[batteries]

Hey guys, I'm new here as well as newly diagnosed. A month ago I was diagnosed with Rapid Cycling Bipolar I and GAD, and was immediately given Lithium Carbonate 300 mg to treat it. I'm still adjusting to all of this though, and when I talk to my friends and family I get the impression that they just don't know what to say. I don't think that they know much about bipolar, and despite taking multiple psychology classes I don't really either. I don't really believe that I even have it. I do feel a lot better on the lithium, but at a cost. My hands sometimes shake so violently I can barely write or do my work, and I'm tired all the time.
I guess the main thing, though, is I don't really know where to go from here. Even cancer can be cured. But bipolar doesn't really ever go away. I know it does sometimes, but I guess I'm just scared. I'm only 18 years old, I really don't want to live the rest of my life like this. Taking a pill every 12 hours is exhausting, too, and it makes me feel like there's something really wrong with me... I guess there is, but it's not a nice feeling. Especially the bloodwork and special tests they have to perform just to make sure the lithium doesn't kill me... I don't know. A month ago I was nothing more than a sad kid, and now my life seems to have flipped upside down.

How did you guys react to being diagnosed? How did you cope with it? And does it get better?

[still_crazy]

i'd get a second opinion.

[Nammu]

The best thing I know of is to make sure you get enough sleep and a routine of some sort. I know at 18 routines are very hard but it's the best way to stay stable. You can look in your area for support groups, like NAMI and the depression bipolar support group. NAMI has good info on their website.

Take it easy and don't be too hard on yourself.

[Victoria'smom]

I know lithium is the "gold standard" but try to get a medication you take 1x a day. I reacted really bad when I first found out. I was 22. 12 years later I see it just as part of myself. Schedule is very important.

[hopeless2015]

Routine and good sleep, therapy can be helpful as well...it truly helped me anyway

[pirilin]

Hi Batteries. Welcome to the forum.

a) Most of us are still in denial. At least I am.
b) Why don't you take the Lithium all at once. I do that. At night.
I take 600 and is still ridiculous. Some take 2800mg.
Ask for extended release. The side effects are less.
c) The tremors get better with propanolol. Ask your doctor.
Also drinking a lot of water. Until you pee clear.
d) Get a 2nd opinion if you're prepared to receive a different diagnostic.
Not saying it will happen, but it happened to me. Kinda lose the faith.
Anything I can help you with, PM me.

[bioChE]

Welcome to the forum. I was diagnosed at 21, and twenty years later I still have trouble accepting my diagnosis.

If you are having bad side effects from the lithium, talk to your doctor about it ASAP. There are other medications you can try.

I'd also second the idea of a second opinion. It's always helpful to have multiple eyes looking at the situation.

[batteries]

Originally Posted by pirilin

Hi Batteries. Welcome to the forum.

a) Most of us are still in denial. At least I am.
b) Why don't you take the Lithium all at once. I do that. At night.
I take 600 and is still ridiculous. Some take 2800mg.
Ask for extended release. The side effects are less.
c) The tremors get better with propanolol. Ask your doctor.
Also drinking a lot of water. Until you pee clear.
d) Get a 2nd opinion if you're prepared to receive a different diagnostic.
Not saying it will happen, but it happened to me. Kinda lose the faith.
Anything I can help you with, PM me.

My doctor actually did recommend propanolol to me, I declined though because I don't feel ready yet to take multiple medications(this is the first medication I've ever been on). I kind of have a second opinion? My therapist of 2 years diagnosed me without telling me, and my new therapist agreed and recommended that I be medicated because I was getting worse.
Thank you, though, that was a very helpful reply.

[batteries]

Originally Posted by hopeless2015

Routine and good sleep, therapy can be helpful as well...it truly helped me anyway

I've been trying to get into a routine but with multiple jobs at random times of day it gets difficult. I really enjoyed therapy, it was actually my old therapist who diagnosed me(without saying so?) and my new therapist is unfortunately on maternity leave, and may go private practice afterwards.

[bioChE]

Originally Posted by batteries

My doctor actually did recommend propanolol to me, I declined though because I don't feel ready yet to take multiple medications(this is the first medication I've ever been on). I kind of have a second opinion? My therapist of 2 years diagnosed me without telling me, and my new therapist agreed and recommended that I be medicated because I was getting worse.

Thank you, though, that was a very helpful reply.

If you're bipolar, you might as well get used to the possibility of multiple medications. I've seen averages range from 3-6 different meds.

If you can make it on one, more power to you!

[imaginethat]

Sorry you are having problems on Lithium. I had similar and more side effects.

My main advice is to not give up on trying different meds. You might have to try MANY different meds to find the most side effect free ones. I tried almost all mood stabilizers till I found one that works for me.

Also, take the medication consistently. If you start to feel better, still take your medicine. Going off it can cause symptoms to return.

I was in denial of my diagnosis for probably ten years then had a terrible bout of mania and depression. Then I realized, wow, I really am bipolar. I think this doubt is common because who wants to have a chronic disease?

[Moose72]

I second propranolol for the shakes. It really does help.

[st0psign]

you're right... there is no cure. and for me it just keeps getting worse, and meds and therapy combined do next to nothing to treat it. I still do the same crazy ****, have the same crazy thoughts over and over and over. now even when I'm stable the thought that someday I'll be dead, whether its by my hand or natural causes, is comforting. its comforting to know that this will end when I die. and that's the only way it stops... death.

sorry to be so grim, but my personal story of living with bipolar is a god damn nightmare. I live in hell more often than not, and I do everything I can to help myself, nothing seems to even come close to taking care of it.

[CarriB]

I'm also newly diagnosed and what's helped me wrap my head around it is a book called Bipolar II Disporder Workbook (there is a BP1 workbook as well). It's helped a lot and I go back to it frequently because I'm still trying to navigate around this "new normal". I found it on Amazon.

[Trippin2.0]

I also suffered with the shakes on lithium and turned down the propo what's it's name, because I didn't want to be medicated for a disorder and side effects... Maybe that was dumb tho, because 5 years after quitting lithium I still have tremors. But I console myself with the fact that I'm not stupid anymore.

I actually get therapy at a place where they encourage trying as little meds as is humanly possible, and the pdocs even aim to get some of the clients med free. So its a breath of fresh air, not at all like "I will drug you to your eyeballs so you are more pliable" doctors that I encountered in the past.

My golden rule for new dxs: Dont pathologize and over analyze yourself. Even we have normal mood shifts like everyone else, and hyper focusing tends to make us crazier, because we believe we are more symptomatic than we are.
Rule of thumb, if it ain't broke, don't fix it, in other words, if you're only displaying one or two symptoms from either side of the pendulum and its NOT affecting you nor your functionality negatively... Then just go about your way and your day.

PS. I immediately accepted my dx, I knew early on I was wired differently, it was an "aha" moment to put a name to it.
Now ita just another part of me, like my eye color.

[BeyondtheRainbow]

Psych Central - Trusted mental health, depression, bipolar, ADHD & psychology information is a good place to learn about BP

[BipolaRNurse]

It may not feel this way, but you're very fortunate to learn about your condition early in life. I wasn't diagnosed bipolar until I was 53, after decades of suffering. Now you have the chance to get well and stay well, although it's true that BP can never be "cured". I know a couple of people who have the same diagnosis as you and I do, who haven't had an episode in many years...yes, it's possible to remain stable for long periods of time.

I still question things at times, even though I've been diagnosed bipolar 1 by four different mental healthcare providers. It just goes along with the territory. That being said, there is nothing wrong with getting second, or third, or tenth opinions. It's important to be sure so you can come to acceptance at some point.

Wishing you the best as you fight this battle that we all share. Welcome to PC!

[Parker1013]

Just came to echo that staying on a schedule can be very helpful and I personally set a timer and take my meds at the exact same time every day, that has helped me a lot.

[Shazerac]

Hi, like bioche said if you are bipolar you will probably need to take multiple meds. I fought it for years until I was too tired and whacked out to fight anymore. I said uncle and started listening to my pdoc and went on the meds she was suggesting. Things got a lot easier from there.