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Counseling And/or Medication For Bipolar Disorder?

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Counseling And/or Medication For Bipolar Disorder?

May 23rd, 2006

If medication is controlling the swings of bipolar disorder, is being in counseling necessary. I'm getting prescribed medication through my regular doctor but my medication dosage isn't being monitored along with my bipolar disorder. I still have mild swings that I can recognize but someone recently told me that I don't see all the swings like other people can see. The medication has been working but I recently had a relapse of a major swing that I felt like I was flying high for a few weeks and then I quickly dropped into a depressive and suicidal stage within a day. Then I was bouncing off the walls again a couple days later before I started to level out. I reconsidered counseling with the urging of a freind and I have an appointment with a psychologist but i'm not understanding how counseling will be able to help me. How can a counselor or phychologist help me control the swings if bipolar is a mental illness? Medication is the only effective way i've found so far to control my swings.

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replied May 24th, 2006

I have found that counseling does not help me. If I need to talk about my disorder and how I am feeling then I will talk to my family and/or friends. I do see my psychiatrist about once a month to monitor my meds. He asks me how i'm feeling and adjusts my meds accordingly. I also get regular lithium levels. I'm 31 yrs. Old and have had bipolar since I was a small child so I have been on numerous medications. It is difficult and can take years to find the right combination. Even then it is not uncommon to still have ups and downs. Medications may need to be altered depending on how you are coping. So basically if you don't feel you need counseling then don't worry about it but you will need to keep in close touch with your doctor. It is very important to have your medications monitored! Hope that helps a little.

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replied May 24th, 2006

That helps some. But i'm not even seeing a psychiatrist to monitor my meds. My family doctor gives me a prescription with a years worth of refills. When it's time to get a new prescription, I usually end up talking to his nurse, she asks me what i'm taking, what dosage, she passes it on to the doctor to fill, and then I go to the pharmacy and the entire process is repeated. I'm not even asked how i've been feeling, how the meds have been working, etc. To have my meds be monitored by a psychiatrist, it's mandatory by the clinics in my area to be actively in counseling by a therapist. When I am having swings or am in need to talk to someone about how I am feeling, i'm left out there to fight on my own. I don't have anyone to go to. So i've had to learn how to defend for myself and it hasn't been easy. Been through a lot of tears. So when this major swing came back, it got me worried because it hasn't happened for a long time.

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replied May 24th, 2006

I think if I were you I would go ahead with the counseling. If it is the only way you can see a psychiatrist and be monitored then that is the way I would go. Since you have no one to confide in and talk to then it would surely benefit you to find a therapist you are comfortable with and can share your feelings with. I'm sure they could give you good advice on how to cope. Several years ago I also got my meds from my family doctor. I was in the same situation as you are in now, I was not monitored at all. I almost died while in the care of that doctor due to attempted suicide. I also got toxic at one time because I was on too much lithium. I think family practitioners who are trying to play psychiatrist are incredibly irresponsible. Please get help from a pychiatrist who knows what they are doing. You will be amazed on how much better you will feel when you find the right meds for you. Good luck!

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	Tags: medication, Bipolar Disorder, Bipolar, bipolar help, working out

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