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Let's talk about bipolar disorder

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Courtney_J

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06/23/2020 at 12:00 AM

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Courtney_J

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Last activity on 08/08/2022 at 11:09 AM

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1,340 comments posted | 37 in the Bipolar disorder Forum

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Hello everyone,

How are you doing today? emoticon cute

I thought we could use a space to introduce ourselves and talk about our experiences with bipolar disorder.

What is your bipolar disorder story? How were you diagnosed? Were you diagnosed as a teen or later as an adult? How are you doing now? What medications or treatments have you tried?

Feel free to share your story, your advice or your support here!

@JMay9907‍ @jbfurr‍ @Tinag57‍ @Cathylambert‍ @heidihildeman79‍ @christiesmith3568‍ @Paigesc17‍ @Erinstanford‍ @Melisa‍ @Danika‍ @Santizzle‍ @Noah2142‍ @alickeys1999‍ @Wolfie6499‍ @MotherofDogs‍ @laurie3jean‍ @tinahernandez0425‍ @kaleh725‍ @Dingledang007‍

Take care,
Courtney

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Blondie61

03/22/2021 at 7:56 PM

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Blondie61

Last activity on 07/02/2024 at 8:21 PM

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10 comments posted | 10 in the Bipolar disorder Forum

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@SparkleMotion14 I was in counseling for years and that definitely helped a lot. I guess I forgot to mention that. My advice to others...keep taking your medications every day. Think of it as maintenance. If you have been taking medications for a while, your doctor probably has you on a very low dose. Stay on that dose. People often quit taking their meds once they are stable and that is a terrible mistake. Sooner or later you will have an episode. It may take years but it will happen. It took me 11 years of not taking my medications to have another episode. I will always take my medications because I don't want that to happen ever again.

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Denise L. Uhde-Friesen

Let's talk about bipolar disorder https://www.carenity.us/forum/bipolar-disorder/living-with-bipolar-disorder/what-is-your-bipolar-disorder-story-lets-share-2095 2021-03-22 19:56:59

Blondie61

03/22/2021 at 8:00 PM

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Blondie61

Last activity on 07/02/2024 at 8:21 PM

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10 comments posted | 10 in the Bipolar disorder Forum

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@Kenzie22 So, if you are diabetic, it isn't healthy to keep taking your medications for it? Mental illness is no different than any other medical disorder. It is unhealthy to not take your medications. The consequences can be severe and I am sure when you have an episode, it is hard on both the body and the mind. It is only reasonable to take your meds every day if you don't want to regress and have an episode. I look at it as being maintenance for my mental illness.

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Denise L. Uhde-Friesen

Let's talk about bipolar disorder https://www.carenity.us/forum/bipolar-disorder/living-with-bipolar-disorder/what-is-your-bipolar-disorder-story-lets-share-2095 2021-03-22 20:00:15

ccm675

03/23/2021 at 3:48 AM

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ccm675

Last activity on 07/29/2022 at 7:56 PM

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32 comments posted | 9 in the Bipolar disorder Forum

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Medications are great if they work for a period of time, mine need adjusting still, because my body is changing so much....They only work minimally....If you take them everyday, they grow on you....So just talk or call your Psyche Doctor for adjustment, please....Don't do what I did, and not heed the warnings soon enough....The side affects can be treacherous to handle alone....Your PCP will adjust your physical medications as well....I still say that they aren't full proof....Talk therapy helps me immensely....Talk to your Doctors, please for me!!!

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Mark Rodrigue

Let's talk about bipolar disorder https://www.carenity.us/forum/bipolar-disorder/living-with-bipolar-disorder/what-is-your-bipolar-disorder-story-lets-share-2095 2021-03-23 03:48:42

Kenzie22

03/23/2021 at 8:02 PM

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Kenzie22

Last activity on 10/03/2022 at 6:16 PM

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141 comments posted | 18 in the Bipolar disorder Forum

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@Blondie61 Well I mean those are people who need to live on their meds, but then again I'm not you so who am I to judge. I have my own issues

Let's talk about bipolar disorder https://www.carenity.us/forum/bipolar-disorder/living-with-bipolar-disorder/what-is-your-bipolar-disorder-story-lets-share-2095 2021-03-23 20:02:59

SparkleMotion14

03/24/2021 at 7:44 PM

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Last activity on 06/19/2021 at 8:08 PM

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36 comments posted | 27 in the Bipolar disorder Forum

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@Blondie61 I completely agree. A few moths ago my friends told me that I was over medicated and for some unknown reason I believed them. I stopped taking my Zyprexa, Celexa, and Lamictil. I crashed hard. I told my husband and he begged me to start taking them again. I’m doing much better now except that I still het breakthrough manic episodes time to time. ♥️

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SparkleMotion14 aka Elizabeth

Let's talk about bipolar disorder https://www.carenity.us/forum/bipolar-disorder/living-with-bipolar-disorder/what-is-your-bipolar-disorder-story-lets-share-2095 2021-03-24 19:44:11

SparkleMotion14

03/25/2021 at 11:26 AM

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Last activity on 06/19/2021 at 8:08 PM

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36 comments posted | 27 in the Bipolar disorder Forum

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I have been dealing with bipolar 1 for approximately 15 years. I am also being treated for depression (since I was 18... I’m now 43) and anxiety since I was 34, so close to 10 years. I take Zyprexa, Lamictil, Celexa, and Xanax for my bipolar as well as my depression and anxiety.

Over the past year I’ve been getting breakthrough episodes of severe bipolar depression as well as many more manic episodes. The past few months have been really hard. I’ve either contracted a bad case of insomnia or I’m hypomanic. I’m not sleeping much, I’m irritable, but I’m otherwise functioning fairly normally. When I have a full blown manic episode, I tend to hallucinate. The worst manic episode I had lasted for about a week. I didn’t sleep at all which caused hallucinations which lead to a psychotic break. My parents went behind my husband and my back and had me put on a 72 hour hold in a psychiatric hospital. While there I finally came out of my manic state only to crash into a major depressive state. All I did was sleep and occasionally eat. I didn’t go to groups because I was so depressed I literally could not get out of bed.

I’m definitely not in a full blown manic episode because I don’t have the euphoric feelings or hallucinations, I’m not starting a million projects that I don’t complete, I’m not talking a million miles per hour. I’m in a slightly manic state with a mixed depressive state.

I know I need to make an appointment with my doctor, but I was curious if anyone else has a similar problem. I think my dosage on my meds likely need to be adjusted since I’ve been on the same amount since I was first diagnosed with bipolar. I did ask my doctor to try me on a different bipolar medication and he put me on Abilify. I took it for a month and it made my bipolar symptoms worse so I went back to Zyprexa and I evened out a little bit. This was approximately 4 months ago. Even with Zyprexa, I’m experiencing more breakthrough episodes that I’ve ever had. Both depressive and manic episodes. I will be making a doctors appointment but I thought I’d reach out here too. I’m new to this community and am looking for support and advice from others with mental health issues similar to mine.

Thank you!

💖Elizabeth💖

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SparkleMotion14 aka Elizabeth

Let's talk about bipolar disorder https://www.carenity.us/forum/bipolar-disorder/living-with-bipolar-disorder/what-is-your-bipolar-disorder-story-lets-share-2095 2021-03-25 11:26:30

SparkleMotion14

03/25/2021 at 11:47 AM

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Last activity on 06/19/2021 at 8:08 PM

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36 comments posted | 27 in the Bipolar disorder Forum

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@Kenzie22 everyone is different especially when it come to emotional and mental disorders. I know things that work for me won’t work for everyone. I hope you are doing well. 🤍

💖Elizabeth💖

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SparkleMotion14 aka Elizabeth

Let's talk about bipolar disorder https://www.carenity.us/forum/bipolar-disorder/living-with-bipolar-disorder/what-is-your-bipolar-disorder-story-lets-share-2095 2021-03-25 11:47:59

Kenzie22

03/25/2021 at 12:08 PM

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Kenzie22

Last activity on 10/03/2022 at 6:16 PM

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141 comments posted | 18 in the Bipolar disorder Forum

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@SparkleMotion14 My medication in a way is my music. I write down my feelings. It helps me cope and keeps me sain. If I didn't have that I would have most likely killed myself already, but you are right what works for others may not work for me. I agree completely.

Let's talk about bipolar disorder https://www.carenity.us/forum/bipolar-disorder/living-with-bipolar-disorder/what-is-your-bipolar-disorder-story-lets-share-2095 2021-03-25 12:08:56

SparkleMotion14

03/25/2021 at 12:20 PM

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Last activity on 06/19/2021 at 8:08 PM

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36 comments posted | 27 in the Bipolar disorder Forum

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@Kenzie22 When I’m manic I also listen to music and spend a great deal of time writing in my journal but I also have a music blog that I write. I’m usually only able to write in my journal or blog when I’m manic. Have you tried meditation?

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SparkleMotion14 aka Elizabeth

Let's talk about bipolar disorder https://www.carenity.us/forum/bipolar-disorder/living-with-bipolar-disorder/what-is-your-bipolar-disorder-story-lets-share-2095 2021-03-25 12:20:03

Kenzie22

03/26/2021 at 1:42 AM

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Kenzie22

Last activity on 10/03/2022 at 6:16 PM

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141 comments posted | 18 in the Bipolar disorder Forum

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@SparkleMotion14 My mom wouldn't let me get on meds because she doesn't want me to become addicted or dependent on a drug. She honestly doesn't care about my depression, but my music and lyrics are just as good as any medication at least for me. I use to be on Adhd meds, but they made my anger issues really bad and I never ate anything. The doctors would always put my doses higher and higher to control my behavior issues. I don't really take any kinds of meds now.

Let's talk about bipolar disorder https://www.carenity.us/forum/bipolar-disorder/living-with-bipolar-disorder/what-is-your-bipolar-disorder-story-lets-share-2095 2021-03-26 01:42:55

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SparkleMotion14

03/19/2021 at 12:15 AM

@Classycathy Absolutely! Try the cannabis pens. The come in Sativa (energetic high), Indica (a mellow and relaxing high) or blends. You can read on the box to see what the strain type is so you don’t grab the wrong one. I use Indica during my manic episodes. While it doesn’t completely rid me of the mania, but it definitely helps and gives me some relief. I believe you can buy them online. Our friends usually have them on hand so we get ours that way. Good luck!🍀

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SparkleMotion14

03/19/2021 at 12:15 AM

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