Bipolar Support Group

Hi,

I'm new (guess you know that) and I am hoping there are some of you who have Bipolar 2 and some experience with meds and other things that help. I've been on some other forums where all the talk is negative (bad docs, bad meds, no hope, endless listing of troubles, etc.), and I'm hoping for some positive chat.

I am on lamictal 200mg and just starting Wellbutrin 150mg to go higher in a few days. The lamictal is helping alot but my doc (an internist not a pdoc) wants me to go for 100%, as he puts it.

---Clover

Hi Clover! Welcome!! Glad you are here. In addition to meds, there are some good resources (like us!) available. One is the Bipolar Workbook. Very helpful to me. The other that I know about and have had success with is The Bipolar Disorder Survival Guide. (That one is good for families and loved ones too.)

Good luck with your treatment. Let us know how it goes! Peace, peach

I love a book for Bipolar 2 called "Why am I still depressed?" by Jim Phelps.

Do you know any other good books on Bipolar 2?

Hi Clover, welcome to the group, I am Carmen, a BP 2 also, I am on the lamictal also, taking 300mg's right now, but gave up the paxil, welbutrion,xanax and remeron, when they added the lamictal, and it is working just wonderfully, where the other 4 were not helping one bit, and from what I have read, treating bipolar with only antidepressants isn't a good thing.

I love Dr. Phelps, I have read his website over and over again. It's basically a online version of his book that you have, he is also the Dr, on another website called bipolarworld.com under the ask the Doctor. He also puts out a blog.

Someone here put a discussion on the group about non fiction books regarding bipolar, you might check out that link and there is a lot of folks who like the bipolar workbook.

Carmen

I've been meaning to check out his site, thanks for reminding me. I have found that both books about unipolar depression (my husband takes Prozac) and Bipolar 1 don't really seem to speak to my issues. Have you found the same, does the Bipolar Workbook, for instance work well for Bipolar 2?

Post edited by: Clover, at: 11/16/2007 07:07

Yes, I think it does. It's very thorough.

I've found by all the research and reading that I have done, that the bipolar two fits best for me with the description of the symptoms vs, BP1, unipolar, BNOS, and clymithia (sp?), I found Dr. Phelps site the most informative, along with giving excellent references to other sources of information. He even speaks of that jumping the shark book.

I've not read the workbook, so I can't make a judgement on it, other than I have heard several of the others talking about it, and they are really enthusastic about it. Given time, I will check it out myself.

Why is your husband on prozac? is he bipolar also?

Carmen

Jumping the Shark book?

Hubby is unipolar depressive. The prozac is helping him alot.

There is also a great thread about reading recommendations that will give you some good reads. Those are more novels and that sort of thing but it's a thread worth visiting. --peach

sorry Clover, didn't re-read the beginning of this article, that is part of the title of a book that is available

Carmen