Bipolar Support Group

So, I tried to ignore the obvious for almost twenty years. Occasionally I would have to go and see a doc, and they would throw around the thought that I was bp but nothing ever came of it and i would be put on an anti-depressant. This has pretty much ruined my life, i've had hundreds of jobs and I was never fired from one and I was always told I did an excellent job. Then one day would eventually come and I would take off at lunch or just not go in at all, then usually for the next two weeks I would pretend to go to work because I didn't want to face my family and wife.

I am doing much better now, I'm able to find work whenever I need to, but now that i'm on lithium and effexor , i'm having strange feelings, I will meet with a bunch of possible customers and we have a great time and we set up jobs to do. But once I leave I start flying high,but at the sametime I have rage that builds up out of no where. I'm also cycling my moods extremely fast, The last episode I had, I was depressed for 3 years before I started the upward swing that lasted for 2 months before I crashed back down again and tried to commit suicide. So the rapid stuff, i'm just not used to it, but it seems to be a good thing. any comments would be great, i'm just lost and worried at the moment.

Welcome and hello. It is good to have you here. It sounds like you are becoming manic from your business meetings. I can understand that, because when you have to be "on" it releases a lot of chemicals in your brain that could kick you into a mania.

What things can you do to conteract that high? Drinking no caffeine or alcohol might be a start. Medidtation after a meeting might also help. You can probably think of a lot more.

It's good that you can keep a job when you want to. What line of work are you in?

Welcome to the group. Feel free to post elsewhere and join right in.

I get "juiced up" from work sometimes, too. It's usually when I am hypomanic or manic. It's doesn't happen when I am depressed. I get a high from the rush and pressure. I am also prone to rages when manic. I can plunge into deep suicidal depression. The changing between the two is extremely difficult. What has made a difference in my life has been medications which keep both extremes from occurring.

If you do indeed have bipolar, then it would be a benefit to you to consider treatment. Antidepressants alone is not a good choice as they contribute to mania. I take an antidepressant, but I also take an antipsychotic to stay balanced and stable. This is just a suggestion based on my experience. It has made a great difference in my life.

Hi yorkie love, I am a deployment technician, but I have branched off and i'm trying to do some independent work so I can work my own hours, rather than attempting to work a 9-5 job.

Thank you uppitywoman, since i'm still having these rage issues and rather strong mania, should I ask my therapist to put me on a third drug, i'm currently on lithium 600mg and effexor 150mg , or should I just ask for a dosage increase.

Both Effexor and Zoloft increased my manic symptoms drastically. Personally, for me I would ask for either another med in the mix or an increase in the Lithium to start out. I sure wouldn't increase the Effexor. But your pdoc is the only one who is qualified to make that call, so just be sure to tell him/her what is happening and ask for the help you need. Insist on it because what you are talking at the moment is clearly not working for you.