Anxiety and Bi -Polar

[greggy]

Ig I m Greggy and I have dealt with BI polar and clinical anxiety for longer that I can recall. At first my biggest 'gripe' was the depression as that was the time when I became non functional. the anxiety was still there but iwas in my early twenties[ side note ; all these symptoms have gotten worse as time has gone on].

I started seeing a psychiatrist about the depression, neglecting the 'mania' as I imagined that the mania might be my normal mood[ doenst everyone paint their room at 4 am]

and so was prescribed anti depressants. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAH

Well that went me into a permanent unbreakable mani thelike of whichihad never seen before, I was hiding in my bathroom unable to leave the house or even answer the phone.

I tried  several antidepressants with thw same effect and gave up

at which time I started to self medicate on alcohol and other drugs this nightmare lasted for many years until I got sober and have remained sober till I lost 4 members of my family in nine months plus was audited by the irs and lost my nest egg.

Ihave been found to be 100 percenty disabled and that is weird for someone who is used to working.

Moreover I have bad coverage for drugsand so am seeking them here I have read many books about bi polar and found that some meds have a good effect I was trying lithium but I am sadly having terrible side effects and since I form kidney stones constantly lithium is out, so I am trying abilify and tryongto get some klonopinon this site.

I am wondering is any bodyout there that beat thisthing enough tobe able to leave their house go shopping and maybe fishing [ which I love more than anything]

what drugs do yuou take , therapy a,d whwatever.

I am ready to be done withi this

I don't thing any of us deserve to feel this way I think we deserve a good like itys not our fault

 

[Jam1]

I have SA - social anxiety and over the last couple of years have developed GAD, the latter comes and goes, but when it is there it's awful but there are usually triggers for it, I imagine the worst things are going to happen, I'm convinced of it but I know it is GAD now and a change in circumstances  i.e removing the triggers helps a lot. 

I have tried cbt, it didn't 'cure' me but it helped me understand what was going on in my head. Some people have a really good outcome with this. What I would recommend also is Reiki, I have literally just started a course on it and you have to self cleanse for an hour every night to start off with, just listening to Reiki music which is part of the self cleanse process calms me down. You also learn to practice mindfulness and meditation and other tricks and tasks and more to it. I told my teacher about my problems and she said 'Oh you will be rid of all that' very confidently but we'll see. The teacher didn't specify, and I didn't ask, what mental health problems she had but one story out of many which she told us was that she tried to open the door of a plane at 35000 feet and one of the cabin crew had to slap her a number of times to stop her (it gets worse) and now she lives life to the full and can deal with issues with ease. Living like this, I realise I am living a sub-life without meds.

However I have spoken to other random people and I am surprised at the percentage who have done it and find they can cope with life and situations much better. 

Also when something truly terrible happens I cope with it really well, some people say I am extremely strong, but it's the aftermath, months....years later that I get the anxiety.

Nature, I know it sounds silly, is a truly calming amazing thing that is connected with mindfulness and if you can find a green space where you can go for a walk where you feel comfortable and really appreciate your surroundings then that really helps....well it helps me.

Also if you can or want to get a pet, they are proven to reduce stress, anxiety and depression. I want to get another dog when circumstances are right, when I had one he definitely felt much better and it gives you something to focus on, to look after, which takes you out of your own thoughts. I horseride but at the moment my car is in the garage and will be for a while and I definitely feel more stress not being around horses plus the fresh air and exercise.

Re: meds, I've tried SSRIs - useless made me feel like a zombie and like my brain was screwed up into a ball, and I don't know how they can be marketed as non addictive as the withdrawals are terrible - however I'm pretty sensitive to meds. It's my family's fault they don't take anything. My genes aren't prepared for it! My grandmother recently died at 98 of old age on no medication - she wouldn't even take paracetamol.

A good thing I found was propranolol slow release capsules which are great for panic attacks I haven't had one in years and it covers you for 24 hours until you take the next one.

And my other staple is Di@zzz, I can't take anything stronger but of course my doctor won't give them to me.

 

[Jam1]

Damn I didn't edit quickly enough last line dia£ - could a mod for it please, really, really sorry and I don't have enough posts to contact you directly.

 

[VII]

@greggy

Hey there, I'm sorry to hear you suffer from bi-polar disorder along with a panic disorder on top of it.

Ironically I recently discussed this subject with a healthcare professional and it turns out benzos alone can help treat bi-polar disorders depending on what type is given.

Here's an example:

Let's say Bob had bi-polar disorder. Bob had anxiety issues and was prescribed Xanax for his anxiety disorder, it turns out that specific receptors in the brain regarding mood swings are generally suppressed due to the fact the medications purpose is to suppress those parts in Bob's brain to prevent panic and to remain calm. 

This doesn't mean Bob will be cured or that would be the absolute solution, no. However, it cuts down on hyper active mood swings by a significant amount while treating anxiety attacks.

----

Benzos are highly addictive, but it does help suppress anxiety symptoms and from what I've seen and heard from people that have bi-polar disorder seem to have an easier time dealing with the mood swings while treating their panic attacks at the same time. The mood swings can still occur, but not as frequently. The medication is not designed for treating bi-polar disorder but it has it's pros to assist the individual to get through the day.

How often do you feel panic? If it's frequently and daily you may need to consult with a healthcare professional to see if they can prescribe you something like Klonopin for instance which slowly peaks and lasts a good 4-6 hours apposed from Xanax that only lasts 2-ish hours (large fast peak, bad half-life).

Such meds can assist you with both bi-polar disorder and anxiety disorders.

As a note I'm not a healthcare professional and all information that is stated here is from personal experience and from discussions I've had with individuals throughout the years having the same exact issue you're having. Always consult with a healthcare professional before doing anything to be safe, only you and your primary healthcare professional know your medical history. 

Stay safe and good luck.

 

[PTFC]

Great advice @VII, unfortunately greggy got himself banned a while back, but your post is very informative and well put. Not to mention, great to see you back around! 

 

[catnsdogz]

I know the user was banned and post is old but my story may help others:

I suffered for years with Bi-Polar Depression, spending majority of my life depressed I was starting to get into cycles that went from depression to better to manic only to become even more depressed. I have been on almost every anti-depressant and now I am using Abilify to help with my mood. It is a godsend. My pdoc even offered me xanz or kpins for my anxiety but I didn't want to come off as a drug seeking patient. (later down the road I will opt for the xanz script)

I might be starting my first rounds of ECT next week so I am very nervous but maybe I won't have to at the rate this Abilify is working. God Speed to all my Fellow Roller-Coaster Riders

 

[PTFC]

It's natural to be nervous @catnsdogz, but I really hope the ECT helps you to level out. The peaks and troughs of depression are just a terrible burden on the mind and body, your whole life revolves around it. Let us know how you get on if you feel up to talking about it.

 

[catnsdogz]

 Thanks @PTFC

There is a chance that the by the time they call me for my consult next week I will change my mind because Abilify is working wonders and the threat of Long-term Memory Loss is getting scarier. But if I do it I will be sure too update as it may help others here!

 

[Guest]

I’m in the same boat, I currently take Wellbutrin 150mgs twice a day which is the only thing that’s ever worked for me. An also a ton of benz0’s I’m prescribed as well for GAD. 

 

[myalias]

@catnsdogz 

Did you decide not to do ect?

how has the abilify worked long term?

thank you