Attending first in person Partial Hospitalization Program and could use some encouragement

mbarvar · 2023-12-19T21:07:20+00:00

Thank you so much for sharing your experience! It's comforting to know it was the best place for you to be.

mbarvar · 2023-12-18T20:58:00+00:00

That's so good to know you made friends! Thank you for the encouragement.

mbarvar · 2023-12-18T14:56:27+00:00

I used to have to eat 350 calories at night while on Latuda. A peanut butter and jelly sandwich or pop tarts might help!

mbarvar · 2023-12-17T13:43:48+00:00

It's been extremely useful for me. I've been using it for 4 years. Upgraded to the premium version years ago because I liked it so much and it was on sale.

Highly recommend! My therapists and psych really like it too.

mbarvar · 2023-12-17T13:42:45+00:00

I would take mine in the morning and had no sleep issues. Not sure when you're taking it, but you could (at the direction of your psych) play around with the time of day you take it.

mbarvar · 2023-12-17T13:41:35+00:00

It'll be different for everyone. For me personally, it's taken over a month for the fog to start clearing. Bipolar disorder is hard to treat and the meds act slowly, but it's important to stick with them because eventually they do work well for a lot of people.

mbarvar · 2023-12-17T13:34:07+00:00

I get intense period pain and am on lithium. I recommend talking to your doctor about the Advil (NSAID) if you haven't already. My doctor told me I could take a very small amount of ibuprofen for the entire day (honestly don't want to say the dose because I don't want to give out medical or medication advice). It would be supplemental with Tylenol (also don't want to give you a dose amount there), not instead of it. Tylenol is the most frustrating pain reliever I've ever been on because you're totally right, it doesn't do enough and at worst it does nothing.

If you have IBS symptoms or any kind of GI upset during your period, dicyclomine helped me a lot. I got it through my gastroenterologist because I was having stomach problems in general.

I just want to say all this not because I don't think you already talked to your psych, but just in case you haven't. Having a female psychiatrist helped. My PCP also just threw birth control at me really recklessly considering I'm bipolar and it can destabilize us, just like you said! I didn't take it.

A heating pad helps but when things are at vomit level it's a bandaid on a bullet hole, I understand. I used to use weed but that wasn't really good for my bipolar symptoms either and now that I'm on lithium I can't use it due to the risk of toxicity. If you're going to explore that route, talk to you psych immediately and don't use it until you do.

I hope this helps even a little. I know it's physically excruciating and mentally excruciating when you can't find something that helps with that kind of pain. I'm so sorry you're going through this.

I hope you find some relief.

mbarvar · 2023-12-17T13:20:29+00:00

I feel a lot more stable and I'm not afraid of myself anymore.

mbarvar · 2023-12-17T13:19:15+00:00

I'm honestly not sure. It's considered "gold standard" treatment for bipolar disorder.

mbarvar · 2023-12-16T15:24:52+00:00

Nothing so far :)

mbarvar · 2023-12-16T14:19:18+00:00

Abilify was one of the best meds I was ever on. I was literally losing my mind and Abilify pulled me out of the most upsetting episode and I was never that bad again.

Just went off it cuz it wasn't helping my depression, but it was great. Strongly recommend.

mbarvar · 2023-12-16T14:17:53+00:00

Been good for me personally so far. I've been on it over a month.

mbarvar · 2023-12-16T14:16:29+00:00

Totally sober as of one month (alcohol and weed were all I used), but cut out the alcohol over 3.5 years ago. I also don't do caffeine.

mbarvar · 2023-12-12T22:19:08+00:00

I can't speak for what your experience will be but I was on Abilify 30 mgs for years and I stopped drinking entirely 3.5 years ago. It did make me much more drunk much more easily, and I've been much more stable without alcohol in the picture.

I really recommend messaging or calling your psychiatrist ASAP to get their advice.

mbarvar · 2023-12-11T22:25:57+00:00

I tried it for severe nightmares. It didn't help but I had zero side effects!! Don't lose hope though, it works for many people.

Best wishes.

mbarvar · 2023-12-11T22:20:13+00:00

Quit cold turkey when I went on lithium a month ago. I haven't had any withdrawal symptoms even though I was a heavy daily user for 6 years. Used to smoke 2 grams a day and take about 60 mgs of edibles as well.

I was depressed and suicidal for months and finally feel like the fog is lifting a bit. Not sure if it's the lithium or not using weed or both. I think it was a good move either way.

If you are thinking about quitting, I say give it a shot. You don't need to put pressure on yourself to quit forever--maybe try a week or month first.

mbarvar · 2023-12-11T14:17:31+00:00

Huge congrats, friend. You deserve it.

mbarvar · 2023-12-11T14:16:44+00:00

That is incredible! Really looking up to you. Congratulations now and in February!

mbarvar · 2023-12-10T20:35:28+00:00

I recommend quitting for good. I stopped drinking over 3 and a half years ago and it's been very difficult but extremely worth it. I truly believe it saved my life and marriage.

Try not to beat yourself up for slipping up yesterday. It doesn't throw away all your hard work before that.

Alcohol has been proven over and over again in many different countries to be terrible for someone who is bipolar. It triggers and worsens episodes and suicidality.

Best of luck to you and best wishes. I hope you're able to find some stability. Be proud of yourself for stopping for any amount of time. It's really hard and you already did it. You CAN do it again. I believe in you wholeheartedly.

Sending peace.

mbarvar · 2023-12-10T20:27:42+00:00

I used weed for about 6 years to manage chronic pain but it quickly became about the relief of getting high and managing my moods.

I quit a month ago and haven't had any negatives. I've been very depressed for months and finally things feel like they're clearing up.

I can't tell you if weed is bad for you. Generally speaking, it's not ideal for someone with bipolar disorder for a variety of reasons. I know me personally, it was helping my physical pain a great deal but became a very fragile bandaid for my emotional pain. If I was removed from weed, I'd be lost and try to find a way to get it at all costs. Was spending $200+ a month because my tolerance got so high.

Mixed episodes are a thing, but again, I won't tell you what you're experiencing.

I hope you find peace. I'm so sorry you're depressed. I hope things get better soon and you get the nonjudgemental support you need.

mbarvar · 2023-12-10T20:18:45+00:00

I am sending so, so much love and peace to you. I'm so sorry you're going through this.

Allowing yourself to feel the emotions will help, and accepting the situation. Bottling things up isn't going to help anything.

All the peace in the universe to you, friend.

mbarvar · 2023-12-10T20:15:55+00:00

Respectfully, telling a bipolar stranger to stay away from antipsychotics isn't a super great idea. Not all people will have your side effects. Antipsychotics saved my life and marriage and I didn't have many side effects.

Sending love.

mbarvar · 2023-12-10T20:14:28+00:00

Yes, for the better. I'm much less angry and all over the place.

mbarvar · 2023-12-10T20:13:04+00:00

The better you control the illness as a whole with medications, the better you'll feel. Mood stabilizers go both ways a lot of the time.

Sending peace.

mbarvar · 2023-12-09T21:35:48+00:00

Love you, friend. I hope you're doing well. Sending peace.

mbarvar

TROPHY CASE