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have been separated for nearly 12 months diagnosed...

On Health & Drugs & Medications » Sexual Health & Reproduction

9,100 words with 14 Comments; publish: Tue, 18 Dec 2007 06:38:00 GMT; (900109.38, « »)

have been separated for nearly 12 months diagnosed 6 yrs ago find drink a way of escaping but it is becoming a big problem too just sem to be replacing one problem with another two weeks ago i drank and drugged myself into hospital and have no idea why. family try to help but they dont get it and im left feeling very alone and just wanting to withdraw. I function but only on a superfical bases I need someone to tell me that this is part of having it and not a new problem I need to hear from someone who can relate please

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  • 14 Comments
    • Please find help immediately! You have an illness that can be treated, but NO alcohol or drugs will ever help you. I still have problems, but by pure accident I had to stop going out and partying (drinking) because a year and half ago my doc put me on seroquel and drinking anything made me deathly ill. I tried and tried drinking but would be soooo ill the next day, I just had to stop drinking. It took over a year for me to see that is really a blessing in disguise because I really missed alcohol. We feel so bad most of the time that we dull the pain any way we can if we are not being guided by a pro. I dont believe in family docs because they try to diagnose us and usually get it wrong. They made me worse for 20 years after one stupid diag or another. Find a good Psychiatrist and see them immediately. I found mine on a bipolar website several years ago and you put the area you live in and you get list of recommended psychs for bipolar in your area. I don't remember the site, but do some research on web. You are doing what many, many bps do, you are trying to dull your pain, but you are only hurting yourself and those around you. Many blessings to you and good luck!
      #1; Tue, 18 Dec 2007 10:43:00 GMT
    • Finding a good psychiatrist is first and the right meds will make a huge difference. You should also try going to an AA meeting. My son was very resistant to go to a NA meeting, but finally went, and found several other BP people there, too. You need people who understand what you are going through.

      Good luck,

      HopeFi

      #2; Tue, 18 Dec 2007 10:44:00 GMT
    • Toohard:

      I am really worried for you, because I was in such a similar place a year ago. You need to ask yourself a hard question: Should I hospitalize myself, to get more stable and figure some of this out in a safe place with support? I am not sure how long your stay was two weeks ago, of course. Perhaps you were in awhile; if so maybe you rather need an intensive, every day, out-patient program. There is no shame even in rehospitalization, and deep down inside you will know what you need. But please, please fight to reach out and get help! Never having drank before and desperate to sleep, get a moment's rest from hypomania, I bing drank for a week only prolonging the time before I got help, before I asked for my hospitalization, and it was the illness plus situational depression (the impending death of my marriage) that brought me to the crisis. Another time, I overdosed and didn't even realize it, triggering psychosis, talking to people who weren't there and walking into walls. There is a collectible metal trashcan of my husband's that I can't believe the damage I did to by falling on top of it. I was lucky. You might not be. So please, please, get help, research phone numbers to call. We care, and us BP folk are so talented we can't afford to lose even one. As a separated person, we lack the love of that other to step in and say this is enough, we need to get you care. For that I am sorry. LDH!

      P.S. One doctor likened the time in the hospital to getting an oil change, and to take care of ourselves with BP, we may just be like more expensive cars that need more oil changes.

      P.S. 2 Forgive any offense I may cause, it isn't meant.

      #3; Tue, 18 Dec 2007 10:46:00 GMT
    • Leas, you said drinking and taking seroquel makes you deathly ill? can you be more specific? physical, mental?
      #4; Tue, 18 Dec 2007 10:46:00 GMT
    • When doc put me on seroquel (I take 500mg/day), I still ran out on thurs nite to party (my partying nite). I woke up dealthly physically ill. I drove my sons to school and could not get home. I climbed in the back seat in the church park lot. I was dizzy, throwing up and my vision was blurry. It had everything in me to make the 10 min drive home and nurse myself. Could not get out of bed till next day. Naturally I assumed that I was sick or for some reason, badly hung over. So, what do you think my stupid butt did the next thurs nite, yep, went partying. Next day, same thing, but I think a little worse. So, what do you think my stupid butt did the next thurs nite, yep, party. Next day, sicker than prev week. I finally decided to not do this again (at least until I forgot about the horrible "hangover"). Several months later I decided to drink 2 glasses of wine with dinner (hey, 2 glasses never hurt anything, WRONG!) Dinner was almost $200.00, came home and throw every bit up. Needless to say, finally I got some brain cells working and I do not drink at all. Thank God, it only caused me heartache and embarrassment anyway (among many other very stupid and dangerous things I did drunk for many years!). I am finally thankful and realize this is good thing. Do you believe I actually almost stopped taking meds so I could drink? What are we thinking and where does this thought process come from?
      #5; Tue, 18 Dec 2007 10:47:00 GMT
    • Leasa,

      My psychiatrist told me I was drinking to self-medicate the bipolar but it doesn't work! It only intensifies whatever state you are in. I drank heavily in Viet Nam and it just made matters worse. After I returned stateside I was diagnosed Bipolar. Viet Nam also gave me serious anger issues too, but that's another story. My prayers are with you.

      #6; Tue, 18 Dec 2007 10:48:00 GMT
    • Lea, ok i get what you are saying...i do see this in my son , he will go out on the weekends and drink with friends (he is 20) but hes also on 300mgs seroquel per day...he is sick and in bed the next day..sick to the point where he really cant explain how he feels just not right...the bottom line here is you CANNOT drink and take this medication. now, to get him to realize this without me nagging is really going to be rough...hes going to have to get thru this one on his own..you can bring a horse to water but you cant make him drink !!!!
      #7; Tue, 18 Dec 2007 10:50:00 GMT
    • It's difficult when you are young and have to explain you can't/won't drink. I'm 29 and my friends still go drinking every weekend. Virtually everyone I know does. I've stopped to give time for the Lamictal to start working. Well I stopped a week ago. I got hypomanic and drank and boy oh boy is that not a good idea. The things you will say and do! I majorly freaked my friends out that night and forutnately I don't think they will be calling anytime soon for me to go out on the weekend drinking. I was a bit too much fun. Unfortunately, I find if I drink and I'm hypomanic my hangovers aren't bad at all - which is dangerous. Until last month, I just called hypomania a "good mood".
      #8; Tue, 18 Dec 2007 10:51:00 GMT
    • Yep, i hear what you are saying...hes is going to have to realize this on his own.
      #9; Tue, 18 Dec 2007 10:52:00 GMT
    • It's just not worth it - he'll figure it out. He's so young though and I know when I was in college everyone drank a lot. It only takes a few bad hangovers to get the message.
      #10; Tue, 18 Dec 2007 10:53:00 GMT
    • I know everybody in college drinks...believe me, they do! But you cannot drink and take this medication at the same time..Im afraid its going to take something very bad to happen for him to open his eyes to see this...im just scared right now.
      #11; Tue, 18 Dec 2007 10:54:00 GMT
    • I know how you feel. The last time I was manic I started drinking a little because it seemed to help me feel better. Then I hit the depression and I thought drinking would help me even more. I got to the point where I was drinking every day until I blacked out. At the same time I was on abilify, lexapro, and klonopin. Not a good combination with alcohol. Finally I checked myself into a detox center and went through their intensive outpatient program. I am still suffering with a great deal of depression but I am not drinking, although I still want to. I don't know what to do. I am sooooo sick of this depression. It just doesn't seem to leave me.

      Dan

      #12; Tue, 18 Dec 2007 10:55:00 GMT
    • Danny, i dont feel like i can really give advice at this point.But,i will give some input!!.My son is having alot of ups and downs right now. Hes feeling good..but tomorrow that could change...lexapro is not the best anti-depressant out there. have you tried others? Also, klonopins can cause some depression. I feel for you, it stinks to be so depressed. Talk to your doc maybe he can try you on some other or additional anti-depressant. I hope you feel better soon!
      #13; Tue, 18 Dec 2007 10:56:00 GMT
    • I agree with Jules - talk to your doctor. There are other antidepressants. And some of us BPs have problems with any antidepressant (I'm one of them). They send me shooting to the stars for a little while and then I crash and burn. That's how I was diagnosed BP - I've spent 2 years taking every AD known to man and finally I found a psychiatrist who asked all the right questions. Now I'm not just depressed - I'm bipolar (3 weeks ago).
      #14; Tue, 18 Dec 2007 10:57:00 GMT