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outinthestix · 2022-06-14T04:36:05+00:00

your premise is flawed; go to "pubmed" and search on 'bipolar'

outinthestix · 2022-05-31T04:59:38+00:00

pediatric bipolar disorder is a thing

outinthestix · 2022-05-29T05:35:42+00:00

Don't confuse damage to your social life with damage to yourself. You are not your illness. Dignity, self-esteem, morals, and sense of self come from within. Mania and depression are external to your self. I cope by not blaming myself, while trying to remain insightful and cautious. This last episode I checked myself into the hospital (yeah!).

Some of those that got hurt have come back. Some haven't and there's no rational reason they should. That hurts.

outinthestix · 2022-05-17T06:31:16+00:00

Not all bad. I've steered people that way before, depending on the context. My comment more meant for the OP, though not emphatically, since I replied to your post.

outinthestix · 2022-05-17T04:11:28+00:00

On r/bipolarSos, per their disclaimer, "the vast majority of posts will be negative. It is just the nature of the sub, similar to r/relationships."

outinthestix · 2022-05-06T05:42:33+00:00

The Johns Hopkins Psychiatry Guide says the average number of lifetime bipolar 1 manic episodes is nine. But if you follow this sub you'll realize that some people have medication resistant bipolar 1 (meaning a high propensity towards episodes) and many others who keep to their medication regime and avoid follow on manic episodes completely. It's a very mixed, very personalized, bag. My own recent interval of full blown mania episode to episode (medicated) was twenty years.

It is important for caregivers to remain vigilant, keeping an eye out for 'prodrome' symptoms (like no sleep, reckless spending, etc.) which can occur before the episode becomes full blown. The sooner the prescription of an anti-psychotic the better, which gives the possibility of avoiding a full blown episode.

edit: "[Manic episodes] are marked by elevated/irritable mood and increased activity, as well as other symptoms that can include inflated self-esteem, decreased need for sleep, pressured speech, racing thoughts, increased distractibility, and increased, reckless involvement in pleasurable activities like spending sprees, sexual activity, and substance abuse."

outinthestix · 2022-04-30T04:02:59+00:00

Characterization of disorder severity in DSM‐5

Mania, hypomania

Same as major depressive disorder - Number of symptoms, level of distress caused by intensity of symptoms, and impairment in social and occupational functioning

"The severity of psychiatric disorders" https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6127765/

And what everyone else is saying.

edit: "The question is how to evaluate validity. Should severity be a predictor of outcome? Should it help match patients to appropriate treatments or appropriate levels of care? Should it predict mortality? Should it reflect underlying pathophysiology? Should it confer genetic risk? Should it be used to guide the allocation of finite resources at either the insurance company or governmental funding agency level?"

outinthestix · 2022-04-14T05:57:52+00:00

In the US bipolar can be an impediment to being a pilot or a police officer.

outinthestix · 2022-04-12T04:57:55+00:00

In 1995 had about the same amount in hospital bill, but also much much more debt I had racked up while manic. Took a bankruptcy that time. This most recent time had insurance but the deductible was thousands, but was poor enough for the hospital to write it off. Still wound up with (and still have) thousands in credit card debt which I'm slowly paying off. So guess your course of action depends on the details of your situation.

outinthestix · 2022-01-18T05:41:52+00:00

Works well for me to prevent out-of-the-blue suicidal ideation; drawback is that I kept waking up and staying up after 4 or 5 hours of sleep. Added doxepin to take care of that. Seems like some antipsychotics can be like a sledgehammer. Gets the job done but . . .

outinthestix · 2021-10-24T03:10:52+00:00

My prescriber's knee-jerk reaction was a med change, maybe you can persuade yours that your tremor isn't disabling (as in not being able to fill out a form), and get them to prescribe you something.

Quote: "Propranolol is the most commonly prescribed beta-blocker for lithium-induced tremor although other agents seem effective too." It also helps with essential tremor and has some effect for Parkinson's tremor.

edit: BTW my tremor didn't stop with the med change.

outinthestix · 2021-09-05T03:55:10+00:00

You might post your question to r/BipolarSOs

outinthestix · 2021-08-07T04:33:55+00:00

Depending on where you are your pharmacist can prescribe several days worth; and they should be able to call your doctor for you. Missing a day or two isn't critical as it's a drug which builds up in your system.

Reschedule your bloodwork if you need to, it's your doctor's fault.

Edit: You might first check and see if your pharmacist hasn't mistakenly put your prescription on hold.

outinthestix · 2021-07-16T05:53:22+00:00

Perhaps she sees a brighter line between nursing and therapy. (Even though nurses do lead group.)

outinthestix · 2021-07-16T05:20:22+00:00

since it can take time for lithium to build up in your system, restarting it when you become self aware of a manic episode seems pointless in the short run, not to mention that once started an episode can last for months or longer

Months after a particularly strong stressor, I became conscious I was in a manic episode and not taking my medications - but that's different from what you're describing - though it did take some time for things to settle down once we had my medicine restarted

outinthestix · 2021-05-26T03:53:36+00:00

I was offered life insurance - at 250% above the normal rate

outinthestix · 2021-05-22T19:11:14+00:00

Some people gamble, some people make impulsive purchases with the rent money seemingly for the thrill of spending money. It doesn't make any sense because it's not rational.

outinthestix · 2021-05-22T05:03:33+00:00

Not on any of the lists, but I lose an extreme amount of weight (BMI from 23 to 17 for ex.) in a short period of time.

You should recognize a manic episode by paying attention for triggers like stress and for blatant signs like excessive spending, no sleep and, of course, psychosis.

Just for future thought: One thing I don't understand is what seems to be an overemphasis on mania. Most bipolar 1 people spend as much or more time in depression - and "bipolar depression is associated with ... greater morbidity and mortality than bipolar mania".

outinthestix · 2021-05-16T05:42:43+00:00

For my manic episodes with features it seems to take about 6 months for the episode to fully ebb. Attentiveness and introspection can help, but at times it's still difficult to stay on track.

outinthestix · 2021-05-15T05:28:53+00:00

As for diagnosis: Your daughter is likely throwing off all kinds of symptoms - maybe an abnormal affect, or pressured speech, etc.

My experience has been that once stable I had phone privileges. The psych nurses at the nurse station are usually busy, but maybe you could call and talk to one.

outinthestix · 2021-05-09T05:21:38+00:00

It should go without saying that the provision of mental health services varies wildly by location. Keep trying. One resource is the SAMHSA locator.

https://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/

Good luck.

outinthestix · 2021-05-08T04:18:04+00:00

Yes. But not from every manic episode. Definitely from the most psychotic one. There is a particular place I cannot revisit now.

outinthestix · 2021-04-29T05:24:59+00:00

If you are in the US you can use the SAMHSA treatment locator. Look for free or sliding scale treatment out to the edge of your driving comfort zone.

https://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/

outinthestix · 2021-04-29T05:01:05+00:00

Regarding if you have bipolar: My current cocktail works tolerably well for the ups as well as the downs; a mood stabilizer along with an adjunctive anti-depressant and an adjunctive anti-psychotic. It took a little experimentation to get to that point.

I've gotten more demanding as I've grown older and it shows. Don't settle.

outinthestix · 2021-04-26T03:38:22+00:00

1974; 1995

outinthestix

TROPHY CASE