Bipolar Support Group

I am loosing it with the stupid dog. We rescued Zeus from a shelter when he was a baby. He is loving, but barks at EVERYTHING. He is a terrier dauchund mix. He has this high pitched yelp that he lets oput whne he hears any noise, company comes over, or just whenever. Today was almost the end of poor Zeusy's life. He woke me up at 7 this morning after taking 10 mg of Zolpiden last night. I had to let him out, np. But then he wouldn't eat his food. Then he barked because it it wasn't what he wanted. I put him inthe laundry room with our = other two dogs (neither yelp). I just wouldn't stop. I let him out, he wouldn't stop. He is our family pet, and I love him, but I swear I think one day I might snap. (Side note: Not on any mood stablizers yet, just anti-depr. and klonopin). I don't know how much more I can take.

My kids would be so upset if I got rid of him, but I think it would be a heck of a lot worse if he "disappeared". Along with BP1, I also suffer a grea tdeal from general anxiety disorder. This is tearing my up inside, to hate him and love hime, and hate him.

By the sounds of whats happened, you seem to be the one who Zeus comes to when in need, waking you up must have been very frusterating for you and feeing him, letting him out, etc...yeah i'd be fed up too!

That's all part of having a pet, gotta put up with stuff we don't like, Zeus could be a lot worse right?, like biting others, sick and lots of vet expenses... who knows what else worse could it be.

Hang in there, i do hear you, i just love dogs they are my favorite animals. Maybe soon you'll get over this, but if Zeus keeps hastiing you you may have to re-think about what you need to do to keep your sanity. Always remember, Zeus is just being himself and that is a dog, he doesn't know any better.

I wish you happiness. I was only on anti-deps for 14 yrs with Klonopin (small dose) was only put on a mood-stabilizer in 1996 and its been a relief to finally get this mood stab. med. Pm me anytime if you want to chat, i'm here for you.

I hope that you will be able to keep him. There is a anti bark collar you can get to curb his barking. It is very effective and really humane, it just give a mild shock (not painful) to get their attention and they stop. . Ask his vet about it, or visit a larger pet store that might sell them. I have some frinds who use it and it has solved the problem.

I'm very sorry that he is getting to you with all of his barking. That would drive me bananas too. He really is just being a dog and waking you up means that he's attached to you and knows that you will help him. I'd keep him awhile to see if it gets any better. When do you get your mood stabilizer? It may help when you get on it to calm you and make it so it doesn't bother you so much. Like Uppity says, maybe a collar might help. I'm sure you wouldn't mind if a burglar tried to come in. This is totally up to you, I find myself in hypo-mania when I just take an antidepressant which causes irritability. This may be happening to you. I think with a mood stabilizer it would be better. Best of luck to you and keep us updated.

What I have noticed is when I get very irritated and agitated and all that and I dont have anywhere to direct it (i.e. anyone to blame I find somewhere. Like the dog is very irritating and needy right now, so you may blow out of proportion the annoyingness and inconvenience that he is because of your emotional state - he is in the wrong place at the wrong time. I feel that you would later regret getting rid of him when you're feeling better. Annoying, inconvenient things get so much BIGGER when I'm not medicated properly. For some reason I once felt this way about a yellow fan. I was convinced this stupid ceiling fan giving off yellow light in the room was messing with my mood, and it was so ugly that I managed to complain about it a great deal and even cried over it, as if the fan was causing my emotional problems lol. I still dont like it, but not I can see that maybe I was misdirecting those feelings.....

Thank you to all who replied, especially MissGreen. I. KNOW you are right. I know I would just hate letting him go. He is mY first do that I got for me. Thanks again!

Have you ever tried kenneling him? Everytime I have a puppy I am trying to train (I foster for a local rescue) I start with a kennel. They eventually become not only a training tool but a safe place for the dog. I only kennel one of my dogs when I'm gone but they all have a kennel that I leave the door open and they love to go in there for a nap. It might help with the barking in the morning for him to sleep in a kennel. It may also help to have a feeding schedule. My dogs get fed at 5am and 5pm and they always know when its time to eat. I also use their kennels when I'm feeling irritable. I stick in a toy and a chew bone and have a little peace and quite, almost like a babysitter for dogs. I will also kennel if I'm having trouble sleeping and they don't settle down. I also keep pillows in there kennels and water so they are comfy. I hope some of this helps.

I wnated to thank all of youfor the support and advice. I am not going to kil my dog. I think I am going to try the citronella spray collar thing. He turns his noe up at many other things, so maybe if he smells it when he barks, he will figure it out. Love to all that responded.