[tlynn1019]

I was diagnosed bipolar last May. I have been taking meds and it seems to help. However, when I get under pressure and feel stressed out the meds don't seem to help as much. I feel so manic, full of anxiety, can't sleep and my mind reels all night long. Then I crash into a depression. When I'm depressed my whole body aches and I get terrible migraines. I lose sleep, feel exhausted and I become even more irritable and the littlest things seem to tick me off. My husband doesn't seem to understand that my mood swings are because of my illness. I don't want to be like this! I know living with me is like being on a "rollercoaster" ride. I try so hard and it seems as if the harder I try the worse things get. I feel exhausted. Any suggestions??? <font color="purple"> </font>

[MyBestKids2]

Hi tlynn. Welcome to a very wonderful place to be.!

I know how you are feeling. It is very difficult to deal with this "ride". It doesn't happen often to me, but when it does I make an appt to see the PDoc, asap! If I am too high, I am prescribed anti anxiety meds to help. If I am too low, sometimes, they readjust my current meds. We are all different, and only your PDoc can advise whats best for you. I wish you luck and will keep you close in my thoughts!

[DaveyJones]

I'm sorry that you are having these troubles...it is just these sorts of symptoms that make bipolar such a bear to deal with.

I would suggest that you call your doctor first of all about changing your meds to one degree or another ASAP. I assume you are seeing a psychiatrist to manage your illness.

Second, since stress seems to cause you trouble, it follows that whatever you can do to manage stress more effectively should help. First--live a healthy lifestyle, namely good nutrition, a regular schedule including 7 - 8 hours of sleep at night, plenty of excercise. Learn deep relaxation techniques and practice them twice a day for 10 -15 minutes. Be sure and mention the anxiety and sleeplessness to your psychiatrist so that he can medicate accordingly. Are you in therapy? No bipolar regimen is complete without it, and a therapist can help you deal with the things that are stressing you out.

I hope some of these suggestions help--I do know how difficult it is, and these are the only things that have helped me. I hope they work for you!

Peace,
DJ

Stress also sets me off so I've had to adapt my lifestyle to make it as low stress as possible. I'm lucky enough that I have a part-time job with flexible hours so I can miss when I need to take some "mental health" time. I also don't overschedule my day. I need some stimulation, but I can't go-go-go all day or I will get overwhelmed & crash into a depression.

Before I got on the right meds, my husband said he was "walking on eggshells" around me all the time. He never knew what phrase, comment, or blink of his eye could set me off on a rampage of hurt feelings & rash behaviors. I've been stable for 4 years now, except for an episode a few weeks ago where I ended up in the ER due to an overdose. I see my meds provider next week to address that.

I think anxiety accompanies bp very frequently. It does for me so I take Xanax at night to try to quell the anxiety enough to get some sleep.

You might also look into a class that I took through NAMI (National Alliance of the Mentally Ill) called WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Planning). It helped me figure out how to balance my life more & was very helpful. It is free, too!

[tlynn1019]

javascript:void(0)
I'm so glad I've finally found some people who understand. Thank you so much for your help. I feel like I have been living in this "darkness" for so long. I've always viewed myself as a person that has a good heart, but I seem to have this monster living inside and it rears its ugly head quite often. My husband does walk on eggshells and I am trying to change that through meds, therapy, etc. I find that I get very little compassion from him. I have a mental disease so there is little understanding. If I had diabetes or cancer I'm sure my husband would have compassion for me. However, with the bipolar disorder my husband just thinks I am a witch and does not recognize the disease. I have been the "master of disaster" when it comes to relationships, but now I understand why. I really don't want to be this way, but I am. I guess I've only just begun on my road to recovery.

[DaveyJones]

NAMI has a support group for spouses of folks with mental illness...it can be quite helpful to their understanding if you guys can find one and go. Misunderstanding between spouses is such a problem for BP's. I hope things work out for you!

DJ

NAMI support group for spouses & relatives of someone with a mental illness might help him understand that the "witchiness" you are exhibiting are symptoms of your illness. Also, your pdoc may be willing to speak with your husband & explain the illness & give him added resources. I believe you would need to sign a release for the pdoc to do this due to privacy issues. Check out the titles of books on this web site. They are very helpful to me as well as to my husband. (I haven't been able to sign the release for my husband to see my provider myself due to fear that something I've said when depressed will come out & hurt my husband. Also, my symptoms included being paranoid about him. Much better about that, but still not all the way "there" in trusting him to accept me & my illness fully.)

I went through an outpatient program at a mental health facility & they had a class for relatives & it helped so much. My husband heard that other spouses are going through the same thing & that my anger, crying, etc. were symptoms. Once I got on the right meds, I improved greatly. BUT I learned the hard way (bad episode a few weeks ago) that you never fully recover from bipolar or another mental illness. You can manage it the best you can through changing your environment, taking meds & going to therapy. Hope you will feel better soon. Take care.--Suzy