Addiction and bipolar

[faith_grl]

Hi all - I was diagnosed with bipolar 18 months ago. I have been in a 12 step program for food addiction for 6 years now but am finding food now really hard to handle. I lowered my meds recently (cause with higher meds I can't seem to remember anything and can't work properly) and now am finding the bp a little harder to handle.

When I am manic I just want to eat to calm myself down (i ate 20 biscuts after lunch the other day). When I am down I don't really see the point of not binging.

My ideas on managing this so far is as follows 1) go to a local support group for people with a mental illness 2) go to rehab if the binging get out of hand 3) Meditation (sometimes it makes the mania worse I found) 4) Exercise (calms me down 80% of the time. The other 20% shifts me to mania).

I really don't want to increase my meds..what do you do to manage your drug of choice with bp?

[Venora Moonwind]

Good luck tomorrow. let us knonw how it goes. dont be scared of your pdoc She needs you as much as you need her and remember , she puts her pantyhose on just like the rest of us do one leg at a time. Write down stuff you want to discuss with her and dont be afraid to press till you get what you need from her.
Love Venora

[faith_grl]

Thanks heaps for the suggestions. I am on 100mg of Epilim (Vapro) and 1/4 of a 10mg of Lexapro. I took abit more Epimlim yesterday and it really helped. I think maybe I am the type that need to carry abit of the uppers (lexapro) when I am down and abit of downers (Epilim) when I am up. I know I am not suppose to vary these meds but at least it seems to help and my body reacts to this stuff pretty quickly (like within the hour!).

Thanks both for your suggestions. I am scared of my pdoc though! She always wants to put me on more stuff...the last time it was the pill!! So hard....

Well - I am off to a support group tomorrow..hope it helps!

[freebird227]

With your options listed along with Venora it sounds like you have a lot of options. Always consult with your pdoc whenever you have any concerns as to how your meds are or are not working for you. Congrats that you are trying to stay with your support group with your eating. I for one can never eat when I'm feeling elevated with my mood.Keep posting and Best Wishes

[Venora Moonwind]

Maybe you need to try other meds instead of increasing what you are on now, You didnt mention what meds you are now and at what dose.
6 small meals a day ,no sugar or caffiene will help manage the bi polar Exercise 30 mins a day even if its just a brisk walk will help too.Journaling is a good way to write all the thoughts down to get them out of your head.
Keep coming here. We understand like nobody else what you are going through.
Love Venora