Bipolar Support Group

Hello to everyone. I'm new here. Wanted to join a support group as I feel alone. I need to know something and I hope I dont sound too crazy.

Is it normal to have voices in your head? Like more than one? I can't explain it to my husband because io dont want to completely freak him out. I just feel like crying the whole day, I have no energy any more, I'm so sad.

Hello, MrsBucket and welcome to the group, your not alone here, the question that you ask, I am afraid I am not qualified to answer, but it is something that you need to call your doctor about, and get into see them as soon as you can.

Are you taking any kind of medications?

MrsBucket,

Welcome to MDJ! I can't diagnose you, but I can share my experiences. I've been hearing voices for the past 17 years, but was only diagnosed as bipolar two years ago. As far as my voices are concerned, I hear 6 of them, but have heard as many as 20. In 1991 I was diagnosed as having MDD (major depressive disorder). After experiencing my first manic/psychotic episode in 2006, my diagnosis was changed to schizoaffective disorder bipolar type. 12 months later, my diagnosis was changed yet again to bipolar I with ultradian (hourly) rapid cycling. Three weeks ago, my diagnosis was changed for the fourth time to (what my pdoc and tdoc think I've had since age 20) to atypical bipolar I with ultradian rapid cycling. From what I understand, if a person shows signs of bipolar in conjunction with auditory hallucinations, it's possible that they could have schizoaffective disorder, bipolar I with psychotic features or atypical bipolar.

Post edited by: neondreams, at: 02/13/2009 02:30

Yes, I am.

Topamax which is a mood enhancer and laximal which is an anti depressant

Ok I understand what you are saying because I hear as many as 4 voices and they are all female. The thing that I want to ask you is how do you cope with every day life? Going to work and so on? The side effects on my medication is so bad no that is has reached a point here I am forgetting so much, I walk back to the house 3 times to make sure that I have locked it just because I cant remember...

I'm a university student in my final year of study working towards my Bachelor's degree in social work. I've been doing well for the most part, but ended up flunking my courses last semester due to rapid cycling, racing thoughts, mania, auditory hallucinations, delusions and paranoia. As I mentioned, my bipolar hasn't been stable for the past year and a half, so my grades have really suffered because of it. My tdoc, pdoc, social work advisor and I all agreed that it would be best if I took the spring semester off so that I could get my rapid cycling and mania under control. I've been doing well for 3 weeks. I was also put on a different antipsychotic (Geodon) to help with my voices after I experienced a psychotic episode last week. The Geodon is working great and I am no longer hearing voices on a daily basis like I did when I was on Risperdal. Now the only time I hear voices is when I'm rapid cycling, manic, depressed, paranoid or off meds. That may sound like alot, but I just had a manic episode 24 hours ago yet I didn't hear any voices, so that tells me the Geodon is doing its job. My pdoc told me that I will always have auditory hallucinations due to the nature of my bipolar, but so far, it looks as if the Geodon is working well in controlling my voices as long as I'm feeling level. That's a huge improvement considering the fact that I heard voices all the time when on Risperdal. If you'd like to talk further about hearing voices and/or bipolar, feel free to send me a message here or via PM.

I also wanted to add that I plan on continuing my education by receiving a Master's in psychology and a Ph.D. in psychiatry. I know there's going to be a long road ahead of me, but all I can do is take things one day at a time. Once I complete school, my VR (vocational rehabilitation) counselor and I agreed that it would be best if I worked part-time given my bipolar.