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915369 tn?1355314810

bipolar and anxiety

I think I may have some sort of seperation anxiety disorder and I'm wondering if anxiety with bipolar is a common thing. I used to have much worse anxiety but I managed to get it under control with therapy. The thing is, I have to be out of town a lot for work and when I'm away from my fiance for too long I seem to get incredibly anxious.
I think I may need some sort of medication for this just to function well at work! I would tell my doctor but I currently don't have one because my last one couldn't work with my work schedule.
I'm just wondering what sort of medication is out there for this and if it happens often for people with bipolar disorder.
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Avatar universal
I don't think you have separation anxiety. I think maybe your fiance helps you to relax.  
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Avatar universal
It could have something to do with it, it's hard telling, I would ask my doctor.
Helpful - 0
915369 tn?1355314810
When i get any sort of manic my memory goes downhill, to the point where I don't remember talking to people as soon as the conversation is over. When I'm depressed I have a similar issue but when my mood is level and normal then my memory is almost normal. It's still not great, I forget parts of conversations and directions but I can function normally with it.
I think it might have something to do with the amount of ativan I was given in the hospital when I was admitted while manic at one point.
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Avatar universal
I used to remember to take them purely because I was scared of what I was like without them but somewhere along the line I got forgetful with it.  I think it was around the time I took Cogentin and it caused memory loss extensively for me.
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915369 tn?1355314810
I used to do that, but I don't often turn my phone on before I leave so I forget and get the alert when its too late
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Avatar universal
Set an alarm in your phone or something to go off every day at the times you're supposed to take them, if you have a mobile phone that also has that option.
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915369 tn?1355314810
I can't be put on antidepressants, they drive me insane when I'm on them, usually mixed episodes which end me up in the hospital 100% of the time.
antipsychotics I hate, and benzos make my memory horrible so I think I'll look into therapy lol
I find seroquel (antipsychotic right?) Made my anxiety about social situations much easier to manage though.
worst thing about living in a tiny room on my own though is I always forget my medication!
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Avatar universal
If I'm not mistaken anxiety can be a part of the manic phase of bipolar disorder, though being anxious because of separation can be expected.  I didn't know it until I was put on Zoloft for anxiety but antidepressants can be used to treat anxiety and there's also benzodiazepines but from my understanding they are used as a last resort.  Antipsychotics can also be used for anxiety but I wouldn't use them purely for anxiety in my opinion because I don't think it's worth the risk of tardive dyskinesia to just treat anxiety with them.
Helpful - 0
915369 tn?1355314810
I was diagnosed by a psychiatrist after wrongly being diagnosed with psychosis nos, social anxiety disorder, and borderline personality disorder by a court ordered psychiatrist who only saw me once every 3 months and never actually talked to me. The medication I'm on now helps A LOT, I was living in a different world before, one I hoped I would never see my next bday every year. I'm very confident that the psychiatrist I was just seeing was bang on her money with this diagnosis.
I would rather not take more pills but I need to be able to function at work.
I did cbt and a bit of dbt to get over my anxiety.

And I can't take anybody with me, I work on a work camp right near alaska so she'd have nowhere to stay
Helpful - 0
574118 tn?1305135284
bring your fiance with you

you think i am being sarcastic. NO

In many incidents, e.g a man doing research even in the antarctic you find him accompanied by a woman his wife say. People get to socialize with others having the same hobbies.

In the old days warriors used to bring their women at war and sometimes the latter get captivated. The reason they bring them in the rear rows is to raise their morale and induce courage.

in some religions, they allow the person to have more than one wife in every country he visits for this same reason.

Just don't show this mail to your fiance.

Now let us talk seriously. People think bipolar is just mania + depression. Of course not. All psych illness come with comorbidity like OCD, BPD, PD. Although BP pts tend to avoid strangers and parties, get distracted easily, but also they respect relationships i.e. don't like lot of change, like travelling, Christmas, seasons, etc... it's stressful for them and this is common knowledge. So it's very natural that you feel anxious when you are away from your home, neighbours, fiance, surroundings... Since you travel for a short while, then when back your morale is up and become more confident with the person you trust most. So i don't approve that you have what is calle SAD like you said. AND i don't advise you take any more drugs. Try to get involved in your work and I believe as far as your relationship is concerned, I believe it's best for you two, as it gives both of you a chance to think about your relationship. People even married they say it's healthier for them when they separate once in a while. Even married couples prefer to have separate beds.

good luck          
Helpful - 0
1425146 tn?1282761884
Can you tell me how your bi-polar diagnosis was reached? Was it reached after detailed testing and observations by a registered pyschiatrist? Or was this a result of a diagnosis from a general or family physician, or yourself?

Same with anxiety, we all suffer some anxiety when away from people we care about a great deal - so have you been "clinically" diagnosed for anxiety, and what was the exact diagnosis? What type of therapy did you undergo that helped? The fact that therapy helped seems to suggest it is not a "clinical" anxiety, but an individually based complex.

Many on this Board can help, but we need details. A quick answer to your question is - Yes - anxiety and bi-polar have been common cousins in some we have met through the Foundation.

Please give us the details if you can, and Best in Health
Helpful - 0
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