New Dx Questions

I have never experience IOP: I can only guess that it is intensive time spent doing therapeutic activities with qualified staff and maybe other outpatients. What is CBT and DBT? Having access to this must be very helpfull. Wow.

That is so true..no time to slack off..espcially when trying to get better and doing what we must do to get stable and going again.

I did not know what any of this was either still not sure so here is what I found online, but you described IOP right on!

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a psychotherapeutic approach that addresses dysfunctional emotions, maladaptive behaviors and cognitive processes and contents through a number of goal-oriented, explicit systematic procedures.

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is a therapy designed to help people change patterns of behavior that are not effective, such as self-harm, suicidal thinking and substance abuse. This approach works towards helping people increase their emotional and cognitive regulation by learning about the triggers that lead to reactive states and helping to assess which coping skills to apply in the sequence of events, thoughts, feelings and behaviors that lead to the undesired behavior. DBT assumes that people are doing the best that they can, but either are lacking the skills or are influenced by positive or negative reinforcement that interfere with one’s functioning.

Congratulations on your marriage. Hope the meds work for you. I stopped taking mine years back - could never find any that didn't make me feel like crap. Probably not a good idea to tell work. Seems to lead to disaster in most cases. Give yourself time to adjust and see how you feel. Meds always had a dramatic effect on me. Not subtle. Like being hit with a sledgehammer. Didn't recognise myself when on them. Hope your experience is better.

Darvula

Soooo NOT telling work.

OMG Day 3 was ROUGH! I have no words for how raw I am today.

Being able to post here helps. While today hurt like hell, it was enlightening. I was floored by the intensity of my feelings today.

Its always hellish to start will feel like your tore into pieces, but it gets better and better

I still struggle questioning myself too. When I first started talking to my therapist I started journaling as well trying desperately to figure out which parts of my past were due to my BP. I've seen articles asking the same question. Which part is me and which part is BP? So, I know it's something that a lot of people with BP struggle with. I filled journals with questions and research trying to figure out how my cycles went. It's helped me out a lot in figuring myself out. While a lot of people don't care to go deep soul searching, I found it pretty helpful.

Workhorse , sounds like you're making progress. Keep posting.

I think I am making progress with therapy, not so much with the meds! Had to stop Lamictal today, got the itchy like crazy allergic reaction type rash. PDoc sent me to ER. Taking pred and benedryl.

Do watch your mood..... Steroids can sometimes tip Bipolars into a manic hell. Sorry you had a reaction like that. Advise your Pdoc about the pred. he/she can advice you.

Stay safe

I'm happy that you are making progress with therapy. the meds..oh no..well I hope this does not discourage you and that you and you're pdoc find what is good for you.

oh well I was hopping for some news about you going to ER for the rash, hope everything is fine.

Sorry, been a bit overwhelmed.

Went to ER, Got steroids, Stopped Lamictal, STILL itching!

Finally starting to get IOP, making progress, and damned insurance company says I only get til 11Nov!? Seriously freaked out as there is NO way I am ready to go back to work!

Start and then let them fight insurance.

Wow, I am exhausted. More med changes, a med reaction, learned a lot, helluva week. Still here, mind and mood ricocheting all over.

Hang in there , You can and will be able to handle it all Your Pdoc can get you more IOP time. Insurance companies try this shyt all the time.

OK, so I think the staff and PDoc got the FMLA and insurance paper work figured out.

RIght now I am feeling like I am stutting down. My PDoc commented on it, my spouse has commented on it, and others keep asking if I am OK as I do not seem to be myself. I sure don't feel like myself. I feel like I am shutting down.

Is this meds, me, bipolar, something else?

It has taken me all day to decide to even post this ...

I think its most likely a combo of all the stuff at once. Just take it minute by minute if need be , Try to relax and let the others worry about the paperwork , allow the meds time to work and make sure your sleeping and eating well .

Just hang in there

You are going through a lot's right now, it's hard you need to be nice to yourself. Someone told me one day, what can you do that could confort you and make you feel better. Took a while..one day I tape in my walkman with music that I liked that made me feel good(yup that's what I add in those days). It was a sunny day, I went for a stroll in a park I used to go to when I was a child and I felt oh so much better. Got home took a hot bath and felt that I cared for myself and that was great. that was a long time ago..but when I feel crappy I try to think of that phrase and it helps. in the past days it has been, set limits, sleep, eat, and start talking to friends..it's helping. Keep it up, find one thing even the simplest thing that give you the "this is making me feel good" hang in there. I watched the movie Chef this weekend and it made me smile. nice, simple easy going good feeling movie for me. maybe it will make you smile a bit.

Taking it one day at a time is a good idea. If you have a crap day, think that tomorrow will be a new day and has every chance of being better. That's how I work and it gets me through the crappest times.

darvula

Mimielam : You still have a Walkman ?

I. Loathe. Walmart.

That is all.

Just did this for a month.. It was a huge help. I have a very quiet reserved "loaner" type personality. And it helped me open up eventually.

yes in a box somewhere in the basement..been there for quite a while now, and since then I've use many other media types to satisfy my pleasure of listening to music. Now I really like using itunes, streaming music, and my iphone.

Wow, been on a roller coaster this week. Went to dark places last weekend, PDoc and her backup adjusted meds this week. Turns out I am rapid cycling? Feel fine, sometimes REALLY fine, but sobbing at the same time. But I also did something that has made me happy, I got my first tattoo, got 3 more planned.