Questions bipolar version #11

FooZe · Jul 18, 2024, 03:01 PM

The old thread had reached 1000 replies.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blueberrybook

Yes, during and after my hospitalization last December. For the first month I was so fidgety. I especially had to move my hands, legs too but hands were worse. That was when I was first put back on Seroquel. Daughter has tons of fidget toys and I had to use them most of the day every day, even riding in the car. It lasted for about a month and FINALLY gradually went away. Thank God.

Do you use a pill reminder app on your phone?

Nammu · Jul 18, 2024, 05:00 PM

No. But I only take pills twice a day. When I get up, and when I go to bed.

Do you worry about drug interactions with otc stuff

BeyondtheRainbow · Jul 18, 2024, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nammu

No. But I only take pills twice a day. When I get up, and when I go to bed.

Do you worry about drug interactions with otc stuff

Yes, mainly because of being on an MAOI. I run everything through an interaction checker and so does my family doctor.

Have you ever been on or considered an MAOI?

Blueberrybook · Jul 19, 2024, 09:54 AM

I have never been on an MAOI? It would not be my first choice but I would consider it if I had run our of other options.

What do you do when you have insomnia? Do you stay awake, try to sleep, how do you pass the time?

Nammu · Jul 19, 2024, 01:29 PM

I try to stay in bed and clear my mind. Think, zen, blankness. Most of the time it works. Of course I have my AP, ambien and gabapentin that is supposed to get me to sleep. But sometimes I am too tossy and turny to clear my mind. I get up and watch the librarians. For whatever reason that show works for me. Then go back to bed. I don’t try to read anymore cause I have a tendency to keep reading all night. I’ve found that getting my sleep is paramount to my mental health. My pdoc is 100% behind me in that.

Good question, same

MuddyBoots · Jul 19, 2024, 04:30 PM

Eat. Oops.

If you're trying to be mindful and in the present, is there a certain sense that is easier for you to get engaged with than the others?

raspberrytorte · Jul 19, 2024, 10:05 PM

I'd say sight, followed by sound. I tend to notice the leaves moving through the tree branches then just listen to it. (Of course, this is season dependent!)

Speaking of eating, do you go through periods of time where you eat the same foods?

(Right now for me it's baked potatoes for some reason, lol, plain, with just a bit of salt and pepper.)

BeyondtheRainbow · Jul 20, 2024, 09:30 PM

Yes. As soon as I get depressed I become a carb glutton. In the summer I go through cravings depending what is fresh. And lately I've been on a huge blueberry kick even though I missed the best ones (from Michigan).

Do you have family members with mental illnesses?

Nammu · Jul 20, 2024, 10:07 PM

Yes, cousins and my daughter.

Do you lose weight when you’re in an episode

Blueberrybook · Jul 21, 2024, 03:18 AM

I do when I'm in a manic episode.

Other than meds, how do you try to curb high anxiety/panic?

MuddyBoots · Jul 21, 2024, 10:20 AM

We just covered TIPP again, and i've been trying to practice that in purely crisis situations. Anxiety/panic have been high lately. T is temperature, ideally sticking your head in a bowl of cold water for 30 or slightly more seconds for the dive response. I is for intense exercise (just a quick burst, but intense enough that I wear myself out in under 10 minutes). First P is for progressive relaxation which I absolutely suck at and probably should practice after this post. Last P is for paced breathing. My favorite is 4-7-8 breathing (in as deeply as possible for 4seconds, hold for 7, breath out fast for 8).

Were you diagnosed correctly from the get go?

raspberrytorte · Jul 21, 2024, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MuddyBoots

We just covered TIPP again, and i've been trying to practice that in purely crisis situations. Anxiety/panic have been high lately. T is temperature, ideally sticking your head in a bowl of cold water for 30 or slightly more seconds for the dive response. I is for intense exercise (just a quick burst, but intense enough that I wear myself out in under 10 minutes). First P is for progressive relaxation which I absolutely suck at and probably should practice after this post. Last P is for paced breathing. My favorite is 4-7-8 breathing (in as deeply as possible for 4seconds, hold for 7, breath out fast for 8).

Were you diagnosed correctly from the get go?

No. I was initially diagnosed with major depressive disorder and anxiety NOS.

Do you find getting the right diagnosis and label is important 🤔 Or not so much.

Nammu · Jul 21, 2024, 05:02 PM

Mmmmnnm maybe not so much. The pdoc that put me on the regime that I’m on now was an excellent listener. He listened to the symptoms and to my response to previous meds and my fears about meds and talked WITH me not at me. He was an emergency pdoc at a psych er. He wrote down bipolar and anxiety but he treated the symptoms.

How about you, do you think having the diagnosis is important or not so much?

raspberrytorte · Jul 21, 2024, 08:33 PM

Well... to answer my own question (lol) I think it's important to at least put a name to your illness. I mean, if I had cancer or something, I'd want to know the TYPE of cancer. I like knowing what TYPE of mental illness I have. Obviously treating the symptoms is very important too.

Same question. I'm curious what others think.

Crazy Hitch · Jul 21, 2024, 10:19 PM

Yes and no. I'm not big on labels but this label FITS so apt for me plus i need the right meds. Plus if I didn't know I was bipolar how would I ever have found this board lol

Did you have a good weekend?

raspberrytorte · Jul 21, 2024, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crazy Hitch

Yes and no. I'm not big on labels but this label FITS so apt for me plus i need the right meds. Plus if I didn't know I was bipolar how would I ever have found this board lol

Did you have a good weekend?

Fantastic weekend! Fun date night with Husband (until he had his green twitch out), lovely relaxing day today under the covers and listening to Bad Omens, excited for tomorrow because I get to spend ALL morning with Daughter! Yay!

When was your last hypo/manic episode?

MuddyBoots · Jul 22, 2024, 09:46 AM

I want to say probably March/April earlier this year? Not 100% sure.

Are you able to point out when someone (in real life or a celebrity or someone you see on some forum) is bipolar without them straight up saying it? At least with some sort of "that dude mostly has the bipolar anyway.

Blueberrybook · Jul 22, 2024, 09:55 AM

Mostly yes. I definitely can tell my maternal grandfather had bipolar. I have met some others and I will think yeah, they have BP. In people I've seen often in my life I can tell they have other mental health issues without them telling me. I know my middle sister has body dsymorphic disorder. I def. know my mom & aunt have BDD, major depression, PTSD, anxiety. I know my grandmother has anxiety.

What genre of music do you like to listen to & what is your favorite song in that genre?

BeyondtheRainbow · Jul 23, 2024, 10:50 PM

I like Christian contemporary and a lot of folksy stuff. I don't really have a favorite as I have to be really careful with music because it is where my mind tips over into psychosis.

How many times have you moved in your life?

Blueberrybook · Jul 24, 2024, 08:39 AM

I've moved 4 times in my life: once to an apartment for college, once to an apartment for grad school, once to an apartment with H before & right after we got married, then to our house. We've lived here 19 years now.

Have you ever lost something valuable or crucial (driver's license, keys, cell phone, meds, purse, wallet, credit card, etc.)

MuddyBoots · Jul 24, 2024, 09:30 AM

Not "lost" lost, but when I wasn't allowed at my mom's, I didn't have access to my birth certificate, SS card, my SSDI money, or, most importantly, my REI membership and gift cards.

Do you have any genres of music you typically dislike, but have a song or two of that genre you enjoy? (explain)

Moose72 · Jul 24, 2024, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blueberrybook

I've moved 4 times in my life: once to an apartment for college, once to an apartment for grad school, once to an apartment with H before & right after we got married, then to our house. We've lived here 19 years now.

Have you ever lost something valuable or crucial (driver's license, keys, cell phone, meds, purse, wallet, credit card, etc.)

Yes! I left my phone in a bathroom stall in a stadium and didn’t realize it till I got back to my seat! I went back but it was gone! Luckily some honest person took it to the security office.
Have you ever called and complained about a doctor you saw? What happened?

BeyondtheRainbow · Jul 25, 2024, 09:56 PM

No. I did report one to the medical board once. They investigated and cleared him after about a year.

Have you ever had a therapist take a substantial amount of time off? How did you handle it?

Crazy Hitch · Jul 25, 2024, 10:52 PM

No but I've had to take a substantial time away from my therapist I was seeing, mainly due to finances (although there were some other underlying reasons too). I've been seeing an EAP (Employee Assistance Program) free counselor for 3 sessions. I get a max of 6 sessions.

What's the one thing you can't live without?

BeyondtheRainbow · Jul 27, 2024, 11:34 PM

My Abbycat. She keeps me calm and since she has needs I have to get out of my head and take care of her every day, several times per day.

Do you use pillboxes and how many weeks worth do you fill at once?

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