I am still new to this diagnosed about 3 wks or so ago and was manic and went into a pyschosis. Now I feel depressed. What usually will they do if I just came out of a mania. I feel intense fear at times b/c I am so afraid they will just put me on even more meds. I am not really living right now. It sucks. Do they usually give an antidepressant to somebody so recently out of mania? I am so scared I have never not been on antidepressants (I always thought I had major depression and borderline) This time of year is awful for me. Any thoughts. I see my pdoc Thurs but it feels so far away.

[Anneinside]

If they put you on an antidepressant then they will probably also put you on a mood stabilizer to keep it from sending you into mania. Lithium, Lamictal (lamotrigine), Depakote...

I am already on a high dose of Depokote

[sugahorse1]

Often a mood stabiliser helps against depression too, but it can take 6 weeks before u notice any change

[Rapunzel]

There are several options. You need to advocate for yourself. If you want to be on less meds rather than more meds, say that and ask them to work with you. It might be an option to lower your depacote. You might be on enough depacote to be able to add an antidepressant. They could try a different med, like symbiax, or a combination of atypical antipsychotic, with or without an antidepressant. Symbiax is zyprexa and prozac together, and is used for depression and for bipolar disorder.

There are also non-med options, like talk therapy, which helps long-term more than meds alone. Also ask about how light, dark, sleep, and nutrition could also be important and how adjustments to your daily routine could help manage your symptoms. These are important things that a lot of people, including doctors and therapists, often overlook. When a certain part of the year is harder for you than other times, it is likely that there is a seasonal pattern and or some trauma. Diet and lifestyle factors are especially important when you have a seasonal pattern, and if there is trauma (maybe an anniversary date triggers you), then you will need to work through that.

Don't let them stop at a meds adjustment if you want or are willing to look beyond that. Meds can help, but they aren't everything.