Please help x

[Bobble77]

Hi Everyone. This is my first time on a forum like this, but I really need some help :( I was diagnosed 4 years ago (after suffering with mental health problems since I was 16 - I'm not 36) with bi-polar ii and generalized anxiety disorder. About a year ago this diagnosis was changed to Cyclothymia, generalized anxiety disorder and traits of unstable personality disorder. I have been on 200mg Sertraline and 250mg Quetiapine for about 18 months, (and countless other meds before this over the years) but after being stable for about 12 months my Psychiatrist suggested reducing my Sertraline to 150mg. Almost immediately my anxiety got worse, so my gp said to increase it again and we would try again in a few months. A couple of times over the last few months I have had the strangest feelings, like nothing I've had before - and I feel like this at the minute. It's like my whole body and mind are in extreme discomfort, like a feeling of being completely overwhelmed and needing to do something, anything has taken over me. I take Quetiapine at night because it helps me sleep, but now I just cannot switch off and it's often 3am before I manage to nod off. During hypomanic episodes in the past I've spent a lot of money and made stupid impulsive decisions, and that's happening now - I've just signed up to lease a new car which I can't afford amongst other things. I can't stop eating, even though I'm full and feeling sick. I'm not 'happy' - just irritable and anxious and agitated. I went to visit a friend over the weekend who lives 3 hours away, and most of the drive there was awful because I couldn't concentrate. I even had a voice in the back of my head saying "Go on, put the handbrake on and see what happens", when I was at 70mph! I know damn well what would happen if I did something so stupid! I don't know what this is, or why it's happening :(

[stormbear]

I get that discomfort in the mind and body too , it's a terrible feeling huh .

[Anonymouse88]

You need an appointment with your psychiatrist, stat.  You might need something fast acting for now, like another atypical antipsychotic.  Lamictal might be a good choice for long term use, but it takes forever to titrate up, so it's not going to help you right this second.

Then again, with the uncontrolled eating, maybe a typical antipsychotic would be the way to go for now.  That or lithium, which has a good chance of stopping the hypomania quickly.

[tokenkarma]

Have you tried Lamotrigine  (Lamyctal)? As a fellow 'cyclothymic' ;), I have
tried EVERY med out there for 'us' and this one works!! Ask you doc about
it. Good luck, Christine