Stressed Out

School started yesterday and I've just been really stressing out. I'm scared of some of my classes and I can't seem to sit still. I have a plan in place that allows me to take walks when needed, but I don't know how to keep still for the whole class period. My legs get that uncomfortable restless leg feeling. I worry it might be a medication I'm taking, Abilify. I'm having trouble paying attention and some voices are coming back. As you can see, I just have a whole mixture of problems right now. I'm so stressed I don't feel like I'm here right now. I'm really spacing.

Does anyone have any ideas that might help me? I'm really beginning to worry that I won't transition back into high school. Most of my newer symptoms turned up close to the end of the year so I don't have too much experience being back at school with these new problems.

Help would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

Well, I relate to your feeling. I've tried to discuss ADHD with my old T. but he always told me that Bi Polar can give you the same results. After 15+ years, no Bi Polar meds has ever given me focus.
Try metioning to your PCP your lack of focus, maybe he/she could help.
Good luck and let me know how it turns out.
Shannon Leigh

Don't worry, everything will work out fine.
It might help you to get something along the lines of a 'stress ball', it's a foam ball
That you can squeeze when stressed of anxious.
Deep breaths can also sometimes help.
Try and get lots of exercise.
Don't try to deal with every stress reaction at once, pick one thing make it the priority.
I know it's hard but try and get a full nights sleep.

And rember, This is a minor problem and you can deal with it.

you might want to talk to pdoc about med adjustment. the abilify gave me akethesia really bad where it felt like my skin was crawling or i was crawling out of my skin. i couldnt tolerate it.

Cjn, thank you.

Alcinus, a stress ball sounds like a really good idea. I never thought about using one before.

Kaliope, I'll keep that in mind but so far I really like Abilify so I'll try to tough it out for now.

That restless feeling may be akathisia which can be caused by Abilify and other antipsychotics. I had it from Abilify and we added propranolol and it stopped it. Abilify works for me so I didn't want to give it up which is why we added propranolol rather than stopping the Abilify.

Anneinside, thanks! I'll have to let my pdoc know that I'm experiencing this, then. I do hope we can find an alternative that will allow me to keep using Abilify.