[rollacoasta]

Hi All,
I know that it's not the best practice to compare situations with one another as we are all so complex and can handle things differently, but I've been getting frustrated and want to ask how other fellow Bipolar II's would be coping while in my shoes.

Would my situation exacerbate your symptoms or is it a normal situation? I've been really struggling with over analyzing things, like I'm thinking, is this my bipolar or am I just thinking the symptoms up? Is it just because I have a lot on my plate? Analyzing analyzing analyzing...

Anyway, here is the situation, in a more brief context so you all can compare, if you want too of course.

1) I am a fulltime student studying towards a degree in psych.
2) I have a 15month old daughter, court case looming as I have no contact.
3) Trying to find a place to live with my new partner (who is lovely)
4) I only earn enough to basically get by on my student allowance.

Ok so those are the four main difficult things I have to deal with in life, currently. Plus bipolar of course. But would these environmental things exacerbate my bipolar? Is my bipolar to blame, or the situation? For why I get irritable and just generally grumpy. Some days I don't mind my situation, other days I am angry and totally over it.

[gayleggg]

I'm thinking you maybe have racing thoughts, a symptom of Bipolar. And in being Bipolar II stress can tip the scales from being normal to being overly anxious. I have racing thoughts a lot and take medicine to help with them because they keep me from sleeping and concentrating on anything. And you sure have a stressful situation. It is always debated which comes first but for me stress seems to play a large part in my Bipolar moods. Just my opinion.

Have you discussed it with your doctor? That would be where I would start.

[mitziez]

I agree with gayleggg...it sounds like a bipolar symptom, and the high stress level.

It would be advisable to check in with your pdoc. You might find help with your racing thoughts.

As for me I'm BP1. Though, I have racing thoughts too, and my pdoc really helps me control it with meds. I take Tegretol & Ability.

[BipolaRNurse]

Wow. I'd be bat-crap crazy if I were dealing with your situation, particularly the issues with your child. I'm another BP 1 but I think all of us can relate to environmental stressors making our illness worse. And we all over-think things!

I'm sorry you're not doing well. Please talk to your pdoc about this.....you may need some med adjustments. Wishing you the best.

[rollacoasta]

Thank you all for your responses and kind words. I did call my Key Worker (who is my first port of call before my psychiatrist) she recommended to take 100mg of my Seroquel during the day yesterday, I did it - it sedated me a bit but finally I got some silence in my brain. I am doing much better now, all of a sudden I am not bothered by my situation again. We are certainly interesting individuals!!

Appointment with psychiatrist coming up week after next.

Thanks again for responses and kind words

[rollacoasta]

Hi all,
I thought I would update my situation in the hope that it helps others on their own journeys. As well as a way of me being able to get this out of my head.

My pdoc was not sure if he should increase the Seroquel(quetiapine) or increase the Lexapro (escitalopram). I wanted to increase the Lexapro but he was worried it would make me go back into hypomania. Although, when I went into hypomania from the Lexapro I was not taking the Seroquel.

So heres hoping the boost back up to 10mg of Lexapro will get me through my tough situation.

I want to say a big shout out to all of the fellow BP members here. What we deal with in our day to day lives can be really big barriers to our quality of life and I want to wish everybody here a really good day