Not too late. You get back on as soon as possible. Call your doc next business hours and ask if you can just start taking again based on when you last had them. PLEASE just listen to the hundreds of people on these threads that say to stay on your meds.
People do judge at worst, and at best they don't know what they'll do with that information. I made the mistake of sharing this with a colleague I was close to and it led to me never getting promotions.
People will sometimes attribute your feelings to BP2 and invalidate them.
On flip side, I finally shared it with some close friends and made our relationship stronger b/c I feel like I’m not hiding this big part of me. They also are more aware of when I am in a depressive episode or manic and will be there for me accordingly.
At my work a work colleague pointed out a frequent customer she had has bipolar. She followed that up with "People with bipolar are crazy"
I'm not diagnosed with bipolar but I have researched for the last 2 years and think I may have it, I didn't say this to her but I did say "Oh really? I don't think they are all that bad. I feel like people hear of the worst stories out there and there's so much stigma on it."
I find this to be very helpful because I love reading and to generally just learn more. I feel like now i need to learn earn more about myself ironically something I never really took the time to do I fear. I’ve just been diagnosed too and tbh I didn’t even pick up my meds yet I’m just scared and been avoiding it. (30YO F, I never got listened to when I would say I feel off and for no reason. Or just with my depression and anxiety. For years I haven’t gotten help and life just kept life’n, once I hit rock bottom thanksgiving I was admitted for the day and now I’m here trying to be better I hope.) What books would you recommend? Google has been overwhelming. I have a BFF who is my rock and only real support I have. I’d love for us both to gain knowledge. they don’t fully understand what I’m going through and often we bump heads because of me and my feelings that take things more personal. sometimes they’ll say things like “it’s not that serious for you to be this upset or I don’t understand why you’re so defensive” etc I feel we both don’t fully understand what I have and I know most of it is cause of B2 but that’s not a comforting apology when I’m in the wrong. Again any books etc to help me and my support system understand, manage, cope etc with B2. I’m also heading to pick up my meds today :)
I just searched "bipolar" at my library. I really liked The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook for Bipolar Disorder by Sheri Van Dijk. And also The Bipolar Disorder Survival Guide by David Miklowitz. They aren't type 2 specific but I remember feeling like I learned a lot.
It’s a marathon. You’re never so stable that you can’t start cycling again. It’s important to adhere to your treatment plan and have people in your life that you trust who know you well enough to notice significant changes in your mood. Frequently they will be able to spot it before you do.
"You'll be a happier OP in 6 months".
My mom said this to me in 2015 when I was suicidal for the 900th time (and not consistently taking my meds at the time, of course).
6 months isn't a long time to stay alive but it's long enough to make a small change or two. Set a goal and keep going and resetting the clock. I still use it now and again when I lose my way or get in my head too much.
Going to bed early doesn’t make you lame. Sleep is wonderful. Sleep is protective. I am now a sleep lobster (autocorrect turned monster into lobster but it’s funny so)
Ever since my diagnosis and starting of meds, by 8-9 I'm exhausted. I've been self conscious about it cause I'm young but I used to have pretty bad insomnia during hypo moments. Almost a blessing in disguise
Before you fill family and friends in, make sure you’re able to understand and explain your situation in a way that you feel comfortable talking about. And then still be prepared that not everyone understands or will make you feel like your in a safe environment to talk about it.
You’re not bipolar! You have bipolar. Saying you’re bipolar is defining who you are (such as a young child or old man) and it’s not who you are! You are still you
This was actually a very crucial thing my therapist told me and we went through it because I was going down the rabbit hole of saying - I am Bipolar, I am ADHD etc., and associating them as me, but not just something that I have and losing the linea of where do I start/who am I. It can take a huge toll on your mental state, so it is extremely important to remind ourselves that we are we and our diagnoses is just something we have but does not define us <3
Finding a meds cocktail that works for you takes work. It's a bit of a trial and error. Be patient.
--
Don't ever come off your medication without medical supervision. Don't stop taking your medication because you feel better. You feel better because of your medication.
--
People die from bipolar disorder. It is a life-threatening illness. Treat it as such.
--
Learn your triggers and early warning signs, so depression or mania doesn't sneak up on you.
--
Build a support system, write down their names and phone numbers, and give their details to each other. These could include: your psychiatrist, psychologist, family doctor, parent/s, sibling/best friend, partner, work friend. They are the people who can advocate and care for you if you're too ill.
--
Finally,
Don't stop taking your medication. Not without your doctor knowing. Seriously.
Have patience in finding the right medication because it can take awhile. Never make decisions when you aren’t feeling well. Take care of your body (eat well, stay hydrated, exercise).
Agree with both of your comments. Took me more than a year to get on the right meds and dosage, almost two years. But since we finally found the sweet spot almost a year ago it has been *life changing*.
So many things I had never been able to follow thru on before were suddenly possible, because I was no longer both struggling to do the thing AND fighting against myself. It's been such an eyeopener for me. Like: "is this how easy life can be?" 🤯 Don't get me wrong, it's still hard but soooo much less overwhelming.
The information in here are facts. Be honest to your doc and document changes you notice in between visits. It makes it easier when you see your doc to inform them on what med changes to make. I’ve been on my meds for two years and I’m still learning. This past week I realized I’m having a hard time in the morning is because I was taking my meds too late at night. I take my meds in the evening now and I’ve improved. Communication with your doc is crucial.
Anything you feel is: not personal, not perfect and not permanent. It does get better, it’s a sickness so it’s not your fault you feel like that and you need to detach from perfection because the nature of this condition is for things to oscillate.
I'm relatively new. I think I just came off of a manic episode. I thought my meds were working and I was very productive.
My advice would be to understand what's happening and when for yourself quite intimately. Everyone has different manifestations. My productiveness had a high associated to it so I guess I need to watch out for that.
1. Be kind to yourself.
2. Learn to recognize your up/down triggers and how you think during those, then you know if the voice in your head is you talking or the BP.
When i'm having a depressive episode i now know it's an episode and it will pass. It doesn't make the hurt go away but i know to take it one step at a time and be patient.
Make sure you educate yourself before telling others. I have divulged the truth about my diagnosis to everyone in my life that I believe is willing to listen. Don’t go off your meds, but it does take time to get better. Have an open relationship with your psychiatrist, and just medication usually doesn’t just make it go away. You’ll have to put in effort, but I promise it’s worth it. I read a few books and it definitely helped. Getting on meds made me feel happy for the first time in 20 years. I promise things will get better.
My meds made me a zombie. However, I struggle with impulse control. Advice i cpuld give you is just hang on and don't give up. Also, try and remember to be grateful to those that tolerate our ups and downs. It's hard on our families too.
At sometimes you will wonder who u r but don't forget you know you best. You will wonder if you are in a good mood am I manic is this normal to feel good don't overthink things humans in general do feel love happy etc it's not always mania. Oh yeah and what everyone else said unless they make you sick after two weeks of getting on them and with the advice of a doctor never stop medicine because you feel normal it's because of the medicines that you feel normal. Good luck fellow bp 2 peer. Also know that your name is and you have bipolar not that your bipolar defines you.
Don’t go off your meds! Yes what you have is real and permanent/life long.
Imposter syndrome is HUGE, at least for me. I can’t tell you how many times I gave in to imposter syndrome and stopped my meds thinking I was all “better” and “cured.”
Don’t neglect your health and wellbeing. Take care of yourself and talk to your doctor if the meds aren’t the right ones for you or symptoms are showing up. Having a therapist is also super helpful, so find a therapist that you feel comfortable with.
Even with the meds and treatment plan, stuff happens, so the biggest advice I can give you is get to know yourself and what you need :)
After I got diagnosed, a lot made sense and I was able (with time) to understand certain things about myself and cope with life stuff.
Don’t worry about telling people, you don’t owe anyone an explanation or anything like that. Share when YOU want to, you’re not obligated to.
I’m gonna share the [ISBD guidelines](https://psychopharmacologyinstitute.com/publication/bipolar-disorder-treatment-guidelines-a-2019-update-2206). It’s advanced reading, not meant for patients, but I wish I’d had this resource.
Educate yourself on the symptoms of hypomania AND mania. Just to be safe. It looks different for everybody.
Do not quit meds cold turkey. It would greatly increase your risk of mania/psychosis, not just the “illness returning.”
Repeated episodes of hypomania can worsen your condition in the longterm. That’s a good reason to follow your treatment plan. There’s “acute” treatment, then there’s “maintenance” treatment. It’s the inpatient prescriber’s job to stabilize you to the point of discharge, but it’s the outpatient prescriber’s job to prioritize your longterm goal, quality of life, level of functioning… hopefully on minimal medication, without compromising stability.
Try your best to see a real psychiatrist, avoid nurse practitioners or PMHNPs, if possible. NPs have a place in healthcare but too many are doing jobs they shouldn’t be realistically expected to do. Their education/training is not well regulated. Be wary of staff referencing NPs as “psychiatrists” or other sugar-coated, confusing terminology. I always ask “is this provider a physician?” because those receptionists are sneaky 🫠
Therapy is an amazing tool if you can afford it!! There is no magic pill. More and more we’re starting to recognize the value of therapy for “chemical imbalance” disorders like BD or schizophrenia.
When hypomania hits, that self-awareness starts to suffer FAST. I hope you have a good support system to check in with.
Be cautious about who you share your diagnosis with. People are ignorant.
Your diagnosis isn’t your identity. It’s a word that helps identify what treatments you need and insurance requires it to pay your provider.
Good sleep, good diet, exercise, reduce stress. Always strive to improve your environment factors.
Don’t go off your meds!!!
Came to say this. 100%!
2 late
Not too late. You get back on as soon as possible. Call your doc next business hours and ask if you can just start taking again based on when you last had them. PLEASE just listen to the hundreds of people on these threads that say to stay on your meds.
Never too late to get back on :) Speak to your psychiatrist and work out a plan together.
Be careful who you share your diagnosis with. Save it for people you're genuinely close with, and outside a work setting.
This comes up a lot and it makes me sad. Is the thought that people will judge?
People do judge at worst, and at best they don't know what they'll do with that information. I made the mistake of sharing this with a colleague I was close to and it led to me never getting promotions.
People will sometimes attribute your feelings to BP2 and invalidate them. On flip side, I finally shared it with some close friends and made our relationship stronger b/c I feel like I’m not hiding this big part of me. They also are more aware of when I am in a depressive episode or manic and will be there for me accordingly.
At my work a work colleague pointed out a frequent customer she had has bipolar. She followed that up with "People with bipolar are crazy" I'm not diagnosed with bipolar but I have researched for the last 2 years and think I may have it, I didn't say this to her but I did say "Oh really? I don't think they are all that bad. I feel like people hear of the worst stories out there and there's so much stigma on it."
Diagnosis is the beginning of things getting easier, not harder. Meds and learning through therapy and reading has been life changing for me.
I find this to be very helpful because I love reading and to generally just learn more. I feel like now i need to learn earn more about myself ironically something I never really took the time to do I fear. I’ve just been diagnosed too and tbh I didn’t even pick up my meds yet I’m just scared and been avoiding it. (30YO F, I never got listened to when I would say I feel off and for no reason. Or just with my depression and anxiety. For years I haven’t gotten help and life just kept life’n, once I hit rock bottom thanksgiving I was admitted for the day and now I’m here trying to be better I hope.) What books would you recommend? Google has been overwhelming. I have a BFF who is my rock and only real support I have. I’d love for us both to gain knowledge. they don’t fully understand what I’m going through and often we bump heads because of me and my feelings that take things more personal. sometimes they’ll say things like “it’s not that serious for you to be this upset or I don’t understand why you’re so defensive” etc I feel we both don’t fully understand what I have and I know most of it is cause of B2 but that’s not a comforting apology when I’m in the wrong. Again any books etc to help me and my support system understand, manage, cope etc with B2. I’m also heading to pick up my meds today :)
I just searched "bipolar" at my library. I really liked The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook for Bipolar Disorder by Sheri Van Dijk. And also The Bipolar Disorder Survival Guide by David Miklowitz. They aren't type 2 specific but I remember feeling like I learned a lot.
Thank you and have a great day ! Happy new year
This!
It’s a marathon. You’re never so stable that you can’t start cycling again. It’s important to adhere to your treatment plan and have people in your life that you trust who know you well enough to notice significant changes in your mood. Frequently they will be able to spot it before you do.
Came to say this.
"You'll be a happier OP in 6 months". My mom said this to me in 2015 when I was suicidal for the 900th time (and not consistently taking my meds at the time, of course). 6 months isn't a long time to stay alive but it's long enough to make a small change or two. Set a goal and keep going and resetting the clock. I still use it now and again when I lose my way or get in my head too much.
Going to bed early doesn’t make you lame. Sleep is wonderful. Sleep is protective. I am now a sleep lobster (autocorrect turned monster into lobster but it’s funny so)
Ever since my diagnosis and starting of meds, by 8-9 I'm exhausted. I've been self conscious about it cause I'm young but I used to have pretty bad insomnia during hypo moments. Almost a blessing in disguise
Before you fill family and friends in, make sure you’re able to understand and explain your situation in a way that you feel comfortable talking about. And then still be prepared that not everyone understands or will make you feel like your in a safe environment to talk about it.
Be sure to ask for a change when you feel that a medication isn't working
You’re not bipolar! You have bipolar. Saying you’re bipolar is defining who you are (such as a young child or old man) and it’s not who you are! You are still you
This!! This is one of the most important things and so very little emphasised!
Thank you! Everyone gets mad at me when I say that. But we are still ourselves!
This was actually a very crucial thing my therapist told me and we went through it because I was going down the rabbit hole of saying - I am Bipolar, I am ADHD etc., and associating them as me, but not just something that I have and losing the linea of where do I start/who am I. It can take a huge toll on your mental state, so it is extremely important to remind ourselves that we are we and our diagnoses is just something we have but does not define us <3
Group therapy like this is great. In-person it is amazing.
Take care of yourself.
Finding a meds cocktail that works for you takes work. It's a bit of a trial and error. Be patient. -- Don't ever come off your medication without medical supervision. Don't stop taking your medication because you feel better. You feel better because of your medication. -- People die from bipolar disorder. It is a life-threatening illness. Treat it as such. -- Learn your triggers and early warning signs, so depression or mania doesn't sneak up on you. -- Build a support system, write down their names and phone numbers, and give their details to each other. These could include: your psychiatrist, psychologist, family doctor, parent/s, sibling/best friend, partner, work friend. They are the people who can advocate and care for you if you're too ill. -- Finally, Don't stop taking your medication. Not without your doctor knowing. Seriously.
Have patience in finding the right medication because it can take awhile. Never make decisions when you aren’t feeling well. Take care of your body (eat well, stay hydrated, exercise).
Forgot to add, don’t settle for a drug that makes you feel like a zombie.
Agree with both of your comments. Took me more than a year to get on the right meds and dosage, almost two years. But since we finally found the sweet spot almost a year ago it has been *life changing*. So many things I had never been able to follow thru on before were suddenly possible, because I was no longer both struggling to do the thing AND fighting against myself. It's been such an eyeopener for me. Like: "is this how easy life can be?" 🤯 Don't get me wrong, it's still hard but soooo much less overwhelming.
The information in here are facts. Be honest to your doc and document changes you notice in between visits. It makes it easier when you see your doc to inform them on what med changes to make. I’ve been on my meds for two years and I’m still learning. This past week I realized I’m having a hard time in the morning is because I was taking my meds too late at night. I take my meds in the evening now and I’ve improved. Communication with your doc is crucial.
Couldn't agree more!
It can get better now that you know what you're up against - be brave, educate yourself and work on acceptance. You can do the thing!
Anything you feel is: not personal, not perfect and not permanent. It does get better, it’s a sickness so it’s not your fault you feel like that and you need to detach from perfection because the nature of this condition is for things to oscillate.
I'm relatively new. I think I just came off of a manic episode. I thought my meds were working and I was very productive. My advice would be to understand what's happening and when for yourself quite intimately. Everyone has different manifestations. My productiveness had a high associated to it so I guess I need to watch out for that.
1. Be kind to yourself. 2. Learn to recognize your up/down triggers and how you think during those, then you know if the voice in your head is you talking or the BP. When i'm having a depressive episode i now know it's an episode and it will pass. It doesn't make the hurt go away but i know to take it one step at a time and be patient.
You aren’t your diagnosis. Everything is a spectrum and you and your challenges will be unique.
Make sure you educate yourself before telling others. I have divulged the truth about my diagnosis to everyone in my life that I believe is willing to listen. Don’t go off your meds, but it does take time to get better. Have an open relationship with your psychiatrist, and just medication usually doesn’t just make it go away. You’ll have to put in effort, but I promise it’s worth it. I read a few books and it definitely helped. Getting on meds made me feel happy for the first time in 20 years. I promise things will get better.
Your in for a not so fun ride
My meds made me a zombie. However, I struggle with impulse control. Advice i cpuld give you is just hang on and don't give up. Also, try and remember to be grateful to those that tolerate our ups and downs. It's hard on our families too.
At sometimes you will wonder who u r but don't forget you know you best. You will wonder if you are in a good mood am I manic is this normal to feel good don't overthink things humans in general do feel love happy etc it's not always mania. Oh yeah and what everyone else said unless they make you sick after two weeks of getting on them and with the advice of a doctor never stop medicine because you feel normal it's because of the medicines that you feel normal. Good luck fellow bp 2 peer. Also know that your name is and you have bipolar not that your bipolar defines you.
Don’t go off your meds! Yes what you have is real and permanent/life long. Imposter syndrome is HUGE, at least for me. I can’t tell you how many times I gave in to imposter syndrome and stopped my meds thinking I was all “better” and “cured.” Don’t neglect your health and wellbeing. Take care of yourself and talk to your doctor if the meds aren’t the right ones for you or symptoms are showing up. Having a therapist is also super helpful, so find a therapist that you feel comfortable with. Even with the meds and treatment plan, stuff happens, so the biggest advice I can give you is get to know yourself and what you need :) After I got diagnosed, a lot made sense and I was able (with time) to understand certain things about myself and cope with life stuff. Don’t worry about telling people, you don’t owe anyone an explanation or anything like that. Share when YOU want to, you’re not obligated to.
I’m gonna share the [ISBD guidelines](https://psychopharmacologyinstitute.com/publication/bipolar-disorder-treatment-guidelines-a-2019-update-2206). It’s advanced reading, not meant for patients, but I wish I’d had this resource. Educate yourself on the symptoms of hypomania AND mania. Just to be safe. It looks different for everybody. Do not quit meds cold turkey. It would greatly increase your risk of mania/psychosis, not just the “illness returning.” Repeated episodes of hypomania can worsen your condition in the longterm. That’s a good reason to follow your treatment plan. There’s “acute” treatment, then there’s “maintenance” treatment. It’s the inpatient prescriber’s job to stabilize you to the point of discharge, but it’s the outpatient prescriber’s job to prioritize your longterm goal, quality of life, level of functioning… hopefully on minimal medication, without compromising stability. Try your best to see a real psychiatrist, avoid nurse practitioners or PMHNPs, if possible. NPs have a place in healthcare but too many are doing jobs they shouldn’t be realistically expected to do. Their education/training is not well regulated. Be wary of staff referencing NPs as “psychiatrists” or other sugar-coated, confusing terminology. I always ask “is this provider a physician?” because those receptionists are sneaky 🫠 Therapy is an amazing tool if you can afford it!! There is no magic pill. More and more we’re starting to recognize the value of therapy for “chemical imbalance” disorders like BD or schizophrenia. When hypomania hits, that self-awareness starts to suffer FAST. I hope you have a good support system to check in with. Be cautious about who you share your diagnosis with. People are ignorant. Your diagnosis isn’t your identity. It’s a word that helps identify what treatments you need and insurance requires it to pay your provider. Good sleep, good diet, exercise, reduce stress. Always strive to improve your environment factors.
That you are valid!