[jnt1989]

So, I had emailed the movement disorder specialist and asked her if my mood swings could be affecting my tics. She claimed that it could make my tics worse, so she prescribed me Sertraline.
My therapist believes that I might be Bipolar, though. Somebody told me that antidepressants could make mania worse. Should I email her again and ask her if it's a good idea for me to be one this? Cuz this week has been an absolute rollercoaster. I mean, I have lots of ups and downs, but this week they seem to be really extreme for me. I haven't been as depressed as I have been getting this week for a really long time. I've not been so close to giving in and SIing like I have been this week either. I have been SI free for a year and a half.

I've been thinking that I should probably just go see a psych, but I really can't afford it. I don't have insurance, and I can barely afford to see T every two weeks and make the minimum payments on medical bills I already have.

[Umbral_Seraph]

To my knowledge, yes, an AD can push someone with BP into mania. You should ask exactly why you were prescribed this med and express your fears about taking it. If you don't her reason or something and just don't want to take it, ask her to write for something else, like a mood stabilizer or antiseizure med (since they are also prescribed for their mood stabilizing effects). I hope you find an answer soon.

[jnt1989]

Thanks... I'm thinking I'm gonna see how this week goes. If it ends up the same as this past week, I'm gonna email her about it. Yesterday I was ok except for a short bit of time where I felt absolutely restless and like I needed to be up doing something or I was going to freak out or something. But I went back in to work after my lunch break and got to cleaning and it helped some. Today has been pretty good too. And I actually got a semi-normal amount of sleep last night. Not that my normal sleep is really that normal, but whatever. I actually slept, so I guess that's all that matters at the moment.

[Umbral_Seraph]

Glad you're feeling better!

Sadly, it does take a bit of trial and error to find the right medication, and BP can difficult because people will see a doctor when they are depressed, and be diagnosed with depression, and thus given ADs and going into mania, after which they get the right stuff.

[jnt1989]

Yeah, I was diagnosed with Depressive Disorder NOS and Borderline Traits (but now an actual disorder) 4 years ago. T thinks they just slapped borderline traits on me cuz of the SI. I do think the last psych I saw regularly ruled it out, though.