I have Bipolar. Newly Diagnosed

Jkp_BP · ‎13-01-2019

Hi guys,

I've struggled with my mental health for quite some time and it wasn't until the last hospitalization in (Aug18 for 6weeks) that i was diagnosed with Bipolar. In many ways the diagnoses made sense, however i never asked for this. 😞 I don't think its quite sunken in just yet.

All i see myself doing is having to take my medication each night going to sleep waking up going to work and repeat. The meds just slow down everything im not as productive as i use to be. the meds null the activity in my head and allow me to get some sleep. with mood stab in the mix.

I guess i miss the old me me, wanting to run wild and i feel as if i'm losing many people around me as i feel i am not the same person i was.

As much as things are a little more "balanced" in the doctors eyes in some odd obscure way, i find that i find myself more and more isolated in my head than ever. Also find that i'm more of an internalize r now as i do not want to say the wrong thing to someone and worry anyone around me as i have lost a couple of "good friends" with the last episode back in Aug.

I wanted to see if any others had these feelings, and what did they do to try and find "legit Balance" in the head whilst on these BP meds.

Cheers

quirkywords · ‎13-01-2019

Welcome Jkp_BP to this forum. This place is full of kind, friendly and supportive people.

It can be confusing try to adjust to not having extreme moods and getting the right balance of medication.

My story in a nut shell. Diagnosed over 40years , spent 16 years in denial as back then little information but lots of stigma, finally took medication and for last couple of decades have been working at that balance and for much of the time I achieve it/

I still wonder who I am, what happened to that other person but I realise I am a mixture of the extrovert and the introvert.

I found I needed to give medication a fair trial because it takes time for your body to adjust.

or me I try to use my 4 Hs-Health, Honesty, Hope and Humour. Of course when you are first diagnosed you say what do you mena by humour this is so serious and it is. I just found over the years if I could laugh at myself , not all the time, but just look at the funny side .

You will find what works for you.

There is a long term thread This bipolar thread, that is a safe friendly place to come and you can ask questions , talk about how you feel, and people will understand and be supportive.

Also feel free to post on your own thread.

Thanks again for writing your first post which can be difficult.

Quirky

Jkp_BP · ‎13-01-2019

HI Quirky,

i guess its the famous words. "Where to From Here".....................

Its a completely different world. unfortunately my many of the people around me have never been exposed to mental illness or they carry "The Judgement" which also makes it difficult to communicate with them however sometimes i just want to stay home and curl up in a ball and sleep.

I just wonder how long does these medications take to be completely effective... as its going on 5 months and still feel i'm i riding in a new car with not turbo... 😞

Or when is it ok, just to go back to old me.. as i feel all this is just temporary.

Cheers

Becca_Maria · ‎15-01-2019

I can so relate to the part of wanting to keep it to yourself. I just find Bipolar to be taken more like your a bit looney, and that you will change at any minute! Its like the word "depression" has been accepted but those that don't suffer don't realise how much that differs. Hoping as time goes by you can learn to work with Bipolar and what works for you. I am newly queried as Manic so starting to look at that diagnosis!

quirkywords · ‎15-01-2019

Jkp_Bp

thanks for your reply.You ask about how long medication takes to be effective. It really depends on the individual and the type of medication you are on.

It is a journey and it can be a long one.

I think it depends what you mean by the old me, is that the pre mood swings old me , or the. Moodswing me, or it is a new old me?

Becca Welcome to the forum. it can me confusing and sometimes people can be ignorant but I find people mostly are informed to some degree and are curious, at Keats compared to 40 years go.

Quirky

Bally-Bar · ‎17-01-2019

Hi Jkp_BP

I was diagnosed with BP2. Very different to BP1. BP2 is like the sequal to 1. It has the elements just not as intense as the original. (i'm a comedian btw - not a well paid one).

For me, I still am the same person just don't have the high's and lows. So it feels like a milder form of me.

Again for me, my medication worked straight away, so, happy days. BUT everyone is different and everyone reacts differently to different meds. I also found that even when my meds worked, there was an adjustment period where I did deal with my difference in personality.

Humans interact with each other differently and losing and gaining friends happens all the time. Just generally it takes a longer time that say in your case. But, hey, I'm no expert on relationships.

Keep looking on this site. I've found it very useful and have only just started contributing after 4 years of medication.

quirkywords · ‎18-01-2019

Jkp-Bp,

Becca and Bally have given you helpful suggestions.

Welcome Bally- Bar to the forum.

I was diagnosed with manic depression so when bipolar was the term used, I worried I had 2 labels, my sense of humour!

Like you my medication worked after a few months. AS you said and I have said everyone is different.

There is a thread This bipolar life, that you may like to have a look at. It is a long thread but you can just say hi ,as the thread is full of friendly supportive people.

I thing all things take time but sometimes we can be impatient if the result are not instant, that's how I am like much of the time.

Quirky