address and location and I will do it for you. Xx

@Steakandkidney Honestly, I'm fine. A bit tired today as I have to take my son to nursery. I think I just need a good sleep as it can make me go a bit up in the air. I'm going to drop him off and then I'm going to come home and go to bed!

Ffs just go to the doctors you’re being ridiculous now.

If you have bipolar you're going to need specific meds. Ask for a diagnosis from a psychiatrist op. Better to know and deal with it than not & end up sectioned.

I know a couple of people with BP and the meds are really key to living well. Also regular observation to see if they need adjusting.

Do it for your DC don't ignore this. If you're not BP then there may be something else they can help you with.

Good luck

Lots of good advice here Op, hope you chase up that psych appointment today 💐

Well they were a fat load of good! Just told me to ring the gp!

I give up honestly

So frustrating! Is it because your GP needs to re-refer you to psychiatrist? Well done for calling, not your fault the services are becoming completely unnavigable 🙄 good luck with GP

I think I might just ring my therapist as it was her who was arranging the psych appointment.

It wasn't even the gp who I was seeing in the first place or prescribed the medication! Arrgh! It was the psychiatrist and crisis team, she's not going to know what's going on! I feel like I'm going round in circles.

Brilliant idea. Sorry to hear it’s been so difficult thus far 💐

Go to A and E.

You really ought to go to A and E if you can’t get help from anyone else.

When I get manic it tends to escalate untill I end up getting arrested or spending a couple of nights in hospital.

You don’t want that to happen to you, listen to others and go to A and E.

Thinking of you OP. Don’t want to serve as a horrible warning but I was rubbish at recognising my own symptoms and always the last one to know I was ill, often after weeks and months in hospital. Awful for anyone but as a lone parent it was incredibly hard on my children and continues to affect them as adults. And it’s not like you always come out of hospital in great form either, it would take a good year or so to get back on my feet. Every time it happened more and more of ‘me’ seemed to get eroded, there was no return 100% pre illness life and functioning. That doesn’t even cover stuff like never ever will I have access to credit again or be in the kind of job or financial position I could have expected otherwise.

In case you think people are being overly dramatic, that’s the reality of this illness. Love my life and probably wouldn’t opt not to have bipolar but one thing I’d change is to have worked harder at working with the services - it took years for me to settle down and comply with treatment.

^ what they said

And I hate to say it but I’ve actually lost count of the number of bipolar friends from support groups who’ve killed themselves over the years. We can’t really ever know whether any of those individual deaths were preventable but we do know at a sort of population level that lithium and other interventions reduce the risk of suicide.

sorry I went and had a wee nap just to calm myself down. I'm currently trying to get in contact with my key worker via phone, I'll try and update what's happening.