[almondjoy]

What helps you concentrate at work when you're hypomanic? Especially in an office! I feel so restless.. Minds jumping around.. Tapping my feet really fast.. It's a struggle to sit and do what I need to do. Whaaaat to dooooooooooo

[BipolaRNurse]

That's when I used to walk up and down the hall, which made me look busy without actually accomplishing anything, until I could settle down a bit. Sometimes I had to do that multiple times in a day....and then of course, when I was full-on manic it didn't do any good, and I got sent home a couple of times.

[jesusplay]

what meds are you on?

[almondjoy]

Originally Posted by jesusplay

what meds are you on?

Well, this is probably the problem - I went off Seroquel and Lexapro a while ago (being stupid, I guess), then started Lexapro again and need to find meds that work for me. I am seeing my pdoc next week to get things sorted and find something that works for me. Just trying to cope in the meantime..

[BipolaRNurse]

No wonder you're hypo.....please call your pdoc tomorrow and get his/her advice. Don't wait till next week, you could be full-blown manic before then if you're like me and get manic when you take antidepressants without a mood stabilizer.

[almondjoy]

I know.. I was silly thinking I could go without a mood stabiliser - it really helped being on it (of course) but I went off ages ago thinking it was pushing me down (mistaking irritability for a low, I think). Part of the problem could also be that when I was depressed for a few months up until about 3 or 4 weeks ago, I tried doubling the anti-depressant without talking to anyone about it :/ and that's when my husband noticed I was becoming a person who wasn't very nice... and bam. I went back to the original dose but things went pretty baaad from there...I'm done messing with meds - I've learnt my lesson! Pdoc only. But I figured I probably needed to come somewhere where I could be open with others who understand and be encouraged to keep going - that's why I'm here

[BipolaRNurse]

With a few exceptions, I think it's safe to say that the vast majority of us have messed with our meds at least once. It's very common, and the best thing to do is chalk it up to experience, confess our "sins" to our prescribers, and move on from there.

[almondjoy]

You're right. I am going to stop thinking I know what's best for me - especially when I can't think straight most of the time! Thanks BP Nurse

[grandmaof3]

I've run into the same problem at work trying to concentrate. I'm a nurse. I'm ok when I am actively taking care of patients but when its time to sit down and do all the paperwork I have a hard time sitting still. Like Bipolar nurse I find myself walking up and down the halls. Somehow I manage to get everything done. I was having problems with my memory and I'm blaming my meds for that so I stopped taking them last week. I'm a little hypomanic right now and I find myself talking too much and very restless. I think Im driving everyone else crazy.

[almondjoy]

Originally Posted by grandmaof3

I've run into the same problem at work trying to concentrate. I'm a nurse. I'm ok when I am actively taking care of patients but when its time to sit down and do all the paperwork I have a hard time sitting still. Like Bipolar nurse I find myself walking up and down the halls. Somehow I manage to get everything done. I was having problems with my memory and I'm blaming my meds for that so I stopped taking them last week. I'm a little hypomanic right now and I find myself talking too much and very restless. I think Im driving everyone else crazy.

I hope you're ok! I had to go sit in the bathroom by myself for a while and try close my eyes to settle down.
Also, I found I had memory problems when I first started Escitalopram years ago and I think it was a side effect. BUT when I was off my meds, I found that it can also be caused from depression. After going back on the meds, I had no problems with my memory, so I have no explanation..

How long have you been on those meds for and had the memory problems? I know memory problems are a pain, but it would be a better pain than crashing from mania to depression... have you considered maybe trying to stay on your meds for now until you can talk to your pdoc about it and look at maybe changing meds or what could be causing the memory problems?

[BipolaRNurse]

You went off all that cold turkey?!! Holy crow, Elizabeth, you're on four times as much medication as me, and I thought I was on a lot. I know what you mean about memory loss (I've got the same problem) but for goodness sake, you need to get back on your meds---STAT!

[grandmaof3]

Originally Posted by almondjoy

I hope you're ok! I had to go sit in the bathroom by myself for a while and try close my eyes to settle down.
Also, I found I had memory problems when I first started Escitalopram/Lexapro years ago and I think it was a side effect. BUT when I was off my meds, I found that it can also be caused from depression. After going back on the lexapro, I had no problems with my memory, so I have no explanation..

How long have you been on those meds for and had the memory problems? I know memory problems are a pain, but it would be a better pain than crashing from mania to depression... have you considered maybe trying to stay on your meds for now until you can talk to your pdoc about it and look at maybe changing meds or what could be causing the memory problems?

I've been on these meds for several years. It took a long time to find the right meds that helped control my symptoms and these were working pretty well. Its just been over the last 6 months or so I've been having problems remembering things and I've also been losing time. I've begun to have a hard time at work because of the memory problems and I can't afford to lose my job. I talked to my pdoc about it and he said that it was possible the meds were causing it and he suggested lowering my doses to see if that helps. He also sent me to a neurologist who says it could be my meds and it could be early onset dementia. I stopped my meds because Im hoping the meds are the problem. So far I'm ok. I'm a little hypomanic which I can live with. If I realize I'm getting to be full blown manic I'll take my meds. I go back to my pdoc tomorrow. He'll probably lecture me about stopping my meds but I don't know what else to do.

[grandmaof3]

Originally Posted by BipolaRNurse

You went off all that cold turkey?!! Holy crow, Elizabeth, you're on four times as much medication as me, and I thought I was on a lot. I know what you mean about memory loss (I've got the same problem) but for goodness sake, you need to get back on your meds---STAT!

So far I'm ok. A little hypomanic but ok.

[Trippin2.0]

Well I've always been lucky in my past office environments whereby its was totally ok for me to put on my headphones while I work.

For some music is too much of a distraction when studying or working, but for me its been very effective in helping me concentrate while I'm hypo because the music helps drown out the racing thoughts and other distractions...