I have bipolar 2 and when I was younger they just treated me with Adderall. I explained this to my doctor and my symptoms I’m still have…racing thoughts, can’t focus, memory issues, etc. I drank an energy drink and I’m seeming to stay focused more and my crippling tiredness is completely gone. How did you get diagnosed with ADHD while also having the bipolar diagnosis? How would I go about talking to my doctor about this? I always get too nervous to actually speak my mind around my doctor.

Hi! I recently met my psychiatrist for the first time and explained that I might be bipolar. She asked some questions and agreed with my statement so prescribed me Lithium. She told me to take 300mg x 2 times a day. after 10 days, got my bloodwork done and my lithium levels were 0.4 so she said double the dose to 600mg x 2 times a day.. because the goal is to make my lithium levels to 0.6-0.8

Is it normal to give such high dose to new patients with “possible” bipolar ??

Thank you!!

Hi I was just diagnosed yesterday, I am 26 yo, and I was wondering if medication helps with obsessive thoughts over someone and wanting to die if they leave you and that stuff

I feel like I’ve gotten the hang of depressive episodes, still struggle with manic…

But mixed? That’s a new level of hell.

They always creep up on me & surprise me with a plethora of mixed emotions that are always intense to say the least.

The worst? The spending! I knew it was an episode today after the aftermaths that happened because of the unnecessary spending!!!

It made sense for me to go to 3 different supermarkets and a bakery just to get custard powder and other unnecessary groceries!

Ok I didn’t seem to spend much, but they were UNNECESSARY!!!!

Then I decided to go and walk in the blistering cold up until a neighbour’s house and sit in their garden… it was past midnight!!!

It’s the guilt whilst doing all of that that kills me…

I did go to the emergency room to get emergency meds (I’m already taking meds and therapy) and will go tomorrow morning to get a proper prescription in case it happens again… which it will.

Hi friends, 32 F, diagnosed last year. Meds help a little, but my circumstances make things harder. I struggle with severe distractibility, crippling anxiety, and OCD-like thoughts that stop me from getting work done.

How do you stay focused and productive? Would love to hear what works for you.

I was talking to a friend who's borderline and we found it weird that their depression goes on for days without an end (like, they wake up depressed and go to sleep depressed every day), but my episodes are completely different: instead of stretching throughout days, weeks or months without stopping, my episodes have "peaks" around certain hours, usually in the evening around 6pm. Let's say I'm in a depressive episode (which I currently am), I'll be fine all day, but around 6pm I'll suddenly start feeling gloomy and s*icidal, I'll stop doing anything and isolate, thinking about how much of a useless person I am, etc. This will continue until I eventually fall asleep. BUT, and that's the weird part, when I wake up the next day, I'll be completely fine. No signs of depression whatsoever... until it's 6pm again and the cycle continues. I'll go back and forth between feeling alright and depressive for months. But sometimes, even though I don't have that "depressive mood", I still have trouble with specific things outside the "depression hours", like for example when I spent 10 months without having my hair and beard trimmed, which, according to my friends, made me look like a homeless person lol. I stopped going to university and failed every course, even lost my scholarship (which I'm now trying to get back).

My current diagnoses are: Schizoaffective Disorder type Bipolar and OCD, besides that, I'm under evaluation for a personality disorder (likely schizoid, narcissistic or a mix of both) and (C)PTSD. So that's not limited to my depression either, everything about me is that way, like (hypo)mania for example: I always found it weird that my manic episodes don't really impact my sleep schedule directly (although I've always had trouble with insomnia and sleep paralysis, but idk if that's related). It's just that I start getting energetic in the morning, then it stretches up until right before it's time to sleep, then all of that "euphoria" goes away, so I can sleep rather well, but just like it's the case with depression, the next day it repeats again. There were times I've experienced that for 2 or even 3 months in a row. Every day, I'd awake up feeling extra "happy", get euphoric, do some crazy things, only for it to go away at night, then I'd go to sleep and the cycle would repeat. The only time that was different was last year when I had a manic episode that lasted 2 weeks and during this time period I'd only sleep 2h a day and feel physically fine (although mentally exhausted).

Does anyone else experience their symptoms similarly? Any contribution to this discussion would be welcomed! Thanks in advance!

They never answered me to the reason why the brought me. They only said “you were thinking too much” 14 years later I received a bipolar 2 diagnosis do you think these two thing are related?

I’m not sure if it’s just me or not but when I am depressed my anxiety is almost non existent but when I’m hypomania my anxiety is through the roof.

My family and friends have absolutely no idea how much I’m struggling with normal, everyday things. Any time I have a moodswing, I hide, so nobody has really seen me crying for hours or screaming and throwing stuff around.

No one has seen me get completely emotionally obliterated from a single event or the wrong words at the wrong time.

Last night my step-mother accused me of making up an appointment just to get out of cleaning. I am 30 years old and I stayed over at her house for one night, thinking I was a guest. I had to rush over for an appointment next morning and spent an hour cleaning even though I was in a rush. But she still said that shit. Like I am a child and a second-grade citizen.

It crushed me. I am struggling so much, to even get out of bed. Do I have to show them that side - the crying, the screaming, the substance abuse, all of it? Is that when they will finally understand what bipolar disorder actually means? That I have to take a sedative just to show up for a dentist appointment or a job interview. That a mean pharmacist tore up my prescription without my consent, saying it wasn’t valid anymore and this sent me crying for 3 days straight?

Nobody know any of this shit because I hide it from them. And as a result I end up looking like someone “who doesn’t have their shit together “ … instead of someone who is ill.

This is a discussion not really seeking advice there just isn’t a discussion flare!! I have bpd in addition to bp2 and the two play off of each other and compound. I was wondering how other people experience this co-occurrence

Before I knew I had bipolar and was on medication I was all over the place….angry—nice—-angry, want to be close—distance yadda yadda.

Anyway, bridges were burned. A couple of the people that won’t speak to me really gives me angst. I’ve apologized profusely. I’ve sent texts/letters etc and they still are too angry or hurt to talk.

How do u let this go once u know u have done everything to apologize

If I can actually see in my mind myself carrying out my attempt is it time to go to the hospital? Like I can in my mind see my feet leaving the edge. Part of me wants to reach out but then another part of me feels like they won’t take me seriously

So, last night I got drunk I don't really drink 😕 I dunno if it reacted with meds or my bad mental health atm I phoned a ex, who I found out hurt my child phycologically Told her to sh etc

I was so out of order I don't remember it iv been told since

Like I harassed her badly last night with phone calls Im gunna loose my job an everything coz what I was saying It sounds so bad

I ruined my life I feel horrific why did I do that

I had a good friend. I was unknowingly bipolar and in severe states as I had started on vyvanse which worsened everything.

I hurt my friend and they abruptly quit talking to me. I’ve reached out periodically over the last 1.5 years with no response. I’ve given up but still feel badly about it. Simultaneously I know I couldn’t have done better as I was unmedicated.

Anyone have a similar experience? How did you let it go and forgive urself?

I might wake up a few times more than normal a night but I will still go to sleep on time and wake up on time. This makes me question my diagnosis too.

What do you guys take for insomnia? I’m so desperate to sleep. I’ve tried basically everything OTC and the devils lettuce as well, and that just makes me more hypomanic. I’m going to see my psych in a couple of days and I’m wanting to see if she’ll prescribe me anything. I’ve just read where some can cause mania to worsen and that’s the last thing I need.

How do you deal with anhedonia in your depressive episode?

My psychiatrist prescribed modafinil to treat my hypersomnia, and it just resulted me to be depressed AND anxious. Gym & running sprints in intervals every other day didn't help with anxiety, nor lift up depression & anhedonia.

I have things to do, college assignments, but it's hard to care if you feel dead, for a while, and praying to just be dead.

Is it just something you "wait it out"?

Hi guys, basically the title , I started to crave for some cigarettes for no reason and I just bought a pack of it and aready smoked half of it. Is it common to crave for nicotine when entering hypomania?? just wanted to know , also I stopped my meds for no reason.

Let me know guys thanks!

Ps: English not my first language ty

The mental results - amazing. Felt better than I have in so long, I can't remember when. Then the restlessness kicked in and it just wasn't worth it. My constant movement reminded us of my sister when she was on meth. Back to the drawing board. Latuda is a no as well. Ugh

Don’t know if it’s possible to add pics into the comments but I’m wondering if anyone had the rash from lamotrigine and can put a photo.

I had a rash on my wrist after starting the medication and went to a pharmacist but they said it wasn’t from the medication. I just want to know what it looks like exactly. I think my rash was maybe from harsh cleaning products

I went to the ER almost three weeks ago and I was prescribed a second anxiety med. I was having anxiety/panic attacks.

Today I'm doing slightly better but I'm still struggling experiencing anxiety symptoms throughout the day. It sucks I can't sleep on my side or the anxiety symptom in my stomach gets worse.

I was planning to get a weight blanket (I heard it's good for anxiety) but it sounded like a bad idea since it had glass beads in it. What if a tear happens? Is there a safer alternative?

I see my psychiatrist again in three days from now. I assume they will increase the dosage of my anxiety medication or switch to a more effective one.

I already started taking L-Theanine supplements (since I heard it's also good for anxiety) since a little over a week ago.

Besides Bipolar/Schizoaffective Type, I'm also already been diagnosed with GAD and OCD.

I booked for get a new tattoo the next week. I get bruises frequently.

Anyone did get a tattoo while lamo? Could you share your experiences.

I've noticed regularly that when I'm going through an episode that I crave certain things. Sometimes it's chocolate. Sometimes it's shopping online in the middle of the night. Other times it's sex. For context I have a very low sex drive as it is. The last few days I've been craving sex badly. From masterbation to having my partner be intimate though when he was done I refused to let him stop, I kept going because I was so hyper fixated on achieving multiple orgasms, which isn't something I would normally force, I couldn't stop, my on switch was stuck. That incident really weirded me out and I see it as a red flag on me. Now the last 24 hours I've been suppressing my sex craving because I want it to be abusive, rough, and non consensual. Like I want to be hurt no matter what, zero safe word, zero consequences for my partner, like I don't want him to feel guilty at all. I haven't told him what I want/need because I'm afraid of how he will react, basically I don't want him to recoil from my request and I don't want him to resent me for wanting this to happen. Again a second red flag for me. Has anyone else gone though this? We engaged in consensual rough and light bdsm/fetish sex in the past but nothing like what I'm craving right now. What do I do? Continue to be suppressive and try to ride our this hypermanic episode? Contact my psych? Like I'm in tears because I've never had an episode like this? I'd much rather be recklessly shopping on line.

Edited for grammatical error.

While very depressed I get the usual suicidal self loathing thoughts. But I also get images, like flashes of self harm. Slitting troath, hanging. They last for a second. Very disturbing. I'm now starting to get them while hypomania too. But not happy hypo.

Are these under the term suicidal ideation? Or part of something else?

Why now during hypo too??

I'd love to target specifically with a med if possible as very disturbing.

I have bipolar 2 and bpd and my living condition is not ideal. I want to change myself and change my life but why does it feel so bad when i'm taking action towards those goals. Maybe changing for the better supposed to suck? But I don't know if I'm strong enough. I always have low self esteem. So i don't know if i can push through. I feel like i know how to change but my understanding of it is unattainable. It's filled with ego, hurt, and not wanting to leave my comfort zone. Talking about comfort zone, how do you get out of comfort zone? Everyone seeks comfort. Even when people do uncomfortable things is for something that comfort them. For me, when i do uncomfortable things like working out or studying i just can't see myself ever succeeding so i lose motivation. I'm probably overthinking everything trying to create the perfect plan, it doesn't exist, right? I probably can research myself how to change? I just need to be sure.. or maybe I don't need to be sure.. i just need to take the nearest tiniest step no matter how much it hurts.. because my future matters and my loved ones lives that coexist with mine matters too. Maybe comfort is overrated.

I take seroquel every night to go to sleep. I don’t feel like it tonight. I’m doom scrolling with the tv on. I’ll deal with the consequences later.

Along with so many other diagnosis with bipolar, adhd etc.. insomnia was a big one. I’m taking 300-450mg every night and I absolutely hate the way it makes me feel in the morning and I don’t want to waste away 9-10 sleeping.

So, the question is guess is: would there be any adverse effects to stopping it all together. **** forgot to mention I would be replacing it with 2mm clonazepam****

I’m going thru a phase I guess because I want to quit them ell.

I posted a day ago or something about coming out of a depressive episode, being very tierd and exhausted, and being worried about hypomania. It’s not that long ago I got properly diagnosed, so I worry a bit about the depression getting better actually being hypomania. But now I’m pretty sure it’s not. My mood still feels rather low, but I’m more able to do things, like keep my apartment clean and tidy, reading, etc. So I think it’s going the right way.

However, the past days I’ve gotten these bursts of anger and feeling of rage and it makes me crazy. I want to smash everything around me and whatnot. I don’t know what to do. It’s so overwhelming. I’ve been taking my prn diazepam to calm a bit down and it takes the egde, but I cant use too much of that medicine though.

I just started taking olanzapine some weeks ago, which I think has helped the depression, but I thought it would help with feeling of rage and anger too, but now it just seemes to make it worse.

I don’t know what to do. I start feeling better but at the same time I can’t do anything as everything makes me angry. I’ve felt it before, but that was from antidepressants probably.

Sorry, this was long, and I probably forgot something.

TLDR: I don’t know how to handle these bursts of anger and rage that seemes to follow by my depression somehow getting a bit better after starting olanzapine.

Hi peeps,

I am looking for someone to chat with who gets me. I have no diagnosis yet but recognize myself in a lot of the description. My anxiety is spiking through the roof sometimes and I constantly feel like doom is hanging over me. I am trying to make my head a nice place again.

I like having people to talk to that are experiencing the same thing. It makes me feel less alone and can be very uplifting.

Hi, new to this sub <3 Day 3 of lamotrigine, titrating up over 5 weeks to 50mg. Lexapro sent me into rapid cycling hypomania and crushing depression. What a wild ride…

Any success stories or reassurance would be much appreciated.

Sending love x