topic they want to stop my happiness in Treatments, health professionals and therapies

they want to stop my happiness

Pounce — Fri, 01 May 2015 12:21:02 GMT

My psychologist and doctor suspect I have bipolar. My current medication is just not working I still get depressed and have frequent suicidal thoughts. My doctor told me to stop taking one of my medications because I was getting too "high". But I wasn't crazy, just amazingly happy and confident, and people seemed to like me for a change. He's now given me a new med. I've investigated. It's an antipsychotic with a side effect list as long as my arm. I don't want it. It will take my happiness away. Why do they want to take my happiness away??? I'm just looking for a way to be rid of the depression without being rid of the happiness. Know of anything that helps?

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they want to stop my happiness

CrashCoyote — Sat, 02 May 2015 13:22:54 GMT

Hi Pounce,

Just about all medications have side effects. The question is always are they better or worse than the presenting problem.

I would always urge you to follow the advice of your medical professionals and it seems their views conflict.

Can I suggest you see the person that prescribed the medication you are currently on and discuss it with that person? Maybe also ask what they think of the proposed medication?

I'd be keen to hear how that goes.

Kind regards, John.

they want to stop my happiness

geoff — Sat, 02 May 2015 20:20:33 GMT

dear Pounce, I see that you have posted a few times before, which is good and whether it was seeking help for yourself or replying to other comments, I can't remember.

All medications will list any side-effects that you could possibly get, but not necessarily so, because everybody is different, and the trouble with medication is that if it seems to make you 'high' then it's working on false pretenses, just like alcohol or non prescription drugs do to us, because we are not behaving our normal way.

I do understand that at last you want to be happy and that's a reasonable request, but there's a problem here in that as this drug that your doctor prescribed to you, wears off, you then need another one to feel 'high' again, no different than having another drink, and if the tablet is your last one, then you are going to get upset by not having any more.

This is why your doctor wants to stop you taking it.

It's like a 'round robin' and would also be interested to see what your doctor says about it. Geoff.

they want to stop my happiness

pipsy — Sat, 02 May 2015 21:44:06 GMT

Dear Pounce. I totally agree with everything Geoff has said. Meds do have 'side effects'. Your G.P is obviously concerned for you that is why he wants to take you off. It will take a while to readjust to not taking it, be guided by your G.P on this. One of the meds I was taking gave me 'Parkinsons' which was really scary. The psych who prescribed it had done so for the wrong reasons (he admitted this). If meds are not working, your G.P will pick up on it and will advise accordingly. Please discuss any concerns with him, that is what he is there for. Make sure he understands your concerns. Even if you do have a 'high' after taking them, tell your G.P, 'highs' are as dangerous as 'lows'. It may take a bit of 'guinea pig' treatment before your G.P finds something that works, work with him. He knows what he's doing.

they want to stop my happiness

Pounce — Mon, 04 May 2015 10:56:32 GMT

Hi John,

it was my doctor who prescribed the two ADs I was on, but when I went back to complain about one because it's making me fat and sleepy, he said to stop taking it. He then prescribed the anti-psychotic instead. I was a little hyperactive at the time, but no more than most extroverted people I think

they want to stop my happiness

Pounce — Mon, 04 May 2015 11:07:59 GMT

I don't think he knows what he's doing. I do have an appointment with a psychiatrist at the end of the month. I'll see what he says. If he agrees about the new medication maybe I'll take it, although I think it will ruin me

they want to stop my happiness

pipsy — Tue, 05 May 2015 02:05:38 GMT

Hi Pounce. Sorry if I upset you about your G.P. They are only guided by what you choose to tell him. The 'highs' and 'lows' you experience can be serious side effects. The meds will ruin you only if you do not discuss them with G.P/ psych. As I said, sometimes we are 'guinea pigs' with meds. Until the G.P is satisfied with your body's acceptance to the meds, he may have to keep readjusting the dose. This is where you need to discuss any concerns you are having. If you're that unsure, have you thought about getting a second opinion. Try not to be guided by well meaning friends and relations who don't really understand your problems. Don't 'experiment' meds/drugs without G.P approval. The more you think you know, the more you find you don't know. If you have to see your G.P often for the time being, so be it. Patience is the key word.

they want to stop my happiness

Pounce — Wed, 06 May 2015 22:04:37 GMT

Sorry, I'm not offended. Thank you for your advice. The thing is, I wanted to stop my other medication because it made me drowsy and hungry, and the new medication has the same side effects plus lots more. And treatment for bipolar is forever. I'd like to get a confirmed diagnosis before going down that path. Plus it's hard to consider meds now I'm happy happy happy!

they want to stop my happiness

pipsy — Thu, 07 May 2015 01:45:29 GMT

Hi Pounce. Forgot to tell you. When I was first taking meds for depression, I was advised I would get the 'munchies' too. I also got 'sleepy', so I do know where you're coming from. The meds took about 3 weeks to 'kick in', I was told this too. I was wrongly diagnosed with Bipolar and that medication gave me 'Parkinsons'. I don't have Bipolar. As I said, patience is the key, it could take a while before you get a medication that will 'agree' with you. I understand you may be scared about how you're feeling: i.e drowsy, hungry etc. If that is 'side effects' these will pass after a couple of weeks. If they don't talk to your G.P/specialist/adviser. I still feel the 'happy, happy, happy' you're describing is another side effect. It sounds like a 'high'. I am worried about you. How long have you been on these meds? If you've been taking them longer than a couple of weeks, and you're still experiencing the problems you had when you first started, I can't help feeling the meds are not working. Please, please, go back to your original adviser and talk to them. Above all, please be honest with them.

they want to stop my happiness

Surrender — Thu, 07 May 2015 04:55:53 GMT

Hi Pipsy

Thanks for this info. I to was diagnosed with Bipolar about 12 years ago and was put on meds for this for about two years. My new Dr had the good sense to send me to two other phsychiatrists for 2nd and 3rd opinions. I didn't see both at the same time of couse. Both phsychiatrists diagnosed me with severe anxiety and not Bipolar. One of them actually smiled and said i had a great sense of humour, which made me feel good. I am sorry that you got Parkinsons from the meds...should i be looking into this?

they want to stop my happiness

pipsy — Thu, 07 May 2015 05:25:25 GMT

Hi Surrender. When I was diagnosed with Bipolar, I was put onto meds that were supposed to make me quote: 'feel good about myself', unquote. I developed Parkinsons immediately. I returned to the psych who had put me on the meds. He wouldn't listen at first, insisted I persevere with the meds. Luckily I chose to ignore him and stopped taking the meds. The 'shakes' stopped immediately. If you don't have Bipolar and you're prescribed meds for it, discuss with your adviser why he's prescribing the meds. I was taking other meds at the time which may also have worked against the Bipolar med. Bipolar meds are specifically prescribed for that illness. If you have bad reactions/side effects from meds in general, that last too long, yes, go and discuss it with your adviser. As I've said previously, meds can take 2 or 3 weeks to 'kick in'. If after that length of time, you're still experiencing problems, go back and get more advice. If the psych I was seeing at the time had listened, I probably wouldn't have been prescribed that particular medication anyway. I've never had Bipolar, I suffer mainly with depression caused through frustration. I'm not taking any meds at all, haven't been on any since last year and I'm better than I was with them. However, having said that, that's me, everyone is different. Be guided by your G.P/specialist/psych. My G.P monitors me regularly and I'm doing well. BB helps, my church helps, I have a good support group, that's very important.

Good luck, keep in touch.

Glad to help whenever.

they want to stop my happiness

Surrender — Thu, 07 May 2015 07:39:58 GMT

Hi Pipsy - thanks for your reply. So happy for you for doing well. I wrote my first post this morning which i guess the moderator is reviewing before posting on here so i won't repeat everything. With the Bipolar part I was misdiagnosed over 12 years ago and at the time I was on AD meds which apparently is a no no if you have Bipolar. But lucky for me my Dr sent me to two other phsycs which confirmed that i have anxiety - so all good i stopped the Bipolar meds.

Thank you.

they want to stop my happiness

Pounce — Thu, 07 May 2015 08:17:07 GMT

Thanks for your reply. They are in agreement, they both saw me in one of my rather hyperactive moods and they both are suggesting that I have bipolar. But I'm not willing to accept that or the medication without a definative diagnosis

they want to stop my happiness

Pounce — Thu, 07 May 2015 08:23:18 GMT

Hi Geoff, thanks for your answer. I have stopped taking the medication that seemed to be triggering a manic high which was amongst its side effects for susceptible people. So I followed my doctor's advice in that. I'm just wary of this new medication because it could be even worse, especially if they've got the wrong idea about my having bipolar.

cheers

they want to stop my happiness

Surrender — Thu, 07 May 2015 08:29:18 GMT

Hi Pounce.

I went to two other psychiatrists - both were to evaluate me. My Dr did not use the word bipolar 2 in the referral.

They both concluded high anxiety. I actually went back to the original psych that diagnosed bipolar and asked him how he came to this conclusion. He said "you have had too many jobs - too many partners (have been in one relationship for over 10 years) you party all night long and you are a risk taker. I actually believed him at the time and was very compliant with meds. It was only because my boss, family and friends intervened and encouraged me to seek further advice.

I wish you all the best.

they want to stop my happiness

pipsy — Thu, 07 May 2015 08:56:09 GMT

Hi Surrender. Thanks for your reply. I've found some psych's can be very judgemental in their diagnoses. The one I saw, was too. He had me believing everything he said. I'm pleased you sought further advice and glad things worked out for you. Just hope everything continues going well for you. You seem like a very positive person.

Keep going.

they want to stop my happiness

pipsy — Thu, 07 May 2015 09:07:06 GMT

Hi Pounce. Just wondering if you know anything about Bipolar. Sometimes the very name of these conditions can frighten Hell out of us. Maybe if you talked to your G.P or adviser about Bipolar and what it is and how it manifests itself. I'm not saying you have it, maybe you are just hyperactive, but if you have Bipolar, help is available. All I know about Bipolar is that you experience 'highs' and 'lows'. If, after learning more about it, you could accept you have it (if you do). The meds wouldn't be so scary. See what you can find out about it, arm yourself with as much knowledge as you can, then you'll have a better idea what's going on?

All the best

they want to stop my happiness

Pounce — Thu, 07 May 2015 12:38:43 GMT

Thanks surrender, your contribution is very helpful. I'm convinced that I should wait for a confirmed diagnosis from the psychiatrist before I take the bipolar meds. I certainly have lots of anxiety when I'm depressed, hiding in the house, fearing being watched, panic attacks etc

they want to stop my happiness

Pounce — Fri, 08 May 2015 03:24:44 GMT

Thanks Pipsy, I have been reading up a lot on bipolar recently. It's not a diagnosis anyone would want! And there is still so much more stigma attached to bipolar compared to clinical depression! But the tests I've done are all pointing that way. When I'm hyperactive, I have no anxiety, no fear, I feel euphoric, happy to the max and buzzing with electricity. I turn from very introverted to rather extroverted

they want to stop my happiness

pipsy — Sun, 10 May 2015 01:43:11 GMT

Hi Pounce. I totally agree with you about the stigma attached to any form of mental illness, including simple depression. Bipolar, for some reason conjures up images of people running around laughing madly one minute, 'high', sobbing profusely 'low', next. If you are not like that, you don't want to be. Have you looked at possibility of maybe simply ADHD. I don't know how old you are, but if it's simply ADHD, then the meds for Bipolar may be wrong. Just a thought, again, you would have to discuss with your adviser.