Bipolar Type II Support Group

Patient history:

In high school, specifically, 10th grade, I first saw a psychiatrist who prescribed buspirone and adderall for ups and downs. I never took my medication, so I don't know if that was working. I abused the adderall and felt very jittery.

I yelled at a teacher at school in the 12th grade no cus words, just was extra rude and out of line, but not irrational, so I was sent to another psychiatrist who prescribed a Lamictal series. It made me cry randomly, and proabably anxious.

Sophomore year in college.... yet another Dr. pres Welbutrin... I had a manic episode.. office did nothing about it so I quit that.

Later in college, another office prescribed Niravam (quick acting/disolve under tongue Benzo) RX ran out and I kept forgetting the name of the med to tell Dr's again, or they just ignored it and prescribed something else.

In the Army, after college,.... Paxil & Xanax together made me extra drowsy. - then Effexor - drowsiness at high dose (what is therapeutic dose?) - but the 75mg seemed to be pretty good for me. then was told only an anti Depr. was bad, so got off of that and on Abilify... made me constipated.....

yet another doc.. Depakote - caused ravenous hunger - also on Buspar...

another new Doctor ---> Risperdal - and Vistareal - caused mania, extreme drowsiness - but kept on the Buspar.

I am currently taking Buspar 10mg in the morning, and a Flaxseed Oil softgel 1000mg with added Omega 3 6 and 9. (I hear this helps)

Here is my health history... somethings may be unrelated, but here they are anyway:

bit other children at the age of 3 in aggression

hit self with brush at age of 6

This happens most of the time:

1. needing to get up, walk around & wander multiple times during a 2 hour study session to maintain focus

2. moments (20mins-1hr) of steady motivation towards a task.. then later greeted with unremitting drowsiness & slowness

3. anxiety helps me focus *far* better than when relaxed

4. working while relaxed is an almost impossible task (mind wanders, can't get thoughts together in a coherent way) <--sometimes worse than other times

5. appeciates studying in an environment with a lot of commotion <---sometimes moreso than other times

6. focusing after exercising works well !!!!

7. horrible procrastination.. can't keep a schedule b/c it keeps changing due to incompleted work

8. somewhat impulsive/restless... needs to get out after sitting in the same place for a few hours

9. constantly seeking stimulation (horrible channel & radio surfer, bugging friends, needs something fun to be around) !!!

Biting myself when in anger, hitting head against the wall, soapdish, or anything around. Throwing things sometimes, or hitting self with things when anger peaks.

Doing everything I shouldn't be doing instead of what I should be doing.

Ex: going to the mall, eating out, when i should be studying.

Night owl by default, but have been able to go to sleep early and get on a good sleep schedule.

I have improved over the years, I think somewhat due to self awareness... Ex: I use to forget things and lose things a lot, but now I am more organized, and better at keeping track of things.

Manic episodes usually last only a few hours. They maybe be ultra rapid cycling, or I may have mixed episodes, because i can get VERY down and depressed too, where I don't want to do anything. I stop my routine of running, etc.

When manic, I'll let people know when they are rude, in the wrong. Ex. hostess wouldn't let me sit at the bar at a restaurant and have a drink, so I rolled my eyes at her and wanted to strangle her, but I just went outside. I wanted to slam the door and leave.

I slam doors, kick walls, doors. I drive around a lot. Sometimes I drive to a place, get out, walk in, go to pay, and decide its too much, so get in the car, and do this several times over before I end up purchasing something at someplace... ex: I tried to buy cream cheese today for my lox and whole grain bread. ( I eat lox for the omega 3 6 9... )

Anyone know anything else that can help me with these episodes that is not one of the above listed drugs, or another anti-psychotic that makes me drowsy, gain weight, digestive problems, sleep problems?

Please help, thanks.

Any help would be great. I am still looking for a medication/remedy.

I am sorry that you have been through so much turmoil. Have you had a full Psych evaluation? It almost sounds to me like you have multiple things going on with you. I don't have advice other than that as you have such a complicated situation, but I think you should get re-evaluated, and not just a quick evaluation either. I know regular exercise and diet helps, and you seem to be some one who needs a lot of stimulation--almost like you have a sensory issue in that your body needs that extra sensory input to function. I hope you find a solution soon.

I was thinking along the same lines as candjdog, how you study better after exercising? sounds like you seek a lot of deep pressure/proprioceptive sensory input; which is common in conditions like asperger syndrome and autism. a few of the other symptoms you have listed are also common in those conditions. have u had a full psych assessment?? try to find a decent psych who will actually listen to you

good luck

Thanks everyone. I have been asked a lot of questions called the YMars when I almost worked for this research company for a drug trial. I have had an IQ test, this weird thing where you click a mouse when you see a flash on a screen, Biofeedback, and some other stuff I can't remember. Is that a full psyche eval? what all is included in one, and how do I go about getting one?