Don't know what to do anymore.

[Darkestlight]

I have been diagnosed with bipolar since i was around 16. I'm 22 now. I'm also pregnant with my second child.... so im not on any meds being as most bipolar meds are not safe during pregnancy and my last psychiatrist wouldnt put me on anything when i was pregnant with my dd except zoloft to fight Post partum depression after the birth. I am not seeing a psychologist or psychiatrist. which i think i should be. I have been depressed for months but its manageable... It's not getting worse. I'm rather happy with life as much as i can be except im rather withdrawn. I dont want to do anything at all. My other problem is i live in constant fear. I am always afraid something bad is going to happen like someone will break in the house and hurt me, my husband or my daughter. I am afraid the house will burn down. I am mostly constantly afraid of bad things happening to my daughter like her being kidnapped and just awful stuff. It drives me crazy and i dont know what to do anymore.
Anyone have any suggestions... Does the whole fear thing even sound like bipolar??

[Darkestlight]

Thank you so much for a response... it is so nice to talk to someone about my bipolar who understands my husband understands as he grew up with a bipolar father but he doesnt have any advice for me so talking to someone else makes me feel alot better.

Thank you for the website. I guess the psychiatrist i saw with my first pregnancy wasnt that experienced in bipolar and didn't know how to treat someone whos pregnant.

Do you personally know of any mood stabilizers that are safe during pregnancy?

Thirdly I found out after i took zoloft that it WAS NOT a good thing to take. I went back to seeing my old psychiatrist and he doesnt even prescribe antidepressants to bipolar people. I became very mean and edgy on it. go figure....

[monkeyc]

Hi there are welcome to forum.

Ok first things first, yes you need a psychiatrist and a psychologist as part of your treatment, especially when you are not taking meds which you really should be - there are indeed some dangerous meds for pregnancy but some of them are safe.

here is an article about Bipolar and Preganancy including information on medications :  http://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/public/bipolardisorder/inpregnancypostnatal.cfm

You need to work with a psychiatrist and your GP to find a drug balance which does not put your baby at risk but it can be done.

What you are experiencing sounds a lot like paranoia and anxiety - these are indeed bipolar symptoms and we all experience them, my concern is that you have been depressed for months and its manageable but you dont want to do anything - this is to me a little denial which is normal in depression (its where I am now actually) but the paranoia and fear are also signs of depression.

My suggestion is simple.  See a psychiatrist and discuss what you can do, you owe it to yourself and your family to be treated.  

Oh and avoid Anti Depressants and esp. Zoloft and Prozac and Paxil and all SSRI's if you are not taking a mood stabiliser and under the care of a psychiatrist - these drugs can be dangerous to Bipolar's and need supervision.