Just been told i might have bipolar type 2...help anyone else have this?

[Catspaws]

I have had depression and breakdowns for years and been on an SSRI for years also...my doc has been keeping a close eye on me recently as she thinks i may have bipolar type 2, she is refering me to a psychiatrist. i am glad a diagnosis may come about but i am scared as to what the meds will do, especially if i come off the ssri....does anyone else have this and has a mood stabilizer worked?

[Venora Moonwind]

welcome to the forum The meds will ehlp you become stable I take zyprexa a mood stablizer and celexa an anti depressant. They work beautifully for me. I did go through lots of meds that didnt work so well to get the 2 I am on now
Dieet and exercise play key roles in staying stable.6 small meals a day with lots of fruit, veggies.and whole grains. 3 oz protiens with your meals.NO caffiene or sugars. these both aggravate bi polar.
Exercise at least 30 mins a day even if its just a brisk walk.
therapy is also crucial. Therapy will give you the tools to deal with ups and downs of bi polar and teach you how to manage them. It will also  help you get rid of lod emotional baggage that holds you back.
meds will stabilize you and make you feel normal. you will still have emotions. Just not the extremes of bi polar.
My therapist and doc worked out this treatment plan and it works.I cnat tell you how much better i feel after being bi polar for all of my life.
Let me know how your doc visit goes.
Love Venora

[therese83]

Yes I agree, the addition of an anti psychotic also in my case zyprexa has made a huge difference to my life

[triedeverymed]

Oh gosh I can relate to your story!!! I've been on every SSRI but nothing helped. They put me on Abilify, a mood stabelizer and it helped. I still have bouts with depression but I think the med combo I'm on now needs to be adjusted.
Good Luck!!

[bernie40]

I can also relate to what you are saying.  I was on various ssri's which made me worse and not better.  I have tried various mood stabilisers but have not yet found the right one for me, I know it can take a while sometimes, I am about to start on Tegratol so hopefully this time it will work.  I'm very sensitive to drugs and the problem with the ones i was on wasn't that they didn't help my mood disorder but that the side effects were not good.

Wishing you all the best.

[Catspaws]

Thanks everyone, it's nice to know that i am not alone with this, have had the worst 4 days of my life so far, been on diazepam and in bed...very difficult with 2 young children to look after.Husband is very supportive but works long hours.At the moment i am forcing myself to get into work tomorrow, i only work part time but i have used work as a help in the past....think this is part of fthe hypomanic bit?? Didn't even know there were different types of bipolar till my doctor said. Need to wait to see the psychiatist now...bit scared but hopefully i can feel like a 'normal' person again x

[therese83]

Hi

Try not to be scared, you will feel normal again.  I am having a great time and have lots of energy to bring up my kids.  Best of luck