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 feel a bit like that too. Not how I was before. I kind of miss how I was, I can see why some people stop taking their meds! I've been on it almost a week now, so I'm hoping the side effects wear off soon. I'm only on a very low dose just now.

Do they usually do that I'm assuming? I don't know if it will be increased, he never said. Although they never told me when they increased my sertraline either even though I warned them it would be a bad idea.

My therapist thinks I'm either type 1 or 2. The psychiatrist just said the 'bipolar spectrum' I don't think I'm type 1 as I don't think I've gone full blown manic, hypomanic yeah and I've had a lot of depressive episodes, so I'm guessing type 2.

I’ve never had a ‘ type’, it only ever says ‘bipolar affective disorder’ then most recent episode 🤔

That's interesting Why I suppose they don't want to scare you too much! It was actually my therapist that brought it up and requested that I saw my psych as soon as possible. I was like ok 🤷‍♀️ I kind of knew, but part of me also thought it was all in my head and I was probably just being a drama queen if that makes sense?

Just saying hello. I am on Lamotrigine and Prozac. Been off work since February (contract ended so had to live off savings). Now trying to get courage together to apply for jobs.

Hi Swipetounlock I can imagine that will be quite daunting

What's worse is that I have been telling family I have been applying for jobs since August and they are being really understanding. But I haven't applied for any yet. I have updated my LinkedIn and sorted out my subscriptions to email bulletins, that's all. Just terrified.

Oh no, please try not to worry, easier said than done I know! That's a good start though. Small steps x

I've been in the same job for 10 years, just above minimum wage. I do like it, but I've never tried to progress in the last few years. I did try and find another job that paid more, I have a degree I might as well use it! But I got rejected, so that hit me like a tone of bricks and I just gave up after that.

Probably shouldn't have started applying when I wasn't well, but you live and learn I suppose!

It's really hard to know whether to push oneself to a job that shows progression on the CV, or just go for an undemanding local job to try to pursue some stability.

Problem is I went to a world renowned uni, so I tend to get rejected for the latter (I even tried leaving it off my CV in the past, until I was caught out and the interviewer thought I was off my rocker).

I've also had an absolute load of jobs in my life (longest ever was 4 years, but many under 2 years), so I am quite good at interviews thank God, but the slog of application forms just destroys me. I am so desperate for some stability so I don't blame you for sticking with the job you know.

Was it Cambridge/Oxford? I went to a top 20 university (red brick) but I only just scraped by with a 2:2 gave up studying after the first year but I was quite ill as well when I was there. Never realised it at the time. This was over 10 years ago though.

Some of my friends that were on my course are now editors for newspapers, another one has been on the news, can't remember what she does. Then there's me like, yep hi 🙋🏻 Feeling like a piece of shit as I haven't managed to do anything anywhere near as what they have achieved.

What do people mean when they say certain meds are ‘activating’?

I’m in the same boat with the job in that I’m sticking with one that’s mostly stress free. I know I could earn more and sometimes I think I should push myself, but I don’t want to risk my stability. It’s hard seeing friends around me in ‘better’ jobs.

Yes it was. I scraped by too, but I don't think I was ill during that time, although it was stressful and very hard.

My psychiatrist told me that lots of Bipolar people apply for jobs when hypomanic, and the employer thinks they have tons of energy, and hires them, and then they crash.

I just look at other people with steady, progressive work histories and it's like another world to me.

That makes sense Swipetounlock I think I was probably in that 'zone' when I was applying for jobs.

You have done incredibly well by the way, even if you have only just scraped by. Doing that, whilst having an illness is a massive achievement. I know I should take my own advice when I say this But I don't.

CarolSpatula I think it means that it makes their mood swings worse? I know sertraline alone was activating for me. Ended up hypomanic.

Bippity that's very kind. I do think I have done quite well all things considered, just by being alive, having my own flat and my sanity. But it's come at a very high cost - I live in social housing, don't have a partner or any children, inadequate pension, quite socially isolated, overweight. There is a huge mismatch between people's view of Oxbridge grads and the rather pathetic reality of me.

Maybe you should apply for a couple of jobs as an experiment/for practice. Don't forget if you are offered a job you are allowed to turn it down.

I'm overweight too. I used to be a size 8/10
Now I'm a size 16. I used to count my calories when I was younger. Never ate anymore than about 500 calories a day, wrote everything down. Then I caught tonsillitis and lost even more weight. I stopped counting after that. Hence why I'm overweight now!

Not even noon and I'm having a shit day already. Feeling quite fragile today and a bit teary, no idea why

No idea why the Christmas emoji was there!

I drank quite a lot of wine on the weekend (staying at a friend's house) which is v unusual for me. Not drunk but steady consumption. Now really paying for it. I read somewhere that alcohol ruins 5 days if you are on meds. I think I have to stop drinking alcohol completely. What are your thoughts on this?

I still drink and I need to stop, which probably isn't helping.

This is all so confusing, went to the pharmacy, handed me the sertraline, got back and no aripiprazole. Going to have to go back as I took my last one today why is everything so difficult sometimes!

On the plus side I bought myself a Amaryllis to cheer myself up and I'm going to buy my Christmas tree today That one I meant

You have to be super organised about your meds, even if you literally cannot keep your shit together in any other area. Have you got a pill organiser? They cost about £2 and are such a help, because you know you will run out with several days notice. Also I have a login with my pharmacy which means I can set email alerts. I check the prescription before leaving the pharmacy too.

I took one today, so I'll just collect it tomorrow morning. Yeah I'm thinking about getting one. Just about to look online for one now. It doesn't help that I have to pick it up weekly as I'm a suicide risk. Fair enough I suppose.

The pharmacy will sell them. Also they are good because you don't need to leave your pill packets lying around, it's nobody's business what I take so I like to keep the packets put away.