The Bipolar Support Thread

[BippityBoppity87]

Hi everyone Just thought I'd start a shiny new thread for anyone who is suffering from bipolar disorder.

Hope everyone is ok!

I'm very impulsive, my down fall. If I'm in a good mood, I won't think twice about spending money online, clothes mainly and makeup. Or buying stuff for the house. Sometimes I would lie awake for most of the night thinking about different ways and ideas to try and improve it.

I work in a bar, so it's mainly shifts. I used to sometimes work until 11, but it didn't help my mood at all, as I need the evening to just relax and listen to music, calm myself down. So now I work maybe at the latest 8pm. But I usually work until 6pm, which has helped massively.

I told my employer today. They said I might need to fill out a risk assessment 🤷‍♀️

😕 I don’t know, I wait for someone to tell me. I’ve never been very good at knowing whether I’m depressed until it’s pointed out but did do lots of work on noticing behavioural changes as my feelings aren’t much of a guide.

I actually do the opposite. If I'm on a 'high' so to speak, I forget to shower or wash my hair, I think I look amazing as I am, and don't need to worry about stuff like that!

That sounds tough @Shepherdspieisminging For me, depression kind of creeped up. Months and months of low mood. Irritable, wanted to sleep a lot. Had no interest in my DC. Problems at work and relationships at work, trying to hold back the tears on the bus, staring outside the window. That was me, but I know everyone is different, hope you're ok.

When I was at my worst, I felt like I was in a glass cage looking out. It felt like all the air had been sucked out of my glass box and I was alone, slowly dying. That was me at my worst when I was depressed Shepherdspieisminging

That's probably the best way I can describe it.

Have I said I've cut my own hair when I was manic? I'm not sure if I mentioned it on the other thread.

My hair was originally about half way down my back and I cut it to just above my shoulders. Normal kitchen scissors in the bathroom People at work 'oh have you had a hair cut?' Yes, yes I have..

Hi...just dropping in. I have Bipolar II, I've been diagnosed for about 6 years now.

I used to be on Venlafaxine, Quetiapine and Zopiclone but have made major life changes and am pretty tuned into my moods and how to best stop my hypomania from ramping up so now I'm only on Venlafaxine.

I've been on the edge of a depressive mood for about three months now...mainly as I'm working long hours and not getting the regular sleep I should be. Plus I buggered my meds up so ended up with a week of having to stretch them out.

Just need to cling on to sanity for five more working days this year!

For me...I know I'm on 'the edge' of depression when I:

• Just want/need to sleep all the time
• Lose interest in what I'm doing and just want to 'make it through the day/week'
• Feel like everyday tasks are overwhelming
• Stop taking care of myself properly as showering, cooking food, etc feel like too much effort
• Might get snappy or irritable sometimes and lose my sense of humour a bit, especially if DH teases me
• Can't be bothered with social things, just want to curl up on the sofa with the cats

I'm not necessarily fully depressed with the list above just what I'd describe as being 'on the edge' which means I know if I push myself too much can mean going into depression or if I look after myself can mean recovering and back to normal.

@Shepherdspieisminging

Do you have a psychiatrist? Or MH team?

I'd definitely speak to someone about your symptoms.

Especially bits like "feel my hands have been chopped off my arms and are suspended in the air away from blooded stumps". It sounds almost like disassociation? Definitely worth talking to someone while you're still functioning somewhat

Hi I've been recently diagnosed with Schizo Affective Disorder (Bipolar type).

I was surprised it was the Bipolar type because I've suffered a lot with depression but then I do have serious spending problems, binge eating etc etc.
My sister has staged an intervention & took my debit card off me. I hate it but I'm grateful too.

I take Aripiprazole 25mg & Venlafaxine MR 300mg. Plus I have epilepsy so I take Keppra for that.

I struggle at work with tiredness & paranoia so I only work part time as I can't cope with stress.

I get DLA low rate, not been reassessed for PIP yet.

The problem at present is that I'm having very vivid dreams that are so vivid that when I'm tired I'm not sure whether certain things happen in reality or in the dream world.
Also having nightmares that are so horrific I wake up screaming, recently it triggered a period of depression.

Also the news is really affecting me & Facebook is too, Ive got too obsessed with it all.

I'm trying to date (to find a decent man) but finding it very tough especially as I can't drink on the meds but can't really tell them the truth of why I can't drink etc etc.

I got like that when my DM died a few years ago tierraJ I got very paranoid to the point I was putting salt around the house to stop demons getting in. I kept hearing whispering and then a very clear 'shhh! She can hear you!' Terrifying. I was utterly convinced it was demons. I'm not particularly religious either.

I take aripiprazole too tierraJ how are you finding it?

Shepherd I sometimes confuse dreams with reality too...

I find Aripiprazole has been good in that I'm a lot calmer & not seeing or thinking certain things now, not so paranoid either.

It does make me tired though & I do clench my teeth & jaw a lot which is a side effect, so I chew gum a lot to ease it.
When I first took Aripiprazole I had restless legs which eased after a few months, it was upsetting but the Aripiprazole did cure the acute Psychotic episode I was having so the discomfort was worth it.

Good luck for today shepherdspie, love how I can remember other people’s appointments but conveniently forget to show up for my own 🤔

Those bipolar people out there who can’t have any antidepressants or anything ‘activating’ like abilify or lamictal, what do you do when your mood is a bit too low (but not so low it’s a major event)?

I've found it's making me very sleepy tierraJ I'm only on a low dose for now, which I take in the morning. I still swing between calm and hyper, and I still sometimes get butterflies in my stomach.

I have a medication review tomorrow, so I might ask if I can take it at night instead.

And I feel sick. I was actually sick a few days ago.

I take the Aripiprazole at night at 6pm. I get very sleepy about 8pm - 9.45pm.

I go to bed early but then I live alone so it's ok.

If I'm out socially then I just try to get through the sleepy feelings with lots of caffeine.

Ps don't drink alcohol with Aripiprazole especially not the higher doses.

I think I'm going to ask tomorrow if I can take it at night. As I really feel I don't need sleeping pills. Why's that @tierraJ?

The effect of alcohol is doubled on antipsychotics.
I can't take anything 'activating' so am having the same problem, feeling really flat.