Mental Illness

[DamonK]

I have bipolar with rapid cycling and traits of borderline personality disorder. Luckily, the only thing that's "confirmed" is bipolar.

There was a time that I would say "I'm bipolar" but eventually, I realized I have bipolar. It doesn't have me. Oh, there are days it wins out, of course. Here lately, those days are diminishing.

I recently went back on meds. About 1 week ago, I did my final step up dose to what I should be to level out.

I've never seen so many "normal" days on my mood chart and it's only the 17th.

Currently I take 200 mg of Lamictal, 25 mg (I think) of Inderal, and Ativan prn. So far, this combination is helping me.

I may consider returning to therapy, but I'm not certain on that part yet.

I have my good days. I have my bad days.

As long as the good outweigh the bad, I have no complaints.

Good luck everyone.

[Darth Denkay]

Originally Posted by lilapache

but please how long did it take before the meds quit working on you...

I take daily meds for depression - I have for over 20 years now. I tend to get anywhere from 2-6 years on a specific drug or combo at a time. This means every 2-6 years I need to change meds. The nice thing is that I can sometimes cycle back to a particular drug that I'd been on before. For instance, I started on prozac many moons ago (was the first anti-depressant I took). I've been on a number of other drugs for varying lengths of time in between, and I am taking it now. In fact, this might be the third round of it I've been on, I don't really remember. As for how long a particular med will work for you (general you) I assume it depends on the drug and your neurochemistry. Prozac has worked well for me. Lexapro worked pretty well. Effexor did not work well for me. It's all individual - different meds work for different people and for different periods of time.

Originally Posted by DamonK

There was a time that I would say "I'm bipolar" but eventually, I realized I have bipolar. It doesn't have me. Oh, there are days it wins out, of course. Here lately, those days are diminishing.

This is absolutely wonderful sentiment Damon. I live with depression, but depression is not who I am. Like you, I have good days and bad days, good weeks and even months. SO even though there are times when it is more of a focus in my daily life, it is still never me. I am not depression.

[lilapache]

ok so i finally have a weekend off... but ya know... its so not good to have so much time alone inside my head... even though some of it has been very cathartic... especially since i've gotten rid of alot of stuff in there... but other times... it sucks...

and not having meds that are working right now really sucks also... man i hope when i get this move done i can find an affordable dr... and get the meds i know work... *sighs*

[Jedi]

Originally Posted by DamonK

I have bipolar with rapid cycling and traits of borderline personality disorder. Luckily, the only thing that's "confirmed" is bipolar.

There was a time that I would say "I'm bipolar" but eventually, I realized I have bipolar. It doesn't have me. Oh, there are days it wins out, of course. Here lately, those days are diminishing.

I recently went back on meds. About 1 week ago, I did my final step up dose to what I should be to level out.

I've never seen so many "normal" days on my mood chart and it's only the 17th.

Currently I take 200 mg of Lamictal, 25 mg (I think) of Inderal, and Ativan prn. So far, this combination is helping me.

I may consider returning to therapy, but I'm not certain on that part yet.

I have my good days. I have my bad days.

As long as the good outweigh the bad, I have no complaints.

Good luck everyone.

Glad to see you here.......thanks for the post.