I just started taking meds b/c I was diagnosed as Bipolar 2 this week. I dont think I am bipolar, I think I more so meet the description of Borderline but I guess that is besides the point right now. I know that it takes weeks for the meds to work but today I am still having the urge to cut. Is this normal? Does anyone still cut after being on meds for a while?
2007-01-18 06:33:15 · 5 answers · asked by msu_milk_chocolate 3 in Health ➔ Mental Health
Hello,
You were diagnosed Bipolar because it is easier to get benefits. Borderline is seen as a personality disorder and difficult to treat and many insurance companies are like forget it because it is ingrained in you. That is why you were given the diagnosis of Bipolar.
As for the meds, it will take some time. They should help your impulsivity. But you need to be in therapy so that you can work out your issues. A combination of both is best.
Good luck
2007-01-18 06:41:40 · answer #1 · answered by riptide_71 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Okay, I don't want to sound like an "expert" or anything, but I have been Bipolar 2 since I was 13 and have been self-harming since then as well (I'm 28 now). I used to think that I was probably Borderline because I felt like I met so much of the criteria. I was seen by a psychiatrist 5 years ago who was able to finally accurately diagnose me. It turns out that I didn't have major depression with ocd tendencies (this they said I had because I self-harmed). I started on Lamictal which has been immensily helpful, but it did take several weeks before I noticed a difference, and then it took a while to find a therapeutic dosage. I still have the urge to cut and have off and on even with the medication. I take Zyprexa for panic attacks and when I feel like the Lamictal is not able to "hold" my depressive episodes. This helps with the urge to cut, although not always. Medication is not going to cure self-harm. Self-harm is a learned behavior. Therapy is a great way to learn other, healthy ways to deal with the emotions that lead to self-harm. Please see the website below for comparisons between Bipolar 2 and Borderline. They are actually more similar than people think. There is also a support group on Myspace for people who self-harm.
2007-01-18 10:12:00 · answer #2 · answered by kaliluna 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes the urge stays there, and you really need to find a healther way to deal with what you have. Meds do not take that away, cause that is a coping skill that you used, even though it is not a very good one it was used to cope. So you need to find a more healthier coping skills, maybe more then one. Yes i find my body has been cut on once in a while still , I have MPD, and so i really don't always know when they do it. But you really need to find a new way to cope with it then that, it is addicting, and you proably have already found that you need to cut more and more for relief, cause it get to be a shorter and shorter relief when you do it, you do not really want to continue on that path, so talk to the person who gave you the med's and they can help you with more positive coping skills to use.
2007-01-18 06:43:37 · answer #3 · answered by Ladyofathousandfaces 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I use to cut even on meds. Sometimes it takes finding the right one. I was on Zoloft which made my depression worse, then Prozac which made it worse and I even attempted suicide on that and cut myself. Im on Effexor now and it helps a lot. So tell your doctor, so you can get diff. meds
2007-01-18 07:09:31 · answer #4 · answered by AB 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Go to another Doctor, and see what they say, See if there are natural cures that can help you, Drug companies make a lot of money off of this.
2007-01-18 06:59:12 · answer #5 · answered by queendebadow 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋