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Q: Bipolar Type 2 & Ptsd
asked by: rainfalls on August 19th, 2005
New User
New here,
just dx'ed with the bipolar type 2 and ptsd. They put me on lactimal. Anyone out there had that?
Been on for a little over a week and I already feel different, like I am living in some state of a dreamlike world and dont like it. Just really even feeling I guess, or slow feeling even though my mother says I am probably at a more nomral level. I am just scared that this is how I am always going to feel, or does it get better with time? I feel like blah. It doesnt help either that I am still getting over an ex. He wasnt very nice, but still is difficult. Feels like my life isnt mine or something, I am really having a hard time trying to explain this.
P-doc said that this was a good med for ptsd as well, due to the traumatic events in my life. I guess I didnt realize they were so traumatic. All I do know is at this point, I am ready to try anything that will make me a better, and functioning person. I am tired of losing jobs b/c of it, money probs, you name it. Is it normal for someone with this dx'ed to have felt nothing but sandess since the day they were born? My mother even knew, and here I thought I was so good at keeping things hidden from people. I lied for years to myself and close relationships about it, when iwas down I said I was sick so know one knew what was really going on. Then back up and so much energy and doing stuff and on and on, then abck down again, everyone teased me for being sick so much. Little did they know, I was scared they would commit me if they really knew, so I lived with it alone for years.
Anywhooo, anyone understand any of this?
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jenjsmith
replied on August 24th, 2005
New User
Yeah, I understand. I was diagnosed bipolor 2 and ptsd 14 yrs ago. Was put on lithium and paxil and was so damn mellow you could set a bomb off next to me and you'd be lucky if I noticed. Got to the point I didn't care anymore, was almost hospitalized for it. But since I wasn't a danger to my self or anyone else they couldn't admit me with out my consent. I refused to give it. I have to say I am much better now, and I take no meds. I took the advice of a friend and saw a behaviorist. Learned to identify what was happening and when, what I could do about it and when I needed to get help from a doc, last time was 9 yrs ago. I also did an anger management group and one called adult children of disfunctional families, and therepy. Took a few years, but I can manage much better now with out being drugged out of my mind. And I can be my normal self, well as normal as I can be anyway ( lol) to me my active self is a good one it feels like me.
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jenjsmith
replied on August 24th, 2005
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Oh yeah, I am the mother of 4 now, am finishing my associates degree w/honors in early childhood education(graduate in may 2006 :) ), and have been at the same job for the last 2 1/2yrs. You can do it, you just have to find the right combo for you
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rainfalls
replied on August 24th, 2005
New User
Thank You
Yes, I am a mother of two, sounds like you have your hands full.
I have two girls, one who is 18 and the other 14. Sounds fun!
Yes, I beleive that alot of this stuff is in your thought process as well. So I plan on changing that, I have been working on that for a while. I am hoping eventually to not be on so many meds, but dont thikn I will ever go off.
I am better now thank god, last two days were way better, so hopefully it keeps going well with this med.
I am a student also right now, prepharmacy I start tommorow, for this semester!
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jenjsmith
replied on August 24th, 2005
New User
Glad you are doing better. And oh boy do I have my hands full. I have twin 13 yr old daughters, an 11 yr old son, and an 8 month old daughter who crawled for the first time tonight :d . So I get the new mom thing all over again plus the raging teen hormones all at once. But I have to say I love it. Congrats on school, that's a good thing. Makes you feel good and keeps you busy. I start my semester on monday. I'm excited i'm doing my internship in special ed, starting on sept 10. If you can take an abnormal psy class. I loved mine, helped me understand my self and let me know i'm actually lucky things could be so much worse. Read as much as you can about bipolor and ptsd too. The more you learn about it the easier it is to deal with and the easier it is to help your family understand. Have fun with classes, I know i'm about to be swamped! Jenn
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rainfalls
replied on August 26th, 2005
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Hello
Wow, I guess you are getting hit with hormones and daipers, but how fun. And school besides? I already know myself well enough to know I couldnt do all that. I have a full semester load of chemistry, biology and pre-calc, the dog, two girls, that is enough for me , leaves me with no life.
Yes, sounds like you will be hit soon with the homework and etc....
I do not have anyone at home helping me, so that makes it even more time consuming with things. And my youngest in on the hs dance team so it involves alot of running around.
This week all went well, and classes are good so far, I got the weekend to do all my reading and assignments already. I am hoping to at least make it to the lake and pool one alst time though.
The leaves on the trees, some of them are already turning color.

Good luck!
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firefly09
replied on December 13th, 2005
New User
Its normal for the first few days or couple of weeks to experience side effects from the medication. Since lamictal is a fairly new medication these shoul wear off soon. I take risperdal and the first few days I took it, I was extremly weak, nearly fell on the floor when I would get up in the morning because of how bad it was. Its worn off now and I tend to take the medication early on in te night so the side effects can wear off faster for the next day. You might want to try this.
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BPjoe23
replied on December 15th, 2005
Experienced User
I took it for about a month with wellburtrin and got bad bad leg cramps for it. It is suppost to be a really good drug, it works as a mood stablizer.
You are just newly diagnose give your meds time to work, things will get better. You just have to take it day by day, don't get caought up in the other miss some times you got to do what's right for you. Heres some advice don't lie to your self or your doctor or therapist. Start opening up to others people and let them help give you support. Your not alone there's support groups out there like nami and dbsa.
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Lewis11
replied on May 19th, 2008
New User
Re: Bipolar Type 2 & Ptsd
Hi,I am new to this site.I was diagnosed with bipolar type 2 also about 5 days ago.I also have been on lamictal.I am starting out on 25mgs,then 50mgs,then 100mgs.I'm on my 5 day tomorrow so I haven't had any problems as of yet.I hope that I won't b/c I am ready to finally start feeling better.. cartwheel
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puzzld
replied on August 23rd, 2008
Supporter
bp type 2 and ptsd
hi

i have bp1 and ptsd (due to a violent/abusive boyfriend from age of 16 -20). i was diagnosed with bp a dozen times before i had my breakdown. i went catatonic. keep going on your path... you're headed in the right direction. i worked through my ptsd due to years of therapy. i also take medicine. lamictal, klonzipan, ativan and cymbalta. i am very happy now but know that i am in a dream state. i hope to never go back to the years of lying to myself and faking it for a decade. though, i would like to have children someday. about 1 month ago i tried to stop lamictal to be able to try to conceive. but it was not meant to be. i would have lost my job and i cannot have that happen now. unfortunately, i was informed i was infertile before i finally broke and accepted to try bp meds. it was unfortunate because i went through fertility surgery from complications with endometriosis before my bp diagnosis/acceptance. and i was planning my wedding. had surgery 10 days after our honeymoon in jamaica.

sorry for the rant =) what can i say... bp sucks
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puzzld
replied on August 24th, 2008
Supporter
forgot to say
that some bp meds are harmful to a fetus... so, that is why i can't try to get preg... the meds! and, bp does suck but it's entirely treatable. but, you still have to realize that you will still have good and bad days like anyone else. you just have more good days =) peace and love puzzld
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jaced1027
replied on September 8th, 2008
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bipolar 2 also
I was diagnoised over 11 years ago w/bipolar disorder 2 & ptsd. I went through alot of different meds, until I found the right one. Unfortunately, it takes your body 4-6 weeks to get used to a med. If it's making you feel spacey, not with it, etc. talk to your doctor about taking it at bedtime. It helps alot until your body is used to it.
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SpiritualStuffing
replied on September 9th, 2008
New User
jenjsmith wrote:
Yeah, I understand. I was diagnosed bipolor 2 and ptsd 14 yrs ago. Was put on lithium and paxil and was so damn mellow you could set a bomb off next to me and you'd be lucky if I noticed. Got to the point I didn't care anymore, was almost hospitalized for it. But since I wasn't a danger to my self or anyone else they couldn't admit me with out my consent. I refused to give it. I have to say I am much better now, and I take no meds. I took the advice of a friend and saw a behaviorist. Learned to identify what was happening and when, what I could do about it and when I needed to get help from a doc, last time was 9 yrs ago. I also did an anger management group and one called adult children of disfunctional families, and therepy. Took a few years, but I can manage much better now with out being drugged out of my mind. And I can be my normal self, well as normal as I can be anyway ( lol) to me my active self is a good one it feels like me.


sun

That sounds great jen!

What kind of practices did your behaviorist advise?
Did he or she recommend any reading materials?
A read a few books by Dr. Marcia Angell, Dr. Joseph Glenmullen and Dr. Peter Breggin, and they all recommend both cognitive and behavioral therapy.

Did your behaviorist recommend any writing or ‘journaling’ of any sort?
I read somewhere that by writing out even the most intense feelings and compulsions, we can go back and scale-down the intensity of the language and hence, redefine our perceptions, experiences and reactions in more positive and even-tempered terms.

For example, “black” becomes “midnight blue,” or “dark gray,” to “sky blue” or “light gray,” to “bright.”
“I used to be terminally depressed, but now I’m only temporarily discouraged.”

If we forge for ourselves a more even-tempered internal dialog – that is, the things we tell ourselves – then we can learn to visualize and adopt an increasingly hopeful outlook.
At least that’s the theory.

Has applying yourself to your studies been at all instrumental?

peace
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