I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder when I was about 15. My life has been a constant of ups and downs, whether it just be my own mindframe or just the situations in my life. I've had a few bad boyfriends and a bad father, a not so stable life in the long run.. But it seems like I've gotten all of that past me just to face the hardships of my life in the present.
Lately, my normal feelings of loneliness, sadness, etc. have changed into frustration, stress, and anger (which can be physically unhealthy, I've noticed). My current relationship seems to be going non-stop downhill because of my constant bickering and frustration-caused fighting.
I've taken several differant medications for my disorder(s) including; Prozac, Paxil, and Zoloft..All of them rendered horrific side effects which only made things much worse.. I need a good stress reducer, something that'll keep me from being so uptight..

Any suggestions?

I started having problems when I was 13 but wasn't diagnosed correctly until I was 30.
In my case, alot of my hardships, poor choices, bad relationships were due to my bi-polar disorder.
It's hard enough in life to make great choices when your brain isn't totally out of balance!!
Between 13 & 30 they had me on Valium to Thorazine & everything in between. I had side effects from the drugs they gave me for the side effects I got from the original drug they were trying!
The only thing that has worked for me is Lithium. From what I see on this board it seems that its not the first choice of medications anymore. But its cheap and a study-proven success in a majority of bi-polars. There are new drugs coming along every day and I'm glad for that, too.
None of the drugs you listed are classified as a drug which specifically acts to stabilize the moods in a bi-polar patient. Many bi-polars have had good luck with Lithium, Depakote, Zyprexa, Tegretol which work to actually stabilize the mood swings.
I'm personally leery of most anti-depressents since they can "boomerang" and instead being depressed, the bi-polar now manic (or REALly on edge)!
There may be a reason that your doctor has not put you on a mood stabilizer (is he a regular M.D. or a psychiatrist - who tends to be more familiar with bi-polar disorder) but you msy want to ask.
And keep coming back! You're already an expert here the minute you sign on!!
Bj


[This message has been edited by HoosierBj (edited 05-22-2003).]

I'm pretty sure he was a regular M.D. He seemed to ask undetailed questions about how I felt, then all he'd do was prescribe me and suggest talk therapy. I had to learn a lot on my own.. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

Got lots of suggestions - do any of them work? Dunno.

I'm an adrenaline junky; doing something dangerous makes me feel good, but then I'm trying to work that out with my shrink.
Exercise does help, but when I'm depressed I don't have the energy, when I'm manic I don't have the concentration.
Sleep... well, they tell me that regular sleep would help, I'll let you know if I ever find out.
Alcohol is a bad idea, but jamocha almond fudge ice cream will cure anything (just don't o.d.)
I think I'm starting to make no sense even to me...

If you are bi polar, you really shouldn't take ssri's. They go from making you feel good to rage. ssri=paxil, zoloft etc...That is what happenend to me anywayI was loving my Zoloft and loving the world then one day I snapped. meds now=depakote, seroquel,klonipin. I am still not leveled out, and think I need something else but I am not sure what .This is a b****of a disease huh?

Well.. I know regular sleep would probably help me a little, but that isn't possible with my life at the moment..heh.. Ozy, ice cream sucks if you eat too much and your stomach starts lighting itself on fire. I don't make much sense to myself, either. Right now, I'm at a point where I'm trying not to medicate myself with pills,etc. but trying to do things naturally. Excersizing is something I do obsessively, so it's not that great..

hi i am new here but i also have bi polar i have been fightting it for years i was told that i have had it sence i was a child i am on 2 differnt meds for it but i am having problems with my relationship with my boy friend it seems like we are fightting all the time and i dont know what to do i know its my bi polar that is doing it and i want to conrol it but i just dont know how could some one give me some ideas on how to do it i would realy apresate it thank you

ang3l_w1th_h0rns_26_69

i am on tagertol and topmax and i dont know if its working or not i am starting to get realy scared i just got diagonsed with bi polar at the age of 24 and here i am 26 i dont know what to do about it i dont know if i should see about getting my meds changed or how to cope with it it is runing my re3lationship with my boy friend and i dont want that to happen we have been on and off for about 4-5 years i love him dearly we even have a daughter together please some one give me some input about this i am willing to take any thing you can give me

Well I am completely addicted to starbucks. I don't much like to sleep. I tried to take medications but each caused such a wopping of a headache and even less sleep I gave up on that part. I try to do active things biking, blading, volleyball, tennis...anything...athletic seems to help. Even if I am dead tired I will try to do something. I purchased a tiny trampolene and a boxing bag...I should just live in a gym not a house.

I think team sports are good...but in a pinch when frustrated or aggrevated...I think a good walk or something even more active is good.

As far as relationships go somehow finding something to enjoy together is positive...however you can make the other smile or have a significant relaxed happy time is helpful.

[This message has been edited by sirius (edited 08-13-2003).]

angel, my sister took topamax and it caused her to have some real cognitive problems, also made her very sad and easily upset. are you seeing a therapist about your relationship?

Ang31-With-Horns-26-69
I was diagnosed with Bi-polar back in 1998. It took
until this year for the the DR. to regulate my meds.
It doesn't mean he is a bad DR. or that the situation
is helpless.There are a lot of meds on the market tod-
ay and the the trick is finding what works for you.Me
personally,i take a bunch of stuff! The 2 best things
that ever happened to me were;Lithium and seraquel.I
used to to stay awake for 6 day's straight,now i take
those 2 plus topamax,xanax,vistirl[that one's for sleep only].I know it sounds like a lot,but this is
the best i ever felt! I can sleep now,approx,6 hrs.a
a night,which is a lot better than saying up 6 days!
The best thing is i can take all my meds at bedtime
so i'm not sleepy during the day. My xanax is the only exception,i take that during the day if i have a
panic attack.[which have cut down quite a bit].All i
can tell you really is;every med you get put on you have to give it at least a month to see if you notice
it working or not.If you see no improvment or notice
you are feeling considerbly worse ask your DR. if you
can try something different,because in all reality
they don't know what is going to work for you either,
until after they've had you on this,that and the other
and before you know it one day your DR. will say;"I
think we'll keep you on theese meds, you've been stable now for a few months". Thats when you will start to really smile again. Take it from someone who
knows that day will come for you. Keep the faith!
Yours Truly,
p.s. myscandal
i am even back in school
now, going for vet tech! Don't Give Up Angel!

I was diagnosed bi-polarII in 1999, and it has progressed to rapid cycling/mixed mania. I am currently on a psychotropic cocktail that seems to be working fairly well. It's a combination of zoloft,topamax,welbutrin,and buspar in the a.m. And at night I take welbutrin,topamax,buspar, and seroquel.
It's the best I've felt in a long time. There was some trouble over the past couple of months, the hypomania came and stayed. She raised the seroquel few times, and lowered the zoloft. Finally I found out what the problem was. The pharmacy had been giving me serzone for 2 months by mistake. Just what I needed 1 more anti-depressant.
Anyway, keep going until you get the right mix. How can you hope to treat a 2 sided disease with one medication?

Angel w/ horns, I have battled depression since 1991. I was 13 years old and have had the same issues, just a lot more complex now. I have been inadequately treated for depression, "here take these pills, come back in a month" I would, they wouldn't work, i'd go back to here a series of "uh-huh's and hmmm's". I work in the mental health field, GO FIGURE, and have devoted myself more to work. My client's lives and the desire to help them occupies my time well. I have the same messed up relationship as you. After 9 years of being together, we continue to do the on/off thing. He hates it, but will put up with it because he knows it's either this way or leave. I'm not being rude, but I just can't tolerate the hassle.
After being treated for depression for years, I have recently been told that I have "Bipolar tendencies". I have an appt. with my local Mental Health center for an intake on 9-12-03. I used to say "I want my life back!" but I'm not sure that I remember what feeling good or calm or happy is anymore. I argue for the sake of it and I am ruining many relationships by this disorder. I have no real advice, just wanted you to know that I empathize with you, and understand you. I'll write again if I get any good ideas for you!

Kikyo ~ Your initial posting ended on the note that you're looking for a good stress reducer. The feedback you received dealt mostly with "pills".

I spent YEARS going to Bipolar Support Groups, and the "taboo" subject was SEX. Bipolars tend to be innately "horny", yet if that subject was ever mentioned the meeting was quickly re-directed. I felt that was of little service to those suffering from the disorder. Freud placed extreme emphasis on sexuality, and as THE primal motivating force it seems ludicrous to exclude it from an adult discussion of living with Bipolar Disorder.

A huge conundrum emerges in that the Bipolar longs for sensual satisfaction yet has horrible problems with relationships. Sounds like a formula for frustration if I've ever heard of one.

In many ways, that's been a lot of the story of MY life... Constantly searching for that elusive satisfying relationship (that can last more than a few months or years).

Stress reduction is essential to dealing with Bipolar Disorder. One of the most effective stress reducers is satisfying sex. Satisfying sex works best with an enthusiastic partner. Bipolars have difficulty cultivating the relationships necessary to maintain enthusiastic partners. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/round.gif And so the pattern can go on and on and on and...

Good luck. I hope we all can find good answers and relationships to enjoy our days and nights as much as possible...

There, I finally got a chance to voice what I had to bottle-up for so long... I hope it didn't offend too many people out there !!!

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Ex-Pharmaceutical Guinea Pig...