[Banexatreyu]

Ok a few things. First how do you deal with the hypo/manic days? I'm starting to feel the lack of sleep I've been getting almost 2-3 hours some days I got up to 4 but it's not that it's that I want to really stay up. Well I will admit some nights I really DON'T want to sleep because I want to get things done. Other times its that I know I should be tired but my mind is turned on and I can't sleep. Even laying in bed my eyes are open and I'm tossing and turning because there's just so much running through my head a long with my energy. So onto question 2. What medications would you say would be the best to ask about? I was on Carbamazepine er but I was getting head aches and stomach aches and I just felt like the pills were making me worse and lately started wondering if the doctor was just messing with me giving me placebos or giving me a different medication to see how I'd react to them. Question 3 one very close friend seems to not want to accept the fact that I am the way I am or thinks that I'll magically get better I don't know but rolls their eyes or argues when I explain things. For example hearing two people argue between themselves then start laying in on you (both of them) at the same time then start telling you that you can just not go if you're going to be acting like a child. I was starting to get the tight chest panic thing once they started arguing and right once that comment was said it set me into full rage and then get told that I'm just acting like a child and throwing a temper tantrum. And question 4 how do you keep up with daily activities and just saving money instead of spending it? I can't seem to hold onto money or I think I cleaned up really well and everything is a mess again. I'm just stressing out with trying to hold it all together and not show any weakness to family or friends.

[spondiferous]

I hope you have found some things that work for you since you posted this.
I don't have bipolar but my partner has bipolar, so while I can't answer the first question, I'll address the second from her perspective and the third from my own.
My partner takes Lamotrigine and finds it works really well for her. In the past they have tried to double her up with an antipsych as well (things like seroquel, abilify, etc) but has found them largely unhelpful; however I've heard many people do find them helpful. It's kind of a crapshoot really. Respiridol is another one she's tried although didn't care too much for that as it made her have absolutely no energy all the time.
As for people not getting it...unfortunately that's the bane of mental illness. Well, one of them anyway. Most people will never understand until it happens to them. They don't get what it's like to hear about symptoms and don't believe or can't believe or won't believe that it's really the way you say it is. I have the same problem still, even after being on disability for mine. Because I can string two sentences together people think I'm too smart to be sick - including psychiatrists, if you can believe that horse hooey.

[Victoria'smom]

First how do you deal with the hypo/manic days?

Currently, I throw my headphones on playing music with a heavy base to drowned out both the internal noises and the external noises. The base seem to let me track time better and become less irritable because I'm in my own little world. I don't work so I try to sit on PC and read posts until I understand them and try to write as cohesive as possible.

What medications would you say would be the best to ask about?

The only one that has worked for me is lamictal and viibryd. Celexa was wonderful, until I was clenching my jaw so tight that when I woke in the morning it took about 2 min. to open my mouth and my 'resting state' of my mouth was clenched teeth.

one very close friend seems to not want to accept the fact that I am the way I am

I use a modified version of spoon theory where (hypo)mania steal future 'spoons' leaving us with no 'spoons' while depressed. However most people won't get it. I'm sorry but you need to really look at that friendship as it really does not sound like an equal unconditional friendship.

how do you keep up with daily activities and just saving money instead of spending it?

That depends on your daily activities. I have a list of daily hygiene hanging in my bathroom and I'm not 'allowed' to leave the bathroom in the morning until that list is completed. I try to minimize daily activities. If you tell us the daily activities you need to accomplish we may be able to help more.

As for saving money if you have someone you trust add them as a bill. Basically decide how much you want to put aside a month and add that to your bills. Give that money to a friend or family member that you trust to hold for you as a in case of an emergency situation. Usually your suppose to save 10-20% of your gross income trying to have 3-6 months of income for emergencies. Now this is in an idealistic world.