Hi everyone!
As I said in the title- I'm a 31yo F and my psychiatrist is fairly certain I have Bipolar Depression plus Generalised Anxiety Disorder. I have always been an anxious person and have had extended periods of low mood most of my life but the last 2 years have been a whole new level, requiring extended admissions to psychiatric units for months at a time. To complicate things entirely, I also happen to be a doctor, currently completing my General Practice training program so I'm having to factor in moving around to different clinics for my training and get the timing right to study for, and sit my major exams.
I've spent more time off work than at work in the past 2 years unfortunately and have undergone extensive ECT treatments which have significantly impacted on my memory. I also trialled rTMS without any improvement.
I've just gotten discharged home after a 5 week admission and I'm still feeling pretty flat. The current plan is to play around with my meds as an outpatient while getting my ongoing psychotherapy from one (of my three!!!) psychiatrists. I'm also looking at perhaps signing up to do some group therapy Day Sessions through my local private psychiatric hospital (not the hospital I've been admitted at so far)
I have to get better- it is starting to significantly impact on my amazing husband who has stuck by me through thick and thin. He is just getting worn out by trying to be there for me at all times. He's admitted to me that he is sometimes scared to pick up the phone when I call him because he worries how distraught I'll be at that time.
I guess I'm just hoping that we find the right combo of meds for me and I can settle down into a good routine of self care, study, and hopefully get back to work. My work can be very stressful but I get so much satisfaction out of it- it keeps me going even when I'm having a bad day. I may not be enjoying much in life at the moment but I get a real feeling of accomplishment from simply helping someone with their problem on the day!
Anyway, so that's enough of a ramble about me- I can't wait to get to know you all a bit better and have the opportunity to bounce some ideas around to help each other out! Please feel free to chat to me about anything, I love to chat and I don't know about others but its great feeling connected!
stephie_lea
