[bpcyclist]

Just curious how people feel about this. I have previously shared that I believe some psychiatrists in the US care far more about preventing mania and psychosis than they do being really aggressive in trying to help people suffering with horrific depression. I do kiind of understand the concept. Mania is a psychiatric emergency, for obvious reasons. But I believe leaving bipolar patients to suffer with poor quality of life and tremendous difficulty finding the werewithal just to get out of bed for ten minutes or brush our teeth or, God forbid, actually go outside for five minutes, is immoral. A cop out.

I have been very angry about this for decades for all of us, because I believe there are better ways often. Anyway, was just wondering how folks might feel about all this in their own lives. Thanks!!

[Fuzzybear]

Originally Posted by bpcyclist

Just curious how people feel about this. I have previously shared that I believe some psychiatrists in the US care far more about preventing mania and psychosis than they do being really aggressive in trying to help people suffering with horrific depression. I do kiind of understand the concept. Mania is a psychiatric emergency, for obvious reasons. But I believe leaving bipolar patients to suffer with poor quality of life and tremendous difficulty finding the werewithal just to get out of bed for ten minutes or brush our teeth or, God forbid, actually go outside for five minutes, is immoral. A cop out.

I have been very angry about this for decades for all of us, because I believe there are better ways often. Anyway, was just wondering how folks might feel about all this in their own lives. Thanks!!

Good post. I think this is also so where I live. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

[FluffyDinosaur]

I believe my depressions are often underestimated, but I think it's at least partly because I'm not great at expressing my emotions. I always tell them how I feel, but I don't really sound emotional even if I do feel that way because I'm just too restrained for that. I sometimes think my symptoms would be taken more seriously if I were more of an emotional person or at least better able to verbally express emotions.

[*Beth*]

I believe I'm incredibly fortunate to have the psychiatrist I see. She shows an equal amount of concern for every symptom I've ever brought up to her, and she's truly gifted with choosing medications.

[bpcyclist]

Originally Posted by BethRags

I believe I'm incredibly fortunate to have the psychiatrist I see. She shows an equal amount of concern for every symptom I've ever brought up to her, and she's truly gifted with choosing medications.

You are very fortunate, Beth.

No. Most of my psychiatrists/therapists have pretty much done nothing for depression until I need to be hospitalized then the IP pdoc says "well, you're in the hospital so no one really cares if you get manic, let's try an antidepressant" and then eventually it poops out, I get depressed, and the cycle repeats.
Going off on a tangent not even related to bipolar, but I feel like everyone is afraid to touch my PTSD. If it weren't for going to group, the only treatment I would have gotten for it is prazosin. Every time I bring up a symptom to my therapist she ignores what I said. Last session I was asking about dissociation and she proceeded by asking me about brushing my teeth. In the hospital a counselor flat out said they don't treat PTSD because it's a short term stay and it'll be more triggering than helpful. During my evaluation last summer, the lady asked about trauma, and I told her, but she never asked how it affected me and because of that she didn't even diagnose me with ptsd. However, in group I've been talking about it more recently and they're like "holy shite, this affects you greatly, keep coming here so you can actually work on this." So yeah, I'm grateful for the group I go to, but I'm pissed with everyone else.

[bpcyclist]

Originally Posted by spikes

No. Most of my psychiatrists/therapists have pretty much done nothing for depression until I need to be hospitalized then the IP pdoc says "well, you're in the hospital so no one really cares if you get manic, let's try an antidepressant" and then eventually it poops out, I get depressed, and the cycle repeats.
Going off on a tangent not even related to bipolar, but I feel like everyone is afraid to touch my PTSD. If it weren't for going to group, the only treatment I would have gotten for it is prazosin. Every time I bring up a symptom to my therapist she ignores what I said. Last session I was asking about dissociation and she proceeded by asking me about brushing my teeth. In the hospital a counselor flat out said they don't treat PTSD because it's a short term stay and it'll be more triggering than helpful. During my evaluation last summer, the lady asked about trauma, and I told her, but she never asked how it affected me and because of that she didn't even diagnose me with ptsd. However, in group I've been talking about it more recently and they're like "holy shite, this affects you greatly, keep coming here so you can actually work on this." So yeah, I'm grateful for the group I go to, but I'm pissed with everyone else.

I am sorry, spikes. I am really glad you have that group. I wish I had one.

Yes. Depression has not been a major issue for me for the last 8 1/2 years. Just little tidbits here and there. Primarily more hypomania and mania. Maybe a little mixed stuff. I did have a few years of intermittent high anxiety issues, maybe five/six or so years back, but got past them.

I consider my 100 mg Lamictal and 700 mg Seroquel XR my antidepressants. My Tegretol XR and Seroquel XR are my antimanics. Also, my coping toolbox (important) works as a good adjunct, along with PRN meds (Seroquel iR and Ativan). Also, I do not have a depressed type temperament. That really helps, I think. I tend to be mixed more often than purely depressed. My mixed states tend to be more on the manic end. I will fight like a hyena before I give in to pure depression. I usually need to be figuratively hit by a tractor trailer before becoming purely depressed.

Before anyone here throws a rotten tomato or egg in my direction, please know that my bipolar disorder has been quite problematic for much of my life, and severely so during some periods.

Do you know what else I try to do aggressively that helps? I try not to take life so damned seriously as many other people do. It can be hard, sometimes, but there is a sliver of choice in that.

[swimmingly]

My psychiatrist usually focuses on whatever I'm calling their attention to at the moment, I don't feel a lot of forethought is applied to my next cycle usually. That said, I am usually hypercritical of my p-doc.

I haven't mastered calling attention to my own needs just yet.

But to speak plainly, I do not believe that my depression has been treated aggressively enough.

[Nammu]

I feel my early Pdocs were too aggressive in treating my depression. When I'd get mixed or manic they'd call it my PTSD issue and throw even more meds at me and hospitalizations happened frequently. Yes my depression is horrendous and life threatening but geez less meds would have been better. I was already in the hospital and safe.

[bpcyclist]

Originally Posted by BirdDancer

Yes. Depression has not been a major issue for me for the last 8 1/2 years. Just little tidbits here and there. Primarily more hypomania and mania. Maybe a little mixed stuff. I did have a few years of intermittent high anxiety issues, maybe five/six or so years back, but got past them.

I consider my 100 mg Lamictal and 700 mg Seroquel XR my antidepressants. My Tegretol XR and Seroquel XR are my antimanics. Also, my coping toolbox (important) works as a good adjunct, along with PRN meds (Seroquel iR and Ativan). Also, I do not have a depressed type temperament. That really helps, I think. I tend to be mixed more often than purely depressed. My mixed states tend to be more on the manic end. I will fight like a hyena before I give in to pure depression. I usually need to be figuratively hit by a tractor trailer before becoming purely depressed.

Before anyone here throws a rotten tomato or egg in my direction, please know that my bipolar disorder has been quite problematic for much of my life, and severely so during some periods.

Do you know what else I try to do aggressively that helps? I try not to take life so damned seriously as many other people do. It can be hard, sometimes, but there is a sliver of choice in that.

Wow, that is just incredible. I am very happy for you that you have not had to deal wiht that pole of the illness much, but of course, very sorry that you have had so very much trouble with the manic side of the ledger. You have suffered way more than any person should ever have to in this lifetime. And you still have a wonderful sense of humor!!!!! What an amazing person!!!!!!

My illness is completely different historically. Although far better now, I do still have apsects of depression that greathly hamper my quality of life. In the old days, decades ago, it very nearly killed me on muptiple occasions. It has just been beyond devastating in my life overall. Beyond. The fact that I am alive is truly a mriacle from God.

[bpcyclist]

Originally Posted by swimmingly

My psychiatrist usually focuses on whatever I'm calling their attention to at the moment, I don't feel a lot of forethought is applied to my next cycle usually. That said, I am usually hypercritical of my p-doc.

I haven't mastered calling attention to my own needs just yet.

But to speak plainly, I do not believe that my depression has been treated aggressively enough.

I am osrry swimmer. Maybe in the future, you can be more assertive in asking for the help you need or something.

[bpcyclist]

Originally Posted by Nammu

I feel my early Pdocs were too aggressive in treating my depression. When I'd get mixed or manic they'd call it my PTSD issue and throw even more meds at me and hospitalizations happened frequently. Yes my depression is horrendous and life threatening but geez less meds would have been better. I was already in the hospital and safe.

Why would less meds have been better, Nammu?