Bipolar Disorder

[redpanda]

We don't seem to have a Bipolar section so I figured I'd post a thread here. It's a form of depression so I guess it belongs . Does anyone else have Bipolar Disorder? What has helped you cope? Are you on medication? I was originally misdiagnosed. When they finally diagnosed me with Bipolar Disorder it was honestly amazing because I was finally put on a medication (lamotrigine) that worked. I still have bad days here and there but getting treatment improved my quality of life substantially. If you're diagnosed, I really recommend medication since this is one of the easier disorders to treat using drugs.

 

[Bea]

I do! I have manic-depressive disorder (which is what my psychiatrist calls it). I'm not on medication, since I don't think my family can afford it, but I've been recommended several coping techniques. I've mentioned it on another thread before, but on my manic phases I write in a journal about all the happy things that have happened to be and all the good emotions I'm feeling, so that I can read it during my depressive phases. It serves as a reminder to me that, even though things may seem dark, I've been happy before, and I will be happy again. It's been recommended that I follow a routine religiously, too. Having a routine that you follow even during your depressive stages makes you feel like you've been productive.

 

[hades_leae]

I had bipolar disorder when I was in junior high school. It got worse when I was place in special education classes. I felt like everyone was against me, my principal was an asshole, and every time I went to see him, he put me down which made me so mad. It was the teacher against the student situation for me. Just like police, teachers win the dispute by default, that's how I felt everyday in school.


When I started school, I didn't have this problem, but later on I had to go see counselor's outside of school and they eventually made me start taking pills that would keep me clam in school because one moment I would be so happy, then get super pissed if any teacher would talk to me about something I was doing, and even if I started thinking about teachers, I would get mad and shut down. They tried to tell me I was bi-polar, and had attention deficit disorder.

 

[Alex]

My friend has bipolar and these days it treatable and you can control it. The problem is my friend uses it as an excuse for her behavior and refuses therapy saying she doesn't need it. It's so hard to get through to her as she has been sectioned 9 times in 2 years (taken to a mental hospital for her own protection by the law).


It makes it very hard for me to her friend when she pulls insurance scams and then says if she gets caught she'll say it was the bipolar. She does have the condition, but won't help herself even though in the UK treatment is free. How can you help someone like that? What I have done is stopped communicating with her, because she tried to validate all she does and I don't wish to responsible for tipping her over the edge if I say something she doesn't want to hear.

 

[StarrScott]

I have not been formally diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder but my mother is a CNA and she has been saying that I have it for the past 5 years and I agree with her. I have mood swings all of the time, sadly. I also get very depressed a lot of the time, now it's pushing almost every other night and I feel so alone I guess that you could say. I've been getting absolutely no help for this illness but I want help! It's like the kids that don't want help always are the ones to get it. I hate pushing my boyfriend away all of the time and causing useless arguments and making him feel like crap. I don't do it on purpose, I absolutely love him with all of my heart. My boyfriend has been the one to help me through my mood swings and depression and I thank the heavens for him! He was my best friend before starting our relationship and he understands but I still feel like I'm pushing him away and that when we move in together that our relationship will be completely ruined because of my disorder that hasn't been diagnosed or treated since I've gotten it.


The reason why I haven't been diagnosed is because my family just doesn't have the funds for such things. My mom's job pays fairly enough but we have a family of 10 living in one household and it's already tough to have all of the things that we need, and her job also gives very bad health benefits to her and our immediate family. I wish that I was on medication though.


Does anyone know of any ways to get diagnosed and receive quality discounted medication or a way to try to cope with it more?

 

[redpanda]

I have not been formally diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder but my mother is a CNA and she has been saying that I have it for the past 5 years and I agree with her. I have mood swings all of the time, sadly. I also get very depressed a lot of the time, now it's pushing almost every other night and I feel so alone I guess that you could say. I've been getting absolutely no help for this illness but I want help! It's like the kids that don't want help always are the ones to get it. I hate pushing my boyfriend away all of the time and causing useless arguments and making him feel like crap. I don't do it on purpose, I absolutely love him with all of my heart. My boyfriend has been the one to help me through my mood swings and depression and I thank the heavens for him! He was my best friend before starting our relationship and he understands but I still feel like I'm pushing him away and that when we move in together that our relationship will be completely ruined because of my disorder that hasn't been diagnosed or treated since I've gotten it.
The reason why I haven't been diagnosed is because my family just doesn't have the funds for such things. My mom's job pays fairly enough but we have a family of 10 living in one household and it's already tough to have all of the things that we need, and her job also gives very bad health benefits to her and our immediate family. I wish that I was on medication though.


Does anyone know of any ways to get diagnosed and receive quality discounted medication or a way to try to cope with it more?

Look into free or low cost mental clinics in your area. I'm not sure where you live but most areas have clinics willing to work with lower income families. The therapist I see, for example, has an income-based payment plan if needed. If I couldn't afford to pay at all, she'd still see me and I'd be billed later. You'll need to see a psychiatrist for the diagnosis and medication recommendations. Luckily, if you do have bipolar disorder, the major medications used are actually pretty inexpensive. You mentioned bad health benefits but does that mean you guys have some form of insurance? If so, call up the insurance company and see what they suggest. They might be able to point you to an affordable doctor that's on their plan.

 

[StarrScott]

I have not been formally diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder but my mother is a CNA and she has been saying that I have it for the past 5 years and I agree with her. I have mood swings all of the time, sadly. I also get very depressed a lot of the time, now it's pushing almost every other night and I feel so alone I guess that you could say. I've been getting absolutely no help for this illness but I want help! It's like the kids that don't want help always are the ones to get it. I hate pushing my boyfriend away all of the time and causing useless arguments and making him feel like crap. I don't do it on purpose, I absolutely love him with all of my heart. My boyfriend has been the one to help me through my mood swings and depression and I thank the heavens for him! He was my best friend before starting our relationship and he understands but I still feel like I'm pushing him away and that when we move in together that our relationship will be completely ruined because of my disorder that hasn't been diagnosed or treated since I've gotten it.
The reason why I haven't been diagnosed is because my family just doesn't have the funds for such things. My mom's job pays fairly enough but we have a family of 10 living in one household and it's already tough to have all of the things that we need, and her job also gives very bad health benefits to her and our immediate family. I wish that I was on medication though.


Does anyone know of any ways to get diagnosed and receive quality discounted medication or a way to try to cope with it more?

Look into free or low cost mental clinics in your area. I'm not sure where you live but most areas have clinics willing to work with lower income families. The therapist I see, for example, has an income-based payment plan if needed. If I couldn't afford to pay at all, she'd still see me and I'd be billed later. You'll need to see a psychiatrist for the diagnosis and medication recommendations. Luckily, if you do have bipolar disorder, the major medications used are actually pretty inexpensive. You mentioned bad health benefits but does that mean you guys have some form of insurance? If so, call up the insurance company and see what they suggest. They might be able to point you to an affordable doctor that's on their plan.

Surprisingly I actually haven't thought of doing that but I will and I'll show it to my mom! I really hope that I'll be able to find an affordable clinic and a therapist would definitely be ideal! I recall my mom saying that we did have some insurance plan that paid about 1/3rd of the bill but we still can't afford that in addition to the doctor's visit bill. I'm not sure how that whole payment system works but being billed later or in payments would be the best option for me and my family. It'd be amazing if I could get those medications for cheap and if I do not have bipolar disorder I'd be even more terrified because there needs to be some verification for all of these gruesome thoughts that I have.


I will in fact ask my mom to call up the company! and thank you for replying, I really appreciate it!

 

[rz3300]

Well I do not personally suffer from bipolar disorder, but I am close with a friend who does and I can see his struggle whenever I am with him. It is nice to have him to talk to, though, because he knows that I have my own issues so we can really just go back and forth and it is nice to have someone to bounce ideas off of. Sometimes it is just us complaining over and over, but hey, if it helps it helps/

 

[fuzyon]

Well, I'm not diagnosed with bipolar disorder but I do have mood swings regularly which really sucks. I can start my day off early in the morning, get some stuff done then relax for a little bit and all things would be merry and happy, then in the other half of the day you're feeling down and unmotivated to do anything. Being bipolar sucks because you don't know what to expect from a day and that can be a little scary, when you're depressed you at least know what the near future holds.