[Bolt55]

I posted this on the wrong topic earlier, but here goes:

I've been diagnosed with bipolar 1 with characteristics of BPD. I want to know if anyone else has problems with impulse control. I feel very alone with my diagnosis as is, but now its also with controlling myself in certain situations. Drug use, binge drinking, inappropriate sex, etc. Yes all of the classic symptoms that you find if you google our disorder.

My main question is:
How do you curve the need to want to live in the moment? The impulsiveness seems like someone else takes over my body and I'm a passenger watching as this monster just crashes through my life without caring.

The consequences of my recent actions caught up to me and I've been contemplating suicide all weekend. Can't hurt anyone or yourself if you're dead right?

How do you fight impulsive urges?

I only have problems with impulse control in hypomanic/manic phases. Is this an ongoing thing for you or only during episodes?

Do you stop and ask yourself the consequences of your actions before going through with them? When I realises the consequences I am sometimes able to talk myself out of my impulsive behaviour.

Im sorry I dont have advice to offer as I am rarely up that end of the scale but sending you support and hope that someone else can help with some suggestions.

[TheHuffnpuff]

Before I was medicated binge drinking (about once every 6 months or so) and angry outbursts were about the worst of my behaviour. When I was manic I was delusional and got into a bit of trouble, no serious harm to anyone else but made a complete fool of myself, it was obvious to everyone who saw it that something was wrong as it was out of character for me so they were very understanding. Now 2 manic episodes later and 3 and a half years on meds I'm stable, no more bingeing and anger under control. If I stay on my meds I'm sure I'll stay this way forever, but I'll also continue to put on weight and be lazy so I'm thinking of stopping meds. There must be another way to manage, I'm feeling experimental.

[Axiom]

I ask my doctor for more meds when I can't control my impulsiveness during hypomania and I realize that that is a problem. When I don't realize the problem I binge on drugs, have lots of sex, go shopping etc.

Things that help me:
* Accountability: I tell my boyfriend (or anyone trustworthy, e.g. mum) about purchases and life decisions, even when I'm stable. That way, if I'm making outlandish purchases or decisions, my boyfriend can talk me out of things.
* Only drinking around others, and never by myself. If I have intense urges to drink, I'll tell a friend, who will accompany me or talk me out of it.
* Getting sleep. My doctor allows me to slightly increase my sleeping pill dosage when I'm hypomanic and getting strong urges, so I'll go to bed early on an increased pill dosage. Helps clear my brain.

[r010159]

Originally Posted by Axiom

I ask my doctor for more meds when I can't control my impulsiveness during hypomania and I realize that that is a problem. When I don't realize the problem I binge on drugs, have lots of sex, go shopping etc.

Can medications help impulsive behavior?

I thought so, particularly if it is related to some kind of mania. But my doctor tells me there is no medication for impulse control. I think we may both be correct, but he may have not been listening to me carefully enough. I do not know.

tucson