am i bipolar

[mary1978]

hi all i have been taken med for deppression for a number of years on and off.when i feel ok i stop then start again i how now been seen a nurse on a day to day basic to monitor my mood.she took me off the anti deppressants to see how i went as i am either high low or very angry. i had to call her yesterday as i thought i was going to go mad !!! she came to see me straight away after speaking to the phiciatric she has given me med that is for dipor seroquel does this mean i have this if so it would answer for a lot of the things i do .oh also my mum has manic deppressin are they the same.
please help x

[Bear13]

I was (finally) diagnosed as bi-polar last February, and looking back I realize I was the one who mentioned to my pdoc, Hey, I think I'm bi-polar.... we went over why I thought that, he agreed, and we started on a course of medication which has been a roller coaster ride to say the least.  I've finally settled on Seroquel.  I only take this drug, and I take 200mg/night.  I hate medication.  Always have.  Have been on and off anti-depressants since I was 18.  Seroquel has been the saving grace for me.  It stabilizes my moods and puts me to sleep, which has been a HUGE issue for me in the past.  Yes, I can feel myself starting to slip in either direction, but at least I recognize it at this point, and take steps to try and get myself out of it, i.e, increased exercise, cognitive therapy, etc....  You are certainly not alone here!  Keep in touch...

[LeftCoastChick]

When I went into hospital, that's the first thing they gave me was Seroquel, and I'm glad for it. It tamed my mind to a dull roar.  I was then diagnosed a week or so after discharge. Like hell, I was in a full blown mixed state, angry, anxious, and deeply depressied, then got perky the next day, so they kept me in. Pretty classic BP stuff.  I shuddered when I first heard my diagnosis, I wasn't even sure I heard it right. After the shock wore off, by then I was put on the right type of meds, and feel immensely better. My personally experiences are pretty much the same as hell, hang on, educate and talk about it all. You know yourself the best :) Keep in touch.

[hell1971]

Hi Mary

Manic Depression is the "old term" used for Bipolar, it is genetic by origin but that does not mean the next generation will have it it just means you have a predisposition for a phsciatric illness. Yes seroquel was the first drug I was given to stop me going into whats called full blown mania I was in a mixed episode after taking an antidepressant for the first time and it sent me into hypomania, You need to have a proper assesment with a pdoc, they are just treating your symptoms at the moment, make sure you take it at home as I was given it with no instructions and I took it at work and in knocked me for six and I was alone and responsible for a shop. I am now diagnosed BP2 and am recoverring from a major episode. It has taken 6 proffessionals about the same amount of books and numerous posting on this site for me to understand this illness, my best advise is to talk to your doctor about your diagnosis. I hope you feel better soon, you are in safe hands on this site they have all been fantastic and have got me through the most horrick experience of my life.
Take Care