Well, due to my wonderful self and this possible "funk" that I'm in, the marriage counselor seems to think I'm BP2. I've read the symptoms and some of them are there. I've been real honest w/her and basically answered some serious questions. Like: "When was the last time you were happy?" To be honest I can't remember when. I do notice that my temper is "quick to snap." The marriage is going down the tubes casuse of my melancholy self. Told the counselor that I don't have feelings like normal people, I basically don't care about stuff. EVEN STUFF THAT I SHOULD BE CARING ABOUT! There's more to it than this, as I'm sure most of you are aware of. I set an appt. to speak w/the head shrinker.

Currently on Lexapro 10mg for anxiety. This was due to work related stress that I let get the best of me. The stress got so bad Vertigo crept up and I could barely stand. Nervous to see what the DR is gonna say. :jester:

Hi and welcome

I am also new to the boards, but not to being bipolar. Over my life of learning to live with this disease, I have decided it doesn't really matter what 'label' gets put on me. What is important is that the medication I take helps me to live a stable life. I am happy that you are going to see a pdoctor, as they are truly the only ones to make decisions about medications. I have been on many medications and also combinations over the years, and that can be difficult to get that right adjustment.

Certainly it sounds like you have something that needs attention and the great news today is that there are medications available to help us. Perhaps you just need a higher dosage of Lexapro. I take 45 mg a day. That is a lot but it works for me.

I know the space of 'just not caring'. It is scary and painful. By seeking help you are taking the first steps toward taking care of yourself. Perhaps even saving some important relationships that are valuable in your life. I wish you well. Keep posting, let everyone know how things are going for you

~ Ripka :)

Ripka: thnx 4 the support. I'm glad I found these msg. boards. The only thing that I sit and question myself about is that "can I help my situation by getting back in shape and eating right?" The reason I say this is, I didn't have these "problems" when I was 30lbs lighter and was in the gym 5 days a week. I know it's a proven fact that working out relieves stress and I need to get back in the gym. I talked to my dad last night and asked him if he's evr been diagnosed (mom said he was and how she knows this I do not know. They been divorced since I was 2) and he said no. Now, I know the apple doesn't fall far from the tree and I know how he is. He is not a "happy" person and is generally an azz. I don't want to follow his footsteps (drunkard who's liver is shot out and is already in an ALF at 65 yrs old) and want to fix what's going on. Good thing is I don't feel the need to find the answers to my problems at the bottom of a bottle like he did.

I'm gonna talk to my primary first and let him know I'm gonna go to the head shrinker.

Hi Fox,
Welcome to the Boards!!! I am 17 and dxed 3 years ago and totally understand the not caring stuff. Some days I wake up and nothing can make me care about anything and some days I wake up and care about every little thing, including unimportants stuff. It's not my fav.

Are you on any other meds besides Lexapro? Because if you aren't on a mood stablizer and just an anti-depressant, you can become manic. It is a good idea to see a pdoc and I would get a tdoc as well. They help tremdously. Also, I am on Lexapro (15) and it certianly lifts my mood, but I also need the Lamictal to as my pdoc says "give me a ceiling on my room" and the lexapro gives me a floor. So I still bounce around a little, just not nearly as much.

Good luck with you appointment,
--steamroll

Hi,

Sounds as if you're depressed, for sure. Why BP2 - do you have hypomanias, too?

Let us know how the appointment goes. Steamroll is right; I never found an antidepressant to be that effective, and Lamictal is both a stabilizer and an anti-d.

Glad you're going for help and will get a Dx, look forward to hearing from you again.

Hi, Fox. I just wanted to let you know that there is a great pdoc in New Port Richey, since you live close to there. I was attending college in NPR, but recently moved back home, so I no longer see him, but he was great. Dr. Matos. Hope that yuo get straightened out soon!! I hate how I feel when I am down and depressed! That is how I am right now, and I get extremely impulsive. Hope things in your marraige start going better as well.

Hi Fox87 Welcome to this site. You've taken the first step to helping yourself. Congratulations. It takes alot of guts to acknowledge that you need help. Stress can cause all kinds of problems. Like moodiness and anxiety. The doctor will be able to sort this out for you. Good luck! Sassy:)

Sassy, Bananarama, Seaturtle and Steamroll,,,,thank you so much for the response to my thread.

I'll look up Dr. Matos and see if he takes UHC for insurance. Good thing is I have a decent job and halfway decent insurance.

Our marriage counselor advised that I was falling into the category of BP2 due to the things I have done to cause this marriage issue ie; risk taking even though I know the consequences, depression, impulse behavior and such.

My only "issue" w/this whole thing: We have become a nation of pill poppers and I don't want to become one as well. I can handle the one medication of Lexapro but I don't want to become someone that needs a pill to be happy, a pill to be sad, a pill to go to bed, a pill to wake up. I know I'm being a little critical, but you guys n gals know what I mean. I'll let ya know how the doc visit goes. And again, thank you!!!!!

Oh, suprisingly enough, I've felt pretty good the last week once I went and picked up my Lexapro. Maybe it's you guys and being able to tell you what's going on that is helping.

Hey Fox. I know what you mean about not wanting to become a pill popper. I am sorry to say that that is exactly what I have become. At 21 years old, I am on 3 meds for bipolar, and then at least 10 other meds.That doesn't even include the pain meds I am on (when I can get them). I hope that you can figure out what is wrong, and get it under control without becoming a zombie! Be straight up with the doctor about your fears and he should work with you.

Hey fox. I know how you feel about all the different meds. I am on 4 meds and am 24. I do not think I should be on so many meds. But I know without them I would end up in the hospital again. I don't really feel like I have much of a choice.

Banana gave good advice about just being honest with the docs. That is the only way to go. And if you are feeling good with the lexapro, then I say 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it.' Ya know what I mean?

Bananarama, I hear ya and I have no problem "laying it all out" for the doc. I still say that the problems I have are from immaturity and not facing the fact that I'm married, have kids and can't do what I want anymore. The wife and I talked last night and I told her what I just typed. I think it's me wanting my cake and eating it too. It's just that I go through periods of feeling I'm being choked out by marriage and my responsibilities and want to just play. Why I need medication to "grow up" and realize that Im not single and in my 20's is beyond me. Haaa:confused:

Llama, yeah, this last week has been pretty good I guess. The wife and I are having "relations" again and things have been going good otherwise. I actually have clothes w/me and after work I'm headed to the gym to start working out again. I think if I can get these endorphines flowing again and work off some stress I will feel better. Gonna try to talk to my primary and tell him what's going on. And again, I think this message board has helped as well!!!!!:):D:)

Hi Fox87 Your on the right track. Exercise is great for stress. That's what I do and I feel better after it. I'm only on two meds for bipolar and I feel good. That's not the way it is for everybody though. It's hard to grow up. Even adults just want to have fun lol I just had to say that. Take care of yourself Sassy