[Cubbiesgirl23]

Hey everyone!

I recently was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder, which I've read everything I needed to know about the disorder and well I do have to say, it describes what I've been dealing with. When I was diagnosed, my psychiatrist asked me a series of questions, told me I was bipolar, wrote my a script for lamictal, and then left kind of stunned. I am seeing a therapist but so far we haven't talked about ways I can make myself improve (we're still on my life story).

So what this ramble is mostly about is my concentration level. When I was manic, I could balance two jobs, take on a full schedule at school, and manage to do extremely well. Unfortunately, I also was extremely irritable, promiscuous, with more anxiety due to racing thoughts. I am also bipolar II so I mostly experience depression episodes. When I'm depressed I have a hard time concentrating which has really been hard to deal with.

I explained this to my doc but he seemed hesitant to start me on medication at all which I thought was weird because this disorder is affecting my everyday life. It's almost like I cannot be a normal thinking person and what's more frustrating is I can't control it. He said we'll try with the lamictal but if anything it has made me more sleepy and less motivated.

I want to be sharp and motivated not sleepy all the time, I hardly see this as an improvement.

He also mentioned he doesn't want me to be dependent on drugs, but they haven't offered another solution.

I guess I was hoping for some opinions on how to approach this matter. He is the doctor..

Sorry if this seems unorganized, I'm overwhelmed and a bit worried about my future and how to handle this disorder.

[BipolaRNurse]

Hello and welcome to PC!!

First of all, most psychiatrists who are worthy of the name are quite conservative when it comes to prescribing meds. Naturally, few people WANT to take meds if they can manage without, and your doctor may have taken this into consideration, rather than offering you medications right off the bat. (Mine was the same way, and I appreciated the courtesy.)

Now about the Lamictal---this stuff often takes several weeks to work and will make you sluggish in the early going, so it's hard to see the potential in it right now. This effect should go away as you get used to it, but may recur briefly as your dosage increases. Please be patient with it and increase the dose as your doctor advises; it's usually well-tolerated with few side effects, and tends to really help lift the depression (although it doesn't do as much to suppress hypo/mania). And of course, call him IMMEDIATELY if you develop a rash!

I know it's hard to deal with feeling dull and heavy after starting on bipolar medications. After all, many of us love our hypomanias because we enjoy being productive and happy and social. But as you've mentioned, they can also make us irritable and unable to focus, which in turn can make us anxious, which in turn makes us even more distractible. It's a vicious cycle, and sometimes the only way to interrupt it is to take meds that make us feel like crap for awhile.

Also, both hypo/mania and depression can cause irritability and the inability to concentrate. Of course you can't control that; neither can I, which is why I'm taking several different meds for my BP, so if you're only on one medication, you're doing well. Most of us need two or more.

In the meantime, I'm glad you've decided to hang out here with us. Whatever you experience as a result of your illness, someone here has been through it and is willing to help. We're not doctors or therapists, so we can't offer you medical advice---but we can give you support and teach you "the ropes" about dealing with this condition.

Hope this helps a little, and once again, welcome!

[middlepath]

Hi Cubbiesgirl23. BipolaRNurse covered everything super well, so I don't have anything to add except that I am new to accepting my diagnosis and my pdoc put me on a VERY low dose of Lithium. He was super hesitant to jump into meds too, and i am still wrestling with it. It has been about 2 months now and i feel much more stable, much more aware of mood fluctuations, and more like life is bearable. I still get ups and downs but they are far less extreme. I hope you find comfort and help here at PC, i know i have. Glad your here : )

[lil_better_everyday]

Well, if you're name is in reference to the baseball team, shoot I think they've been the cause several depression episodes. I kid, I kid. They have caused a lot of drinking in my lifetime. But that's neither here nor there...

I'm pretty new in my diagnosis also (accepting it at least), but my pdoc went directly to drugs, but that seems to be the VA strategy for everything. So all I can really tell ya is handle it the best you can and listen to the good people here. There is an amazing amount of knowledge here and even more support.

[faerie_moon_x]

I agree with BipolarNurse. You don't want a med pushing doctor.

I suggest a couple of things to help you on a non-medicine side. I'm actually non-medicated my whole life. I was on Abilify for 2 weeks, had a reaction. Lamictle 2 weeks, had a reaction. Lithium I've been on and off sporadically but in the end I think less than 6 months total if you put them together. So, I have to just use my coping skills.

First off, start a mood tracker. There are a lot of free ones online. I like optimism online because you can customize it. Tracking your moods and triggers is a good way to start understanding how bipolar is effecting you personally, since we all deal with different things. Knowing your triggers is really important so that when you are confronted with them you can start trying to change your reaction to them.

Plus, you can learn patterns in your moods. You'd be surprised how non-chaotic the chaos can actually be sometimes....

Next, for your concentration that is a cognitive functioning issue. It is a commmon thing with people who have things like bipolar and depression. I know the technical term for bipolar is "mood disorder." But I firmly stand by the fact that it is a cognitive functioning disorder and moods are really a symptom. I have a lot of cognitive problems that are getting worse with time. What I am doing to reverse this is cognitive functioning games.

You may have heard of things like "Brain Training" or "Luminosity." Well, those type of little memory games are actually very good for the brain. I play free games, I don't pay membership fees. I just got my new phone and downloaded a free cognitive game app today (I'm excited about it.) But, there are free games online, too.

Here is a link to free games at cambridge sciences
Welcome - Cambridge Brain Sciences

Other good tips are to stay healthy through eating right as best you can. Exercise is important and helps lift depression, plus some meds can add weight which makes you feel worse! So, a good diet and exercising are good steps to help that. Get yourself on a schedule. Bipolar responds really well to routine. And, sleep. Sleep heals the mind and we need it! So, even if you have insomnia trying to stay at rest is better than being up letting your mind go.

I hope that helps! If you don't like your therapist or feel they aren't helping you learn the coping skills you need, don't be afraid to look for a new one.

[vjdragonfly]

Originally Posted by dark_heart_x

Next, for your concentration that is a cognitive functioning issue. It is a commmon thing with people who have things like bipolar and depression. I know the technical term for bipolar is "mood disorder." But I firmly stand by the fact that it is a cognitive functioning disorder and moods are really a symptom. I have a lot of cognitive problems that are getting worse with time. What I am doing to reverse this is cognitive functioning games.

You may have heard of things like "Brain Training" or "Luminosity." Well, those type of little memory games are actually very good for the brain. I play free games, I don't pay membership fees. I just got my new phone and downloaded a free cognitive game app today (I'm excited about it.) But, there are free games online, too.

Here is a link to free games at cambridge sciences
Welcome - Cambridge Brain Sciences

Never looked at it that way. Makes a lot of sense. I have noticed a loss in remembering things, quite a lot. So thanks for sharing.

Cubbiesgirl, a lot of good information here. I've been dx for a little while and still learning all sorts of things. Just remember it is a process, longer for some then others. Lot of different drugs and reactions so they are very careful with adding them. I know I only started 1 at a time and slowly increased doses. This helps with not being over-medicated. Lots of support here, so hope to see you around more.

[pink&grey]

Starting with 1 helps you to clearly see how it affects you. Antidepressant can also cause mania in some. This takes time and its frustrating, but it sounds like you have a good pdoc

[Cubbiesgirl23]

Thanks for all the advice! I totally see what you're saying with being overmedicated and I don't want that either! So I'll stick with it and see how it goes. I definitely am going to start tracking my moods and start working on my brain, I'm still pretty worried about going to school with this being all new to me.

I'm so glad I can talk to people who have had similar experiences, again thank you all so very much!

[bluemountains]

Welcome Cubbiesgirl23! You have been given some great advice here. When you see your t next time get him/her to give you more information about what you should expect from therapy. There are different kinds, and your t can help you figure out what is best. For me, I have been through CBT, and my current t references what I have learned in the past when necessary in current talk therapy.
Bluemountains

[Victoria'smom]

Lamictal is suppose to have an affect on depression also. welcome

Lamictal is probably one of the best medications I've ever taken for bipolar II disorder,
and it is used for that form of bipolar illness. I was able to take only 15 mg at best,
however, and that was enough to push hypomania, so I had to give it up. I did like
it very much and hope you will be able to tolerate it, too.

Because it was difficult for me, as it is for some, I was switched to 20 mg. Prozac
and 15 mg Deplin (a food medication; it is a concentrated form of Vitamin B9).

70% of depressed patients are missing enzymes in the stomach that metabolize
folic acid into a form the brain can use and needs for good functioning. I would
recommend you mention it to your psychiatrist if you ever feel that your current
prescribed meds need a little help.

Often, it may take as many as three changes in medications to get the right "cocktail"
to suit your system, so don't be alarmed if all that you have been prescribed needs
attention from time to time.

I would, add, also, that you plan to take the Omega 3 fatty acids since research
now has shown the essential fatty acids to be beneficial to brain health and
functioning.

Take good care of yourself and nice to see you posting on PC Forum.