Bipolar?

[whyme97]

I'm not sure what I am?  I am going to a psychiatrist on a regular basis-almost a year now.  I have been on several differnt depression meds & have had horrible withdrawal symptoms with some of the meds & such.  I have also been diagnosed w/ADD.  Currently I am taking Pristiq (50mg) and so far it is working now, after almost 4 weeks!  i was almost ready to give up on it, too!  I also take Adderall 20mg (2times a day) and feeling better.  The last 3 or 4 days have been 'good' but I feel something else is missing?   I feel extremely down and alone after noon or so?  I can go without sleeping, too.  I feel like I have no control!  The psychiatrist is concerned about some issues & has suggested counseling ASAP...however, I am not ready financially.  Most of the bipolar symptoms I have except the one about feeling 'better and invincible than anyone'...that is not me!  please advise.

I am 38 w/a 16 1/2 yr old(Honor student) & an 11 year old (ADHD/ADD child), and a 'future' 13 yr old (Honor student)....

thank you.

[zzzmykids]

Dear whyme97,
The feeling of superiority can come from the way you are brought up...runs in my very intellectual family....lol I missed it.  Or it could be a manic, severe manic attack.
If your pdoc wants you to go to counseling. Look for a faith based organization, they usually use a sliding scale and can be from 0 dollars for an hour to the sky is the limit.  It depends on your income.
There are groups, twelve steps for bipolar and dbsa and nami that can help you find one.
I have a pdoc, talk doc who is a minister with a counseling degree...working on a sliding scale, I have a chiropractor that keeps the blood flowing to my head and is quite aware of my bipolar disorder, gp who works with my psych and a massage therapist that helps keep me ok...she's in my chiroprators office.
Also what we eat affects how we are.  I'm not a good one for this and know if I ate better I would be better.

Good luck.  You have your hands full!
zzzmykids

[ILADVOCATE]

Ask your psychiatrist what your primary diagnosis because neither of those medications are mood stabilizers (one is of course for ADHD, one for depression). If they diagnosed bipolar they would adjust your treatment but only a psychiatrist could provide a diagnosis but in the meantime you can look up some information on the websites we have linked up such as "Depression Central" (for all mood disorders).