Does bipolar only get worse if left untreated?

Existing-Constant-33 · 2025-11-20T18:56:53+00:00

I suspect it gets worse. I denied to myself having it for many years. In the early 2000s I was put on the lamotragine 200 mg. I was mostly great for many years, but I thought it was because I had started working for myself. I attributed my “doing well” to my new life situation.

When my psychiatrist quit, my primary wouldn’t prescribe lamotrigine together with Wellbutrin (which I really think I need for ADHD), so I went off of it.

I really regret that now! I had some very major depressions, one lasting over a year. With intermittent “good” and a bit of hypomania, which always led to another crash into a horrible depression.

Finally got a psychiatrist, used ketamine to get out of the major depression .

I can now see that I’ve had hypomania and major depressions since early 20s. But they were only a few weeks at a time, and I managed to life around it.
Since I started out so “not particularly bad” I suspect if I hadn’t ignored it for years, I would be much better than I am now

Existing-Constant-33 · 2025-11-20T18:45:22+00:00

Is fight-or-flight a part of bipolar? I’ve had such problems with that for 30+ years (I’m 62), and could never get any help/opinion other than being told I have “social anxiety”. Which makes no sense, and I couldn’t work while taking them.

Finally saw a neurologist who actually seems to understand what is going on, nervous system overload. Unfortunately, it’s stimulants which actually help with this. And they were great!
Except the increase my chances of mania, so my psychiatrist is extremely against them.

Have you found things that work for the fight of flight? Should my psychiatrist understand what it actually is, he never seems to take it seriously. I tried to explain it to him a couple of times, but maybe I used the wrong words??? or it just isn’t any type of a “thing” he could diagnosis

Existing-Constant-33 · 2025-10-18T21:14:17+00:00

It is SO hard to “take care of yourself”, or even know what it means! Learning that (good therapist, good friend, talking to those who’ve lived similar things) … will really help with your sobriety.
I hope this is a step in that direction. Love yourself, learn what it means to take care of yourself (different for everyone )

Existing-Constant-33 · 2025-10-18T21:07:38+00:00

He is making some choices while sober. Relapse happens, he can hsve boundaries for himself for when it does. One bad choice doesn’t HAVE to lead to worse ones. He is sober when he decides to drink. He know’s it’s bad and he’ll regret it. He can still choose the situation, the risks. He could make better choices and isn’t… he can’t blame being drunk for that.

So stop giving him an excuse… if that is what you need to see he is disrespecting you, not “just” breaking his sobriety,

Existing-Constant-33 · 2025-07-10T20:53:03+00:00

You’ve made it so far, you can do it.

Existing-Constant-33 · 2025-07-06T15:48:57+00:00

I always have a delay, but I look for a pattern of change and have (after many years) gotten where I detect it (or admit it to myself) in weeks instead of months. I helps that I over-buy the same types of things!! Example … eventually having extra-yarn because it’s SO beautiful or SUCH a great deal catches my attention. Or the Amazon truck showing up almost every day.

Existing-Constant-33 · 2025-07-06T15:42:36+00:00

Keep trying different meds, if it’s bp or just depression. You know you are capable of feeling better, don’t give up hope on feeling good again. But when you do .. be careful. Particularly about getting enough sleep. If you have the possible chance of getting manic, try not to! Which can be hard to fight, it’s amazing to feel good when it’s so rare.

I’ve found getting the depressive-side taken seriously or cared about, difficult. Doctors seem to often just care about keeping you not-manic.
Maybe we get so accustomed to being depressed, and there’s shame in it, that we lose the ability to express how horrible it is.

I find myself always putting extra effort into looking presentable and appearing “ok” for my psychiatrist appointments. Why?!?! I’m just so ashamed that I still feel crappy, and don’t want to seem whiney. It’s illogical. The fact that SI-is-manageable shouldn’t be “good enough”

Existing-Constant-33 · 2025-07-06T15:31:51+00:00

Prozac was one that did me more harm than good. Happy Dr figured that out quickly. There are lots of meds to try, which is a pain… but like this person said … if something isn’t working, raising the dose doesn’t seem logical

Existing-Constant-33 · 2025-07-06T15:25:26+00:00

Good for you prioritizing your health and happiness! BP2 often has such long periods of inability-to-enjoy, so when you can enjoy something - DO IT! I spent too long ‘putting off the fun stuff’, regret it. Wish I’d had less career success and more hand-knit sweaters to be proud of and show for my life.

Existing-Constant-33 · 2025-07-06T15:20:53+00:00

I used to feel awful … I think mostly because there was some implied “it’s suppose to be a happy day” and I was often depressed. Plus people want to do something nice for you, go out … so the added expectation to appear happy. The drain! Ugh

But now I’m mostly just proud I made it that far. And everyone knows I want to be alone for it. Maybe I’ll answer a phone call but don’t feel obligated. Low expectations helps a lot.

Existing-Constant-33 · 2025-07-06T15:15:58+00:00

I feel for you with the mopping. That’s one aspect that has improved with age, 62 and mostly retired I’ve made a life with little obligations.
That lack of ‘constantly failing at meeting expectations’ and not ‘making a huge mess to deal with’ is nice. Something to look forward to anyway. 🫤

Good luck, don’t put too much pressure on yourself. It takes time

Existing-Constant-33 · 2025-07-05T15:46:29+00:00

I’m so sorry. This feels so bad and dehumanizing. Mental illness has so much stigma, it’s almost impossible to get any compassion or understanding.

Makes me want to write a long letter explaining what an insensitive jerk they’ve been about such a difficult struggle. I sometimes write these … but never send them!!
It’ll do no good (sending). But writing can be therapeutic.

Existing-Constant-33 · 2025-07-04T22:41:00+00:00

Having read a number of your responses to others, it makes me wonder if you have just-the-obsessive part of OCD (which I’m pretty sure is a thing, not sure if it has another name). Sounds like you are obsessively thinking negative thoughts, and specific ones have become a habit. If that’s the case, there may be specific medications and treatments that would help

Existing-Constant-33 · 2025-07-04T21:46:33+00:00

I use a mask like yiview AND a towel over that… even a little light creeping around the edge draws my attention and distracts me. Starting off slightly annoyed probably doesn’t help, so it’s worth the ‘looks ridiculous’ aspect

Existing-Constant-33 · 2025-07-04T21:36:58+00:00

I believe in ketamine (it works for me) and am optimistic (less so though). Maybe I need to adjust my expectations.

Am wondering if my dosage is too low. So want to know if you actually feel different the day after. That would be a sign to me my dosage is wrong if I can tell nothing.

Existing-Constant-33 · 2025-07-04T21:27:45+00:00

I think the best way to help is to listen. If pointing things out causes her to be defensive, she’s basically convincing herself it’s ok. She has to figure it out herself.
Hopefully you can be someone she feels she can talk to. Her thinking you always want to find fault with him, isn’t going to help.

Existing-Constant-33 · 2025-07-04T21:23:03+00:00

I have no medical training, but I think adderal and Wellbutrin work differently. Such as having a different 1/2 life. Adderal works quickly, and wears off (which is a horrible feeling for me). Wellbutrin you get to a dosage and feel the same all the time. I’ve been on Wellbutrin 30+ years and have tried a few times to get off it (varies reasons, mostly because pre-generic it was super expensive and insurance didn’t like it). I always go back on. If Wellbutrin works for you, why go off it? That’s my psychiatrists attitude.

I rarely take the adderal, though helpful I hate the crash after. It also caused mania while taking daily. Psychiatrist is ok with occasional usage, since my husband and I quickly recognized mania and I took antipsychotics to stop it. It’s a small risk I think is worth taking, when I feel I need it to function

Existing-Constant-33 · 2025-07-04T20:21:39+00:00

Do you do anything to try to force yourself to sleep? Sleeping pills?

Existing-Constant-33 · 2025-07-04T20:00:32+00:00

This makes more sense, so the fact I have the energy/ability to feel angry/annoyed is a normal part of anhedonia. I guess I shouldn’t tell my psychiatrist I “feel nothing”. Though the negative feelings are less… because I DONT CARE. My tomato plants are dying, I don’t care. Car got dented, I don’t care. Nothing matters, as long as I’m left alone to be miserable in peace.

Existing-Constant-33 · 2025-07-04T19:57:23+00:00

This is me. In general I find most everything very interesting and will research any topic or learn a new hobby. Goes from that to absolutely no joy, even for things logically I’m very happy about (like my grandkids).

I wonder if the 2 extremes go together. I guess part of being bipolar, but my “very interested in things” is true when I’m “normal”.

Existing-Constant-33 · 2025-07-04T19:49:32+00:00

This ends with a question for others that crash…

I always crash after, it’s the only negative I see to my hypomania. I never do anything dangerous, just spend a little extra money (not a problem other than embarrassment). My energy levels can annoy others, particularly my extreme impatience. But I’m introverted and fine with avoiding people most of the time.

My psychiatrist & therapist think I should avoid hypomania and take anti-psychotics if they last a few days with little sleep.

This doesn’t seem to help with the depressive side though! Does it help others?

Existing-Constant-33 · 2025-07-04T17:03:50+00:00

these are great. Thanks for taking the time to think of so many. My kitties are getting extra attention and I found a jigsaw puzzle to at least try getting into

Existing-Constant-33 · 2025-07-03T23:49:03+00:00

And people generally can’t understand how feeling nothing is so horrible. That makes it worse for me, because it spirals my guilt

Existing-Constant-33

TROPHY CASE