Should I try dating again now that I'm medicated?

I strongly disagree with this. The problem is not in feeling but feeling too much! However this medicine works, I feel little depression and more happiness. All BP meds reduce emotions in some way. Without that you would just remain unstable. Normal people feel less that BP people. Sad things make me feel somewhat sad, but should they make me cry? Why should I cry over a sad song or if my mama curses at me or someone doesn't call me back? I think that you fail to understand that less emotional state improves my self esteem as there is less worry and negative thinking. I don't care what anyone says, but I do feel so much more confident when on Lamictal than not. I enjoy physical sensations much more than emotional ones.

I do not agree that "normal people" feel less than Bipolar people. I guess I am at a loss as to what advice you are actually looking for. You state Lamictal has been a fantastic medication for you.. Your concerns about dating is an issue which you are looking for advice , no? ..

I really don't understand the story about the cat and shredded balls??? Maybe it's best I don't understand that.

If you feel that your being "less emotional" increases your self esteem, that's great wonderful , fantastic continue your daily dose of Lamictal.. Go forth and date date date.

Good luck

Im just saying that self esteem from a pill might be temporary and that its something to be aware of. Didnt fail to understand what you are saying. To me the problems you expressed soumd like they could be personal things you could work on, maybe less of bipolar itself.

Its good if the lamictal helps you of course. I just see alot of posts when people become tired of the flat effect.

OK, about the cat and shredded balls - do you not think that telling that story at work in the middle of a lunch meeting is ridiculous and awkward and would make people think you're not normal? So why did I? Because I felt no fear and no awkwardness and I felt safe - did not care for the outcome The same happens with overspending - I think that it is safe to buy $5000 of video games while having only $1000 in my bank out, and yet I still did it because I failed to sea danger and had lack of fear where there had to be one... And those are symptoms of bipolar.

As far as flatness goes - I was there and I did not like it at 100mg per day, so I tried 50mg per day and I cycled more than I wanted. So now I take 75mg per day and it feels just right. You can be over-medicated and under-medicated. Lamictal sets a ceiling and a floor for emotions. Normal people have that floor above BP people without meds and have that ceiling below BP people without meds. Meds let you adjust that floor and ceiling to a point where you can feel happy and sad, rather than manic and depressed. Or you can go overboard with meds and not feel sad or happy and feel flat instead, so just lower you dose a bit.

One way or another I have 2 p-docs and I had this discussion with them - they whole-heartedly agree about normal people being less emotional that BP people.

I think the problem is not the emotional range per se... but dealing with it.

and no offense, by what you posted here.. you are in no way "fixed". But can person be even "fixed"? If so, it cain't be done by a pill.

I disagree. I have a clearcut dx of BP I, confirmed by many doctors independent of one another so no doubt here, and my T has trouble working with me because she acknowledges that I have a logical, rational mind but little access to my emotions.

I don't understand how being depressed and/or manic is not emotional. To me it is all FEELINGS - you FEEL depressed, no?

So you have pdocs - but how often do you see them or a T? The cat and balls story is indicative of issues, as you say. I find myself feeling more confident about being less crazy and not needing to tell all, the more I talk to my t. Ie putting up with less bs from people is what it boils down to. I put up with a lot from my family and that trained me to be crazy. But not no more buddyboy.

Depression is also low energy, no sex drive, low motivation, hypersomnia, trouble concentrating and processing information - those are not feelings.