New Here...

[Sarlinda]

Hello!  My name Kim but I go by Sarlinda. I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder a couple years ago and I honestly do not know if that's what it is. I have bad mood swings but I do not have the manic episodes I have heard about.
   I will tell you a little about me. I am 29, I live in Indiana and I have two beautiful biological daughters. They are 5 and 7. Mood swings makes it kinda complicated sometimes.  I am a christian and try to raise my girls the way I was raised. I grew up around a nervous mom so I have always found it normal to be nervous and anxious. I am gonna be put back on meds for all of this next week. I am hoping they find something I can take.
      I am interested in learning more about this if anyone finds anything of interest please pass it my way.
 
  I look forward to talking to you.
Sarlinda

[EverythingInLif]

Hello Sarlinda,

I am so glad to have you here. Welcome. I hope we can have somewhat of a support group online to help us cope with our condition and share.

[connorsmommy877]

Hello my name is Veronica I live in Pleasant View Tennessee. I am a single first time mom who was diagnosed with BPD Shortly after my son was born. He is now 9 months old and they finally have me on something that is working for all my symptoms.

A little about me: I have always been afraid that just because I am on meds people will think I am crazy but have just recently realized that I AM NOT CRAZY! I just need a little help to take care of my mood swings and the stuff that goes along with it.

[LAYLA-MY-LAB]

Hi Sarlinda,
I've been bipolar for 30 years. I'm new here too. Please go to the MD... My 30 year old daughter remembers when I started treatment when she was a young teen and she still says to this day, the medicated Mom was the best Mom...   :)
I'm a nurse, too. I believe in finding the right doctor. So if the first doesn't work, then go to another. Lamictal is a great drug out now and it's worked wonders for us bipolars.
I'm on only it and neurontin.
I used to be on a suitcase full at one time and I feel better now than I have in a few years.
Don't take my word for it. Go yourself.
You can do it!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[hendrickson]

oh... first off please forgive my spelling:
 

if you have any questions... feel free to ask me! Not only am I bipolar but I could have a psychology degree(minored nut had enought classes for a major) in which I had to diagnose people in an upper level class.  My mom was schizophrenic and it is common for children of schizophrenics to have bi-polar kids but the schizophrenic disorder is not passed down.

bi-polar disorder is commonly misdiagnosed.  the criteria to be bipolar is to have episodes of depression and at least one episode of mania. it is typically a rollercoaster ride of mania and depression back and forth. if you have not ever had a manic episode...

• Inflated self-esteem or grandiosity
• Decreased need for sleep (e.g., one feels rested after only 3 hours of sleep)
• More talkative than usual or pressure to keep talking
• Flight of ideas or subjective experience that thoughts are racing
• Attention is easily drawn to unimportant or irrelevant items
• Increase in goal-directed activity (either socially, at work or school, or sexually) or psychomotor agitation
• Excessive involvement in pleasurable activities that have a high potential for painful consequences (e.g., engaging in unrestrained buying sprees, sexual indiscretions, or foolish business investments)

then you need to see a new doctor because the medicine to treat it can hurt you and make your depression and/or  irritable moods worse.
 
I only had manic episodes in college and just depression after that...
college was like:

staying up for 4-5 days straight cleaning my apt, doing laundry, starting projects, really really happy, playing basketball at 3 am (no shopping sprees but my friends did)  followed by a week of not getting out of my bed becuase I was so  lethargic. I would skip my classes and cry a lot.


every now and again ill get really hyper for a few days and talk real fast (manic) and have all these ideas like starting a basket making company but nothing severe.

and to tell you the truth i went several years with no mania or depression\.... my treatment was god. Im pentacostal and i had a holy ghost healing one night at church. i just started my meds back after giving birth the isabelle bc postpardom hit me pretty bad.

[leannamama]

My name is Heather, I'm in Murfreesboro, TN.  I haven't been officially diagnosed with BP but think I may be.  My Dr. even said it was possible.  I've suffered from major depression & emotional all my life (possibly due to the brain damage I suffer at birth.  After I had my son, I started medication for post pod-rum depression.  He'll be nine on July 13th.    They change my meds every 6 months to a year.  The only work for so long.  I had a bad week this week, I've got a DR. appt. on Tuesday.  When my meds are working life is great and I can get a ton down, but when I depressed for weeks on in, very little get done.