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I have so many mixed feelings
Hi my parents finally found out that I want to be tested for being bipolar. It runs in my family and my emotions have been like a roller coaster since I was little. I'm kind of happy that I can get help, but Im scared. Like scared to the point were I would say I'm not going and wouldn't cooperate. And the thing is I don't know why! I've wanted help for so long but now that I can get it I'm terrified. I guess I'm afraid the medicine is going to change who I am and I've done some reasearch and the side effects are kinda bothersome to me. I dont know. Has any one ever been screened before for it and is now on the medication?
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I am sorry to inform you that I have no personal experience with bipolar disorder, but that does not mean that I don't understand or relate with you.
Many disorders have run in my family and are hereditary, some of which I even suffer from. Anxiety, depression, insamnia, suicidal thoughts. All of which I have taken medication for, I fully understand the conflict you are feeling.
Medication and deciding to go onto medication can be a very scary decision. Especially when the decision is not up to you. It is an excellent start by telling your parents you want to be tested for bipolar disorder (assuming they were told).
The idea of getting help and the actual point where you go and get help are completely different things. For the longest time I wanted to tell my parents about my suicidal thoughts, and hurtful nature. When the time came for me to actually proceed in the process of getting help it seemed like every thought I had of wanting to get help disappeared into the oblivion.
Medicine can change who you are if not the proper medicine for you, no psychiatrist will prescribe you medication they believe won't be good for you. It's a scary thing trying new medication but the good part about it is, if you don't like the effect that it has on you it is completely your decision to end that medication and try a new one.
If you don't like the side effects of a medication, don't take it. Taking a medication you are afraid of taking can scare you into having a bad reaction, simply because you think you will.
It is very brave of you to take the initiative to get help. I commend you immensely for that, be sure to favorite my column if you ever want to ask me and more questions. I would be happy to answer them.
~kenzieanonymous
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It's simple. You're scared to find out if there's something really wrong with you. I've been going through the same thing but that's because i'm depressed and I've been this way for a while. Calm down and relax. If you really want the help, go for it and see what can be done about it.
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First and foremost nothing says you are bipolar. The fact that it runs in your family does not mean you will manifest this illness. In fact it is very possible that you will never manifest any symptoms of this illness as generation skipping is possible with this illness.
What is important is that you are knowledgeable that this illness is prevalent in your family and that you make your Primary Care Physician aware of this so he or she can monitor you. The testing for any mental illness is painless. Depending on your physician you will either be given a questionnaire to fill out and then have a conversation with the doctor or the doctor will simply ask you questions. Based on your answers, if you are being seen by your primary care doctor, he or she will make a diagnoses and then decide how and who should treat you.
If it is determined you are bipolar this illness is best treated by a psychiatrist along with a psychologist for talk therapy. The psychiatrist being a medical doctor can prescribe medication(s) and the psychologist will help you stay on medications through talk therapy.
The biggest problem with bipolar disorder is staying on your medication. For when you are on your medication you will feel normal and see no reason to take it. Then you go off your medication and see no reason to take it. Maybe not you personally but a typical person suffering with this disorder does have a problem being compliant with their medications. As long as you're living at home with your parents you have help being compliant.
As to the medications themselves. The psychiatrist will most like give you a couple of different medications based on your diagnoses. These drugs are antipsychotic medications and they affect every person differently. How they affect you is something you will have to be honest and tell your doctor so they can fine tune the medications to get the desired results and make you feel as normal as possible.
Be aware of the dangerous side effects and report any of them immediately to the doctor. Some of the more normal side effects will go away after a few weeks when your body gets accustomed to the medication. If your doctor doesn't ask you to do this then I suggest you keep a medication diary. Each day write in your diary exactly how you are feeling throughout the day. A good time to write in your diary would be at breakfast, lunch, dinner and before bed. Make sure to include how well you slept and how long you slept.
No I have not suffered with this disorder though a good friend of the family has. My wife also works in the mental health field and we are very close to several psychiatrists especially the one who treats our friends so we are somewhat knowledgeable of this disorder.
IF and that is a big if diagnosed with this disorder you can live a long healthy life by simply working with your medical professionals. Keeping the diary I suggested will help them help you. There is really nothing to be scared about. If you are by polar and from the little you wrote I would be surprised if you are. It is better to know then not know and get the proper treatment and learn to live with this disorder just as you would any other long term illness.
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It's pretty scary. One thing to be grateful for is that you do have knowledge of a family history and can make an educated decision to monitor your mental health before things get beyond your control. This will make things so much easier for you.
There's no official test for bipolar disorder. A diagnosis is reached based on family history and symptoms being experienced. Lighting quick up and down emotions aren't necessarily an indicator; it's more about long-term patterns. You may be asked (and probably should, anyhow) to keep a mood diary where you track your mood and other factors like sleep, energy levels and events in your life. This can help patterns to emerge and can help you to maintain your mental health.
When it comes to medication, there is no one medication. There are lots of different meds and combinations of meds with different ways of working and different side effects. It took me years of constant tweaking to get on a medication regimen that works for me, and it only does a small part of the work. The rest is all about proper nutrition, exercise and maintaining a regular sleep schedule. Your doctor may ask you to change a few things about your lifestyle before putting you on a medication. If you are put on a medication, it may take some time to start working. The side effects can be nasty sometimes, so ask your doctor any questions you may have. It also may not be the right one for you; I had many medication changes and dosage adjustments. Be sure to stick to your guns and let your doctor know what works and what doesn't work for you.
The big thing when it comes to bipolar disorder is self care. It's really easy to let that slide when you're in one of your extreme moods, and that can make things much worse. Avoid caffeine and street drugs. Make sure to eat a healthy, balanced diet. Try to go to sleep at the same time every night, allowing for 8 hours (going without sleep for more than a week sends me rocketing off into mania). Exercise moderately, even if you don't feel like it. Most importantly, know yourself. Learn your patterns and what works for you.
It can be overwhelming living with bipolar disorder, but it is possible to live a full, productive, happy life. It can be tough to get the help you need, but the earlier you catch these things the easier it is; you don't want to go through all this while in crisis.
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I know nothing about medications for bi-polar or other mental illnesses, but it's like anything else where something in your body isn't working perfectly, you take a specific medication that helps. those with heart issues have blood pressure and cholesterol meds, with diabetes there's insulin, etc.
Since it runs in your family, I am sure the doctor knows what signs to look for. Can't say there are early warning signs, but it would be a good thing to know if you do have it. You didn't mention your age so I don't know if you're really young if it may have shown itself in you yet. You may not get it at all, but your chances are higher. So if you're still under parents care, not an adult yet and the doctor feels its a good idea to check, then get screened for it. If your parents can see any of the symptoms in you, it doesnt mean you've never have it, it may develop over the years. But usually if someone has it, they usually know by their teen or college years. So if younger than that, I don't know, just check what the family doctor has to say.
I will say one thing though, if it helps you to lead a normal life, then use it. Most unmedicated people with mental illness or disabilities of any sort, are highly unlikely to have a successful healthy relationship with a partner. Most break up if one has no mental issues as they can't take it. And the option to not being on meds is having a very lonely life, or a long string of broken relationships to your name. So don't fear using a medication. If you have side effects, not all people experience them, then let the Doctor know and perhaps you will be given something else to try, or a medication to assist with the side affect.
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