Hi, im new on here. Any advice appreciated :o)

Hi Peeps,

Erm.. I dont really know what to say. Im 26 years old and have just recently been diagnosed with BiPolar. But i have suffered depression and self harmed since the aged of 12. I dont self harm anymore though. I now have to come off my anti-depressants (cipralex) and start a different anti depressant (not sure which one yet) and a mood stabalizer. Abit anxious about this "change" as i have been on them for so long and i know i will get the withdrawal symptoms. But i know it has to be done... So thought i'd join this site for the help along the way..

I am just waiting for my blood tests before i can start the mood stabalizers. They are called Carbamazepine. Has anymore tried these before??

Hope to speak to someone soon.. Lynnie B

Hi LynnieB, Welcome. I have never taken carbamazepine so I am not sure of the side effects or how well it works. I am on abilify and lamictal, the combo seems to work good for me so far.

Primarily used as anti convuslants for the primary use of epileptic fits. It was the first drug I was put on. I actually didn't find a difference using it. So, mood stabilisers were added along the way, I did some research to discover that most of the additional drugs were highly addictive. My thought process was - why am I taking additional meds, when the base med could be changed? I did some more research myself and felt that lamictal was by far the superior drug. However, because of its potential side effects you have to build up the dose very slowly. I got impatient with that, so now I'm running med free. Not something I'd advocate for, but I've been stable for a good few months now, I'm very self aware, I track my moods and I have a community mental health team which are aware of my situation and we have a relapse plan. But I'm open to using drugs again in the future if the need arises.

Anyway, the reason I thought I'd share all that is because of the importance of research and being self aware. When you get hit with a label, there is an element of grieving involved. Denial, anger, resentment, relief, etc. Medical professionals also have different views on the illness, so you'll have to rely greatly on yourself to research what works best for you. Ask questions, check in with other people, read textbooks. I just read, Bipolar Disorder II by Dr Ronald Grieve - I prefer textbooks to autobiographies, although, An Unquiet Mind by Dr Kay Jamison was well written, I found it a bit pretentious. Bipolar for Dummies is an excellent source of easy read information.

Do you have a good support system? My husband knows my moods even better than I do, so he's able to keep me grounded as well.

Anyway, sorry to waffle on - welcome to the site and I hope you find a wealth of information at your fingertips, see if you can find a local support group as well.

Take care!

Take with food. <3

Hey Jen,

Thanks for the reply.. So the mood stabalizers you take have they effected your weight? How long have you been on them and do you now feel more stable?

Sorry to fire loadsa question at ya !

Hey
I am new to this site to!
I may not be the best at advice, but I am willing to listen and help where needed

Hiya and thanks for reply.. My mum is great with me. My partner trys but i feel he is embarrassed i have it..

I would like to find a local support group, wouldnt know where to start..

Feel abit confused by it all at the minute..

Hi. Welcome. There are a lot of us bipolars on the site. I just got diagnosed a few weeks ago at age 29. It's pretty common I guess to be dxed from age 20-30, but it can go untreated/misunderstood well into one's 40s and 50s. I've suffered from depression since age 7, possibly earlier, that's just when I remember the long term underlying existential depression descended. I also have self harmed since childhood. I hate the sight of blood, so I inflict pain other ways. Anyway, this is a safe place to tell your story and to be supported on the good, bad, and ugly days.

I've just started Lamictal as my mood stabilizer, also an anticonvulsant, but it's only been 8 nights so it's not yet working. Apparently Lithium is given these days only for extreme mania or when the anticonvulsants don't work. Sometimes they're used together (lithium and an anticonvulsant like carbamazepine--the generic form of Tegretol according to the crazymeds website http://www.crazymeds.us/ --a fave site for many on here). In addition to your mood stabilizer (one or more), the p-doc will usually prescribe an antidepressant (if you're in the depressed phase for a sustained period and sometimes an anti-psychotic such as Abilify or Seroquel). These are generalizations and may not apply depending on your specific symptoms/issues/problems.

That's about all I know so far, because I'm a newbie like you. I'm sad that I have this disease, but it's important to know all you can about it and inform those closest to you so they'll be able to help if you have a serious swing that could be dangerous.

Hope to see you around.

I have been on the lamictal for about a year and the abilify for about 5 months or so. I haven't noticed any weight gain or weight loss in either one. As far as keeping me stabilized, they are working well. I switched from lithium to my current combo with no problems.

Thanks everyone for your replies.

Thnk this site will help me...

Hi LynnieB!

I'm bipolar II with a side dish of PTSD. I am so glad PC was here when I got diagnosed...I was a mess emotionally and it helped having this place full of people who understand.

I am currently on Lithium only. Lamictal didn't work out for me due to side effects...but it worked really well on the depression. Lithium keeps me from being curled up in a ball crying, but I am wanting a bit more than that...

I am lucky, my hubby isn't really bothered by the diagnosis at all.

I'm on Lithium, Lamictal, Remeron, Celexa, and Klonopin. Sometimes I still curl up in a ball. Everything won't disappear, but it will get shorter and less intense. <3 Don't give up hope.

Thanks everyone who replied!!

Yeh i do feel better by comin on here! It can sometimes be a lonely world cant it... I wish my partner was more supportive but im glad i got you guys!!

Ama, I wish I had your p-doc! I need a combo that will actually help me, not make me feel worse. (the nurse i see thinks less is more...um, not if it doesn't work)

And Lynnie, I'm glad we have you too. This may sound cheesy, but together we're stronger. It's true. (cue the star trailed by a rainbow _ The More You Know).

I'm just weird like that. I make jokes even when I'm devastatingly depressed...that is, if I'm not comatose.

Look forward to seeing you around.