[mommy0616]

So, I haven't been completely diagnosed but my phych dr is leaning towards Bipolar 2...

I have a strong family history of Bipolar and depression.

But how do you deal?!?

I pace, my anxiety is through the roof and I feel like I move slow motion. Depression is horrible and I feel as I no one understands and its hard to really convey how I feel. I don't have energy and don't sleep. I have been tried on multiple medications and it seems I just keep having the horrible side effects.
Currently I am Latuda and Propranolol.... any advice or good stories with these?

I just need to know how to deal, how to get up and play with my toddler, go to work and be a good employee.

[*Laurie*]

Just to share...I have been told by a couple of pdocs that severe anxiety can be an aspect of "dysphoric mania".

Have you tried Lamictal? Gabapentin?

I thought I was the only person in the world who paces when anxious. I pace for hours on end. I'm no one to talk about dealing with with bipolar and depression-- I often feel like I don't have any tools to really do it. However having hope is one of the best tools you can have. Keep your head up!

[~Christina]

Do you have a Therapist (T) ?? Without mine helping me learn coping skills and know HOW to use them when distressed I doubt I’d be here today.

Mindfulness is helpful ,

Sleep hygiene

Exercise

Meditation

A huge toolbox of coping skills

When was the last time you have had a physical with full blood work ? Sometimes our thyroid and hormones can play a part in mood problems.

I’m sorry your dealing with bipolar, sucks but there is hope , loads of advice here and stories of people doing well you will find!

[Skeezyks]

Hello mommy: I see this is your first post here on PC. So... welcome to PsychCentral.

Since you mentioned you're a mom to a toddler one forum, here on PC, that may be of interest to you would be the healthy parenting forum:

https://forums.psychcentral.com/healthy-parenting/

The psychiatric medications forum may also be of interest:

https://forums.psychcentral.com/psyc...c-medications/

And then here are links to 7 articles, from PsychCentral's archives, on the subject of living with bipolar disorder:

In-Depth: Living with Bipolar Disorder

10 Small Steps You Can Take Today to Improve Bipolar Disorder

Building a Routine When You Have Bipolar Disorder

https://psychcentral.com/blog/the-bi...olar-disorder/

https://psychcentral.com/blog/top-te...dium=popular17

https://psychcentral.com/blog/introd...lar-parenting/

https://psychcentral.com/lib/coping-...isorder/?all=1

I hope you find PC to be of benefit.

[Wild Coyote]

Welcome to PC!

I hope you find the information and the support you may be seeking.
Please jump in and make yourself at home.
I hope to see you around the forums!


WC

Welcome!

Christina made some great suggestions. The blood test work up is very important before any firm diagnosis is made, in my view. Certainly thyroid, vitamin deficiency, and other issues need to be ruled out, though having them doesn't necessarily rule out bipolar disorder, of course.

Therapy is so important in learning how to manage anxiety. Therapy need not be a permanent thing, but for some it is. Healthy life skills and coping tools are also very important and beneficial in so many ways.

I have never taken Latuda, but have heard it is helpful for many with bipolar disorder, particularly with a focus on depression, but also elevated moods. I know little beyond that about that medication.

I take a somewhat small dose of propranolol at 40 mg per day (half in morning half at night). I happen to take it predominantly for tachycardia, but know it is helpful for many things, including anxiety. At my dose, I have zero side effects from it, or at least none I'd attribute to it.

[TheSeaCat]

Hello and welcome to PC!

I too know what it feels like to have crippling anxiety, granted mine manifest into panic attacks; instead of pacing. I finally feel like my anxiety is starting to lessen with the Buspar, but I have heard very good things about Inderal lessening anxiety.

I wish I could tell you that Latuda did work for me; but it didn’t. I ended up having terrible side effects to the point where my doc made me allergic to the medication in my chart. Granted I’ve heard that a lot of people love it. I just am not one of those people. I hope it does work for you though.

I also second finding a good therapist that you trust and having a lot of lab work done.

Welcome to Psych Central! There are a lot of caring people here and the support definitely makes it easier to cope. Hope you enjoy it here!

[Fuzzybear]

Welcome to pc

[Blueberrybook]

I am not sure how long you have been seeing the pdoc, but sometimes it takes them a few visits to completely diagnose, especially with BP II, I think. And they will change their diagnoses along with meds as you go along with them if they feel they diagnosed incorrectly in the first place; my old pdoc did several times over a 10 year period. And, yes, do the blood work up too. My currrent & last pdoc both wanted recent bloodwork at the first appointment. Once I had issues with too much vitamin B6 in my blood, causing B6 toxicity, and that just made everything worse. I had it already with the current pdoc having just had a wellness exam where my PCP checked pretty much everything other than the female hormone levels, and I was able to get the results faxed over. From time to time, my pdocs have wanted bloodwork, I think especially to check liver function.

I have anxiety too, and often I pace with it, especially if outside is not good for walking or running (too hot, raining, etc.). Drinking chamomile tea sometimes helps a bit with that as does taking fish oil supplements. Not to a large degree but a little bit.

Are you in therapy? A therapist might suggest coping mechanisms for the anxiety that may best fit your lifestyle.

It sounds like you have your hands full too. Raising a toddler can be difficult especially when playing with them becomes repetitive and boring for you, or you just don't have time. I remember my grandmother gave me pots & pans and a wooden spoon to bang on them with while cooking (I was probably 2.5, 3 years old, but probably she did it earlier than that). I know there are suggestions of what to play with your toddler online. If all else fails, stick in a DVD or something. I used a lot of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse with my daughter, Dora the Explorer on hard days. And the shows actually do teach preschoolers & toddlers, so I felt a bit less guilty about it.

I have never taken Latuda, so I can't answer on that one, but I am on propranolol. I think the propranolol helps some with anxiety, but the pdoc had to lower my dosage as I kept falling, and he suspected propranolol was the culprit; it seems he was right, the lower dosage stopped the falling issue. But I'm on Buspar & Klonopin too for anxiety; I thought the Buspar wasn't helping until I ran out of it I think for around a week and forgot to ask the pdoc to send in a refill; my anxiety did get worse not having it. I don't feel I have side effects from the propranolol on the lower dosage. However, I don't think the propranolol on its own would fully help my anxiety either.

[Unrigged64072835]

I was on Latuda and it made me restless. Haven't tried the other one; I have had low blood pressure so I don't take anything that does that.

I've been through a few meds. I'm on Trileptal now. I have depression more often so I'm also on an anti-depressant.