Help with adult ADHD and Bipolar

[kayla_lou]

Hi, I was diagnosed with ADHD and Bipolar 1 early to mid 2020. I have been taking medication which has absolutely changed my life, but I feel like I really need to just talk to someone about my issues. Anyone with ADHD and/or Bipolar will understand what I mean when I say the need to talk is like word vomit - you feel like if you don't let it out, you will explode.

I don't want to waste anyone's time by talking to someone who is there to help people in a crisis, because I'm not depressed or anything more severe then that, I'm just struggling with issues from these conditions like self esteem, bad behaviours like negative thoughts about self worth etc. I also have a binge eating disorder which just makes everything feel so much more unmanageable for my already crowded brain.

So here I am rambling as I often do, but basically my situation is: I need to talk to someone who is genuinely interested in my life story, someone who will give me strategies to cope with the issues ADHD and Bipolar have created for me from a very young age, someone who won't just google the answers as I've already done all that in desperate attempts to help myself. I still feel like I can't even find the words to express what I feel like I need, and I have absolutely no idea where to start.

My GP sent me to a psychologist, which is why I'm looking for maybe an alternative. Reason being, without even working out what my issues were stemming from, she just focused on my eating problem. When I tried to talk about WHY this was happening, I was told that there's not enough time in the sessions, and I should just do these things and they will help. Obviously that did not work.

I already have to fork out upwards of $400 on psychiatrists for my medication scripts, I'll definitely struggle to afford another $200+ for another service which may not be what I need.

First things first is I want someone to tell me what to do. Everywhere I look the answer is 'See your GP', all the GPs I've seen seem to not take me seriously, and to be honest I don't really want to go back to one, just out of embarrassment.

Welcome to my wandering, leaping, incoherent, frustrating 25 year old brain. I apologise in advance for the novel.

HELP.

[Sophie_M]

Dear kayla_lou,

Thank you for finding the strength to post in our forum. This takes much courage. We are a supportive and helpful community.

We are sorry that you had a bad experience with a psychologist which your GP sent you to see. If you still have sessions in the mental health plan you got from your GP, we understand that you can use the remaining sessions with any other mental health professional who is covered by MediCare.

That said, it is our understanding that skilled mental health professionals will not tell you what to do. Instead, they will help you work out what is going on inside your head so you might start to understand why you are making those choices.

We would like to encourage you to call BeyondBlue on 1300 22 4636, or Lifeline on 13 1114. It is our understanding that they would much prefer you to call now, whilst the issues are small, so that the issues do not become large.

We also invite you to continue posting here. And, we encourage you to read some of the the discussions in the bipolar discussion.

We are always here for you.

Warm regards,

Sophie M.

[quirkywords]

Kayla _lou
welcome to the forum.

I have lived with a diagnosis of bipolar for nearly 50years as I was diagnosed in my mid teens. While I have never been diagnosed with ADHD I have many of the characteristics .

It can be difficult trying to find the right balance and everyone’s situation is different.,.

There is a thread called this bipolar life which is supportive and friendly .

writing things down and looking for patterns helped me.

Also being completely honest with myself . I managed to find a ho who was understanding and reasonable and who listen to me. If you can find someone who you trust and listens thst helps.
I was so mixed up and living in a time before computers ets that I was in denial for over ten years. I know things have changed but finding someone with medical experience yiu can relate to can help.

Also there are supportive people here. If you get a chance to browse the thread I mentioned, it is a long thread, the first post is helpful and then browse more recent threads of you want to,

I can write here and listen. Feel free to ask me questions.