Is anyone else fed up with having bipolar

Question

I have had this illness for many years. I take meds, see a therapist, eat healthy, exercise, have structure in my life - all the things necessary to minimize symptoms. Yet, I mildly cycle monthly and live with too much dysthymia.

My intelligence is less than it'd naturally be. I am somewhat foggy too much of the time. The side effects may be better than the illness unchecked, but this isn't the life I envisioned or really want.

I spend a fair amount of energy trying to mask the symptoms that I do have. It is exhausting. I intentionally share some of these feelings with others (more so w/my therapist), but it is neverending, so doing much of it has no real gain. Then, there is when I can't hide that I am low or irritable or amped up. I don't mean significantly or far out of normal bounds, but internally it probably is. I am tired. It goes on forever. I've already tried most of the meds.

I also come on here and see so many struggling with something temporary. I can understand being locked in a desparate state of depression or fear and not able to see a light. I wish I could make you understand that you do have solutions if you reach out for them. That for many of you, the problem truly can be resolved with some therapy, lifestyle change, and perhaps temporary medicine. However, making people know what they cannot know is an impossiblity. I guess that I am jealous, too. My situation is not temporary.

I'm mostly venting and asking if there are any others out there who can relate to this.

Answer 1

I am bipolar too, and I always used to resent having it and worry about not being able to go without it, and I'd stop my medicine (which was incorrectly prescribed in the first place).

Now I take Lamictal, which is an anti-convulsant for epileptics, but prescribed for mood stabilization.  Try it, it's worked wonders for me, and I haven't felt this good in years!

Answer 2

You read my mind, sister!!!  I recently weaned off of all of my meds because I was so fogged up all of the time.  It is hard, but I've been on them long enough to recognize my triggers and keep myself out of trouble.  The amazing thing is that once I was off, I started sleeping again, and all of my creativity came back to me.  It's the best thing I could have done.  Now, I'm not saying "Get off your meds!"  I am saying that I hope one day you are able to, and be able to accept yourself for what you are.

Good luck, and hang in there.  You're not alone!

Answer 3

This is the first time and last time I'm ever going to say this, here goes: have you thought about turning your life over to God? I mean really turn to him and ask for Him for help? I don't mean climb Mount Sinai or become a Nun! Just pray and meditate for a week or two in privacy, when you have the time. Just look over the past couple of days and see how they go. I'm not a holy roller by any means, I don't go to church regularly, but when I start feeling like the world is all wrong and the walls are moving in. I just go by myself and meditate or gaze at the trees and fields or pick out one thing in your life that was really good and smile. I mean really go back and remember. Then when you are feeling just a little better, look up and smile, give a wink and silently thank God.

Answer 4

Almost everyone in my family seem to suffer from Bipolar Disorder. Some of them have confirmed our suspicions others have not. I KNEW for the past few years that I had it, I did some research and realized that there are ways to live with it successfully. I have a journal that I write in to keep track of my episodes. I recently had the diagnosis confirmed by a therapist, I told her how I was managing my disorder and she told me that the medication usually impairs your thoughts and reactions. She then told me that she had been managing hers for 20+ years with out meds! Im not saying to get off your meds, what I am saying is to look into alternative methods of managing it. Best of Luck!

Answer 5

I'mM bipolar IM  sick of Bipolar  to and i got of my meds because my meds did not help you need to get off your meds because sometimes the meds for bipolar don't help trust me  

Answer 6

Bipolar is a pain. We lose so much freedom trying to avoid triggers and stress. The stigma does not help either. I cringe every time a rampaging "bipolar" person is in the news.  

Even with the meds I still still feel myself slide around on the mood spectrum somewhat. The side effects of the meds are a pain.

Yes, having bipolar disorder bums me out but since I have no choice in the matter I TRY to do the best I can with it. That is about all I can do. My only other option is stop meds and start toward another train wreck as I wallow in my angst and out of control brain.

My situation is not temporary either. Its a lifetime sentence and some days definitely feel like I'm doing hard time. I'm just glad the meds help. Otherwise it would be more like torture than just hard time.