Is it possible to deal with bipolar disorder alone?

Question

I was diagnosed and getting help with my psychiatrist/counsellor in my uni town, but because I moved back home for a few months, I had to stop seeing them. My GP at home isn't interested, and I'm seriously considering not going back to the people I was seeing, when I go back to uni.

I know all about eating right and exercising and everything, but is that enough?

Can I do this without professional help?

Answer 1

Dont think so you may need a bit of support also. I should go back to the people you were seeing previously, its hard to cope with on your own.

Answer 2

No.  Please, do not attempt to deal with bipolar on your own.  You may or may not need medication and that requires a physician.  There may also come a time when you need therapy and you should be in counseling.  I suggest you check out  a book called "A Brilliant Madness, Living With BiPolar Disorder" written by Patty Duke-Aston.  There is also a free course available on-line which you may find helpful.  Bi-polar is often seen as an imbalance of chemicals in the brain.  There are two types of bi-polar disorder, bi-polar I & bi-polar II.  You are not dealing with the common cold here.  I'm not saying it is serious, I'm saying it can get a little bit complicated.  I hope you will consider your health & your well-being enough to find a physician with a good reputation who can prescribe you medication if necessary.  If that person is also your counsellor, great.  If you must see two different professionals, then do so.  Ask that they communicate with one another.  Please don't try to deal with bipolar alone.  Your symptoms can get out of control despite your best attempts.  Medication is designed to work in your brain, something that food and exercise cannot do.

Answer 3

No you cant.

If youre GP is useless, the go and see another one xx

Answer 4

Please don't try to cope alone, you may feel ok now but think of the future.Try to find another Doctor that understands Bi-polar.

Are you taking your medications this is important.

Answer 5

i think you need your professional help. if you do it alone, its yourself and family and friends who suffer.

perservere with your own doctor and besides it should be on your medical records so your gp can't ignore it.

Answer 6

i would suggest you ask to see another GP,

don't let someones ignorance get in the way of you coping with your disorder, there are plenty of good, compassionate GPs out there.

In my experience you need meds, along with a talking therapy such as Cognitive behavioural therapy.

Its a long hard journey and be prepared to relapse, but it can be managable if you take the help that is offered with open arms although as a bipolar suffer thats often what you least want to do.

I'm at uni too and if i didn't have the support i have now, i would of quit.

Answer 7

You don't say if your on meds or not. If you are then you better get your GP on the ball to help you. Like my doctor told me it's like having diabetes you can't go without insulin a BP can't go without their meds either. When you move back definitely go back and keep with your Psyc. doctor BP is nothing to mess with you should know that.

Answer 8

Hi,

I honestly do not believe you can get through diagnosed bi-polar disorder without some kind of professional help or support hun.

Its better to aim to have things controlled through medication and therapy, rather than waiting to hit a serious low that could have been avoided. If you get really ill you wont be able to continue with your uni work and may be forced to take some time out.  It happened to me.

Why risk it?  I think its really good however that you recognise that you have the main part to play in your recovery-SO many people take meds and get angry when they're not working, why they need to put the work in too. No medication or therapy is a magic cure!  Keep the excercise and eating well up, it will help you maintain good mental health.  Try to have a good support network of friends who make you feel good-basically put as much as a safety net in as you can for yourself.

Good luck with the rest of your course.

Answer 9

I think you should try another doctor or therapist. Bipolar should not be taken lightly it can caused someone to do a lot of unexpected things like killing yourself or killing somebody else. At least you go to your old doctor to get some medication. Professional help is important to balance your disorder.