do I have to be bipolar my entire life?

Question

I am 29 bipolar. Since I found out I have the illness, I feel it has crippled me, when I didnt know I had it, I went to travel around the world, and wasnt so paronid meeting people or having a relationship. I never wanted this illness in my life. Now I know I have it, I am scared, scared to fall in love, scared of going to work. I so much want to fall in love, but it would take a special person to love me. I cant complain I have the most beautiful and loving family. I have been on medication now for 3 months, but I seem to be having more crying and panic attacks, is medication the way to go. And can I pull through, meaning I dont have to be bipolar my entire life?

Answer 1

Yes, I'm afraid it's a life sentence. That's the bad news. The good news is that the treatments are excellent, and there is no reason not to have a normal life, career and relationship.

It will take a while to get th eright meds for you, as we are all different, and it will take time for you to come to terms with the diagnosis. Be thankful you were diagnosed when you were - I had another 12 years before I was diagnosed.

Come over to http://www.crazyboards.org or http://z9.invisionfree.com/Bipolar_Haven for some company

Answer 2

When a person gets a diagnosis... a label.... for what is wrong, it is not unusual to feel that "I have become the label, not the person." Just keep in mind that bipolar disorder is an illness; you are still a person - just a person who has a disorder.

As for the crying and panic attacks, have you talked with your prescribing doctor about this? It is often a matter of trial and error to find the right meds for each person. What works great for one person, might make another person feel even worse. Since there are several effective medications for bipolar disorder, your doctor may want to try a different one to see if you make any improvement. Since you have given this medication 3 months trial, i think that would be long enough to consider a change. It often takes 6 to 8 weeks for meds to build up enough in the body to be effective, so be sure that you give any other meds the same length of time before deciding whether they do or don't work for you. Congratulations on being honest enough to express your fears. Being able to communicate how you feel is an integral part of recovery.

Answer 3

Start again from square one. BP or any other illness is just that, an illness. There are millions of people who suffer from BP who live perfectly normal lives and it may take a while for the right medication to be found and the right amounts as well but this is a condition that is well understood and does not have to be any more of a nuisance than diabetes, with pretty much as many variations. Hard I know but try and relax about it and be patient until the meds are sorted. On the plus side, BP sufferers tend to be in the top 5% of intellect and Artistic ability. When you start to look around you will realise that so of the most important people who have ever lived, Einstein; Van Gogh, Stephen Fry(well he thinks so) and literally thousands of others. I have worked with sufferersof BP for over twenty years and have found them to be the most charming, lively, inventive and funny and Kind and yes sometimes sad, but always empathic and never ever dull. Good Luck! We will be thinking of you

Answer 4

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but yes you will have to deal with this kind of illness for the rest of your life. The treatment however is something that not too many people who have bi-polar is willing to do. Medication helps yes, but therapy as well as medications is the only lasting solution to most of your problems. I have a friend of mine who has had it since 1989. She was "fine" prior to being diagnosed but has had episodes of severe depression and maniac highs, and yes she is on meds.

The key to any mental illness a person may have in their life time is to learn how to manage it. By taking your medication on time each and every day and by seeking psychiatric therapy. Or other means of therapy thru a pastor or a priest or someone. There is no method so far that is a "cure all" for bi-polar. It's just one more thing that a person has to live with and properly deal with on a day to day basis.

You can have a life with bi-polar, but it will take some co-operation on your part to be willing to do what ever it takes to get you through these episodes of panic attacks and other things.

Good luck to you and I hope you feel better soon!

Answer 5

Honey, stay medicated it will change EVERYTHING!! I am also Bi-Polar ,I am 36 and was diagnosed 4 years ago. I have taken Depakote for 4 years. Depakote is a mood stabilizer it will help. Sounds like you need something for anxiety, I take Valium. Being medicated is better than dealing with all the crap you are dealing with, I know I've been there! Stick with the meds or tell your doctor they are not working but don't suffer. I am sorry to tell you but Bi-Polar does not just go away-you will have it for the rest of your life but get stable on meds that work and you will be happy again. I live a pretty "normal" life and I am happy and you can be too!

Answer 6

My husband is bipolar, and I know if you get the proper medication, it will help. I think you will always be bipolar, but you can live a fulfilling life. My husband was taking one drug a month ago that made his symptoms worse. He too had panic attacks, so he talked with his doctor, and they changed his meds. He has been bipolar since I have known him, although we never knew it. He was just diagnosed last year. Our marraige has had its ups and downs because of it, but it has been better since he found the right medication.
You will find that special person, and don't be afraid to start living again. Remember tha no one will know you're bipolar unless you tell them..so get out there.

Answer 7

It's okay to be confused, scared and worried. Talk to your doctor on the best way to manage your manic/depressive episodes. It may be that medication is the best treatment option, especially to maintain your mood. Most people who suffer from manic episodes will remain on medication, but there are also psychological therapies that will help you recognise the early signs of an episode and perhaps circumvent it that way. Speak to a psychologist as well as a psychiatrist - sometimes they are less medication-focussed than the medical doctors.

If you are feeling worse on medication, talk to your doctor, with medications, it's very much trial and error and they can adjust the dosages to suit you or change the combination of drugs.

Talk to family and friends and colleagues and they will understand. Mental illness is like any other illness - and anybody who cannot see past it, then it's their loss in not knowing you.

Answer 8

You will be bipolar your entire life. I was on Lithium for 5 years before I got good control. Stress is the problem, eliminate stress and you will feel better. Bipolar is genetic, being passed along on mutations in the nuclear and mitochondrial DNA.

Answer 9

I'm not good with this stuff. My boyfriend has bipolar disorder and he checked out sites he could find through google.