New and confused - Bipolar Disorder Message Board

In-angst · 07-14-2006, 10:17 PM

Hi all, hope everyone is well. while waiting for approval to post i have read almost every post in this room. I was diagnosed as ultra rapid cycling bipolar last week. But I suspect that I have had this disorder for along time. I simply refused to acknowlege it until i woke my entire family up at 3 am to go camping, actually loaded the van and made hubby drive to lake. i think he was too frightned by the extrme of my behavior to know how to handle this new crisis. I think this was new form of the high as mine usually results in rage and angry outburts. My question is how do i help my family especially my hubby deal with this ( i also have 2 6 y/o kids who are very confused) ? Any help our reasources that u can direct me to would be of great help. i started amblify and lamctimile? (SP) and we are to see the dr in a week but what do I do until then. It feels like this illness is going to kill my family ( structural speaking) My husband wants so much to be supportive but doesnt know what helps and what will make it worse. Thank you all.

candi

goody2shuz · 07-14-2006, 10:42 PM

Hi, Candi

Welcome.....I think that you are doing the best thing that you can do...you have acknowledged that you have the disorder and are accepting the treatment. The hardest part is pretty much over. You now just have to wait until the meds kick in and you find the right combo that will help you out. Being proactive in the sense of being completely open with your pdoc as far as the changes you see in relation to the meds will help. That way they will be able to see if you need an increase in a particular med or perhaps have to try a different one. It will take time to find the right meds and for them to reach therapeutic levels but once you do you will feel more yourself and both you & your family will notice the improvement. That is what I have learned here as we are trying to stabilize my daughter who has recently been diagnosed.

Getting proper sleep, eating right, and exercising will help out as well. the thing is it will take time to find the right meds.....so be patient and honest with your doctor so that he can get you stabilized. I hope that you will be feeling better soon. Keep us posted and feel free to share any of your concerns. This is a wonderful place to come and there is a wealth of knowledge and support here.

~ Goody

tsohl · 07-14-2006, 10:49 PM

Hi Candi,
Welcome and sorry for the reason you're here reading these posts. I would suggest that you look up **** (National Alliance for the Mentally Ill) and read about it on their website and then look to see if there is a chapter near where you live. They can put you in touch with support groups and other information that would be useful to your husband, as well as to you. Most states have groups for families as well. Often it is recommended that the whole family get involved in family therapy so everyone understands what is going on. I'm sure it's very scary when the kids don't know what's happening to Mommie. Perhaps a support group would provide help to you in helping your kids understand.

Hopefully the medication will help control your mood swings and you will be able to get a handle on things. I would ask your husband to read as much as he can on bi-polar disorder so he will better understand that you can't control your mood swings, and he will know that with his help and love and the right meds, you WILL get better.

I would add one thing to what Goody has said. Drink LOTS of water.
best wishes,
Tsohl

whitewingdove · 07-14-2006, 11:06 PM

hi,
i'm 23 and have had depressive bipolar disorder my whole life and just found the right combo of meds in the past yr. i am taking 5mg of abilify and 200 mg of lamictal and 2mg of xanax and 50mg of luvox. it was hard for me to come to terms with my diagnosis but when my new meds kicked in i feel much better and am more able to cope. my family has never known how to help me and thats made it harder but i finally met someone who took me to the crisis center and they got me in touch with a free mental health clinic that gave me meds and counseling and i'm doing much better now. i still have mild episodes as i'm going thru a really ruf time right now. but i'm MUCH better than i was. and my family still doesn't understand it. hang in there. it will get better. it also has helped some for my mom or gf to go to the counseling with me. so that they can better understand it and know how to help me. keep us updated. hope you get to feeling better when you get the right combo of meds. it might take awhile or you might luck out but just keep your chin up. i know it's hard but it will be okay.

texascritter · 07-14-2006, 11:08 PM

Hi candy! I don't know alot about bi-polar yet. My wife was just diagnosed with it last week and since then she tried to commit suscide for the 2nd time ina month. She has since been committed to our state mental hospital. Hopefully you won't ever get into that suitation. At least you know what is wrong with you and are taking steps to get it under control. It's tough on the entire family but knowing your getting help gives everyone some hope it will be controlled and life will get back to normal or better in the future. The only advise I can pass along is get your husband involved in this board. He will have many questions of his own.I know it is helping me understand and know what I can do to help. If I can be of any assistance to either you or your husband let me know. I will share what little I know. At this point your husband and I are in the same boat by not knowing how to deal with it. I wish you well !!! TEXASCRITTER