Sue Bergeson
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
The other day, I got blasted by a consumer who read me a litany of things DBSA had done wrong over the past four years. Four years is a looooong time to hold onto anger for some real or imagined slight. However, I suspect it isn't all that unusual for those of us living with mood disorders. I did...
gypsy
Thursday, August 02, 2007 at 12:48 AM
Hi there,
I am new here, and just getting to know when my symptoms start and end. I have been starting therapy and meds. So, I am going through years of research on how my disorder has effected my life. I journal also, and have friends that I check in with. I try not to dump in the inappropriate places, anymore. I was using my boyfriend for that for 4 yrs. Poor guy!!. As far as the irritability is concerned I had it really bad before I got on meds. I noticed the relief from that immediately, when, I first got on meds. I also have it when, I am stressed out, in the heat, in traffic, in crowds. I get frustrated. I have to take time out and relax. I also noticed I have it right before I go through mixed mania. It has caused alot of problems in my life. I am finally able to ralax after being somewhat stabel on my meds. Well , there you go, God bless, Gypsy
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mermaid
Friday, August 17, 2007 at 09:07 PM
Hi
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mermaid
Friday, August 17, 2007 at 09:10 PM
Hi gypsy
I read your post and was wondering if you could tell me, since i suffer major irritability and depression at the same time, what meds you are on that have helped you. Thanks. Could you respond by posting it on this site instead of to me; I am in the middle of changing e-mail addresses. Thanks so much.
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gypsy
Friday, August 17, 2007 at 11:29 PM
Hi, Katie,
I was taking lithium first, and it helped with the frustration, and agitation.
It caused weght gain and did nothing for the anxiety and mixed mania. So, my pdoc put me on lamictal, which has been a constant for four months, now. I love it. I have tried a few for mixed mania and mania, but every one of them increased my anxiety. so, the PA, I am seeing now, put me on Busbar, for anxiety and Topamax, and I still had the irritability, and depression. I have experienced them together. I then go to mania, which really sucks!!. So, now my pdoc, has added abilify. And low and behold, I am balanced. Wow!! Its nice not to feel the irritation, anymore. So, I am on 200mg lamictal 2times a day,25 topamax 2 times a day, and 15 mgs ofBusbar 3 times a day, and 5 mgs of abilify 2 times a day. The Abilify can be pretty intense at first. Anyway I hope this helps, love and blessings, Gypsy
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mermaid
Saturday, August 18, 2007 at 05:14 PM
Thanks Gypsy
I am on lithium now, as of one month and a week, to see if it helped with my irritability and rage. It has not. I am also on lamictal and adderall. Can you tell me what are the side effects with Abilify or have you had any? Also, have you tried Gedeon? I hope I can send this email out; it keeps saying that it can not be sent.
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gypsy
Saturday, August 18, 2007 at 07:57 PM
Hi, Katie,
I have tried Geodon, and it was aweful. It knocked me out. The Abilify has a racey side affect to it.but, it has passed, thats why I take an anti anxiety med, like lamictal, or buspar with it. I liked lithium, but it increased my agitation. I had to have an anti psychotic with the meds for mixed mania. I have to have a balance of a depression med, and a mania med, sometimes it takes a few to get the right"cocktail". Your pdoc should be able to tell you which ones are which. I look up everyone they give me,too.I look up Bipolar meds, online, and alot of sites come up.
I am really sensitive, and don't like anything that gives me the shuffles or the twitches.lol! I have 4 kids, and a sick husband, and have to deal with all this.
I got mad at my pdoc when she gave me Geodon. My son took adderall, and it didn't work for him very well. He's AdHD.
I really like Abilify. I take it at a very low dose, but if you can tolerate adderall you might be able to tolerate abilify at a higher dose. Everyones system is different.
I remember, that Adderall made my son angry. So, any way I hope this helps,
I had to try a few, before I found the right ones. Dont be afraid to speak up and talk about your symptoms. Don't be afraid to talk about your life style and what is okay and not okay. God bless, Gypsy
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Anonymous
Thursday, August 02, 2007 at 09:34 PM
Yes! I can definitely relate to feeling irritable. In fact, as I have gotten older, my mania expresses itself primarily in the form of irritability, not euphoria or sexual promiscuity or spending large sums of money. Instead, I snap at my son, I get impatient with my mom and I can't wait to get complaining customers off the phone at work. For me, long gone are the days of sweet hypomania, in which I felt like I could do anything and was in an excellent mood all the time.
Maybe we don't talk about this very much because we don't really recognize it as a symptom of bipolar disorder. When I think of bipolar, the first thoughts that come to my mind are elation and suicidal depression. Irritability seems to be a state of "normal", daily living. We are all irritable about something, right?
You are absolutely correct, though. The irritability that I feel - being bipolar - is beyond the "normal" realm of discontent. It is strong, pervasive and seemingly endless in duration. It can turn a once positive person into a grouchy grump. It can make the difference in seeing the cup as half full or half empty. It can get so bad that we alienate our friends and families and co-workers. I would go so far as to say that I lost a job once due to my level of irritability.
So, what is the answer for how to get rid of irritability? Is there some kind of medication that we can take that makes us less irritable? We talk about drugs that make us "level" or "on an even keel". But I don't think I have heard of a drug that gets ride of irritability.
Have any of you ever taken a medication that eased your irritability? Maybe something like Ativan or Klonopin? I don't know what the answer is but I do know it is nice to talk about it for a change. Maybe if we talk about it enough when we are experiencing it, it won't affect us so much in the long run.
What do you guys have to say about this?
I would love to hear back from someone (everyone who wants to) who has ideas and thoughts about this.
Have a wonderful pain and worry free day!
Kay
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Sunick
Saturday, August 04, 2007 at 12:24 AM
Perhaps the issue here is that we often have a good memory. We are usually very forgiving - until it builds to resentment. Then all the memory comes out with an emotional outburst. I personally had this where 30+ years of stored up memory came welling out with a nasty result. My family TRIED to have me sectioned for being emotional ... and of course failed.
Incidentally, were her issues concerning responsiveness of DBSA - I also have such an issue. Maybe we can discuss this at the conference - I will be over from the UK for that and other ventures as well as a holiday.
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Kristin Finn
Tuesday, August 07, 2007 at 10:16 PM
Hi Sue,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on irritability! I felt like I was a cheerleader on the side lines cheering you on as I read your article. My goal is to try to have more balance in my life when I start to feel overwhelmed. I'm looking forward to the 2007 DBSA Conference. I
I'll see you in Orlando!
Kristin Finn
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Angie
Wednesday, August 08, 2007 at 01:24 PM
... to add to your list, Sue. Before being diagnosed, I saw my own irritability on the rise in both frequency and intensity. I was blaming stress and the "whole world has gone to heck" theory. Having never been a drinker, I suddenly started with drinks at dinner, then quickly progressed to all evening until I fell asleep. I also started smoking socially, at the age of 35!!
All of this would temporarily ease my irritability, during which time my personality was morphing into one sarcastic witch. I used mean humor to cover the irritability whenever I could. The break-down was inevitable, and so was the BP diagnosis.
Fast-forward to the present, diagnosed, sober, medicated, and I STILL have more episodes of irritibility than I should. It's an agitated depression. The best that I can do is be mindful of when it creeps in. Start writing down feelings without trying to analyzing them too soon. Control my environment so it is as quiet and comfortable as possible. I use 50 mg of Seroquel with 1 mg Ativan twice a day as needed. I take 200mg Seroquel every night.
Irritability requires a lot of energy. Coming from a manic personality type, I have to fight the urge to feed the anger with unhealthy behaviors like not sleeping, binge eating, picking fights. I have found that resting and deep breathing can short circuit those urges.
Is there some global funk going on? I ask because everyone seems to be writing and blogging about this issue; having trouble with it lately?
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mermaid
Friday, August 10, 2007 at 10:19 PM
Hi Sue
I am so glad I found your comment.I was doubting if I had bipolar ll because everything I read said not much on irritability...that is my issue, and depression. My mania's(hypo) are never fun! (only when I was on an antidepressant!), I was recently put on lithium and lamictal to see if it helped my irritability; I don't feel like it has, and I am still depressed. Does lithium help bipolar ll mixed? Thanks for any tips on controlling irritability. (: KT
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Joyce
Friday, August 10, 2007 at 10:53 PM
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ari
Wednesday, August 15, 2007 at 04:16 PM
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gypsy
Saturday, August 18, 2007 at 12:06 AM
Hello, There,
I like this discussion. I have been just officially diagnosed Bipolar 1, and have the mania, alot, and abilify has capped the psychosis pretty good.
I like the mindfulness idea, that someone mentioned. I have to do the same thing when, I feel a cycle coming on. I take a time out, and let it roll over and pass untill it drops. It is like a gripping of the nerves. If I feed it I drop into a horrible depression. A desperation, and that ,I have found, also, passes. I also have a therapist, a PSR worker to check in with, and a med monitor who all communicate. I am also in a 12 step community. So, having lots of support really helps. I pray journal meditate, and talk. I also feel its about emosions, too. I have been checking out and coping for so long, that, the meds have helped me slow down enough to sit and feel my feelings.
I like the cognitive therapy idea has anyone had any experience with this? I would love to hear anyones comments on this. I have enjoyed reading everything else on this sight.
Thanks, Gypsy
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crazymom
Wednesday, August 22, 2007 at 04:14 PM
Hi all.
What a relief to read these comments and know that I am not alone and that I am not a walking monster.Its so difficult to explain to someone without these problems why I am the way I am. My poor, saintly husband is at his wits end with my nerves and screaming attacks. Not to mention that I am ready to give up my two kids so that they have hopes of a normal life.
I am bipolar II and have been for abour 12 years. My disease mostly consisted of prolonged periods of mania that allowed me to be on top of the world for years and then...after the birth of my daughter I fell hard. Problem always was that I liked the mania and functioned well. Now I realize that I need to be stable, constant and live like the resty of the mortals. However, since being on lithium I have noticed that my rage creeps slowly upon me and than I explode. The weight gain and not being able to button my pants almost drove me to jumping out a window today (good thing I live on the ground floor)I am extremely happy with the fact that lithium has pulled me out of my depression, few side effects, but I can't freak out at the drop of the hat. I have two small kids whose mother went from being super mom, to never getting out of bed, to hospitialized mom, and now she's back and all she does is yell.
Its nice to know Im not alone, but where is the miracle pill????
I agree that talking, writing, and leading a calm life helps, but unfortunately, here in my reality frustration rules and I need relief.Anyone have any?
-crazy mother stuck in Poland
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sugarbooger1
Sunday, August 26, 2007 at 07:23 PM
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stacey
Thursday, September 20, 2007 at 05:42 PM
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smoove
Monday, August 27, 2007 at 04:06 PM
Irritability is also severely affecting me and my family - it ruins my enjoyment of life. I have been taking Adderall (XR) for ten years (ADHD) but also have recently been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. I have tried Lamictal but recently stopped it b/c I felt like a droid: stoic / emotionless; I also thought Lamictal was exacerbating the irritability. In actuality, it's probably the Adderall that causes the irritability (always kicks in more towards the end of the day, set off by small little things, noises, etc.); nevertheless, I'm just a grouch all the time.
So, I too started looking for the magic pill to stop the irritability and simply be happier and enjoy life more...actually, I'd prefer to be more hypomanic and fun with my three young children...so I'm thinking Wellbutrin? Prozac? Xanax? Paxil? But my wife also doesn't want/like it when I'm "not me". Then I remembered a drug I have taken to calm things down that may be the trick: what about taking a regular dose of Clonazepam (or equivalent?) to calm the nerves and decrease the irritability? It also shouldn't create a "fakeness" or mania that could be brought on by the other drugs...
Thoughts?
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DS
Monday, September 03, 2007 at 07:42 PM
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stacey
Thursday, September 20, 2007 at 05:32 PM
I can relate to your feelings about irritability, I felt that way much of my summer because I was in kind of a depressed state. I have lived with bipolar so long that I am so used to being depressed but the irritability is kind of new because I don't feel as hopeless as I once did. Now it is more of an anger because this is how it is and I have not yet learned how to make the depression go away. Even though I have been on antidepressants for years.
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jrwest
Wednesday, December 05, 2007 at 12:43 AM
Were there any ideas for chapter improvements in those complaints?
How can chapters illicit concerns from members in a way that strengthens the community? A questionaire? Suggestion box? I may be way off base--currently waiting for a "password" for chapter "enterance" but I am not finding any "Membership Care Suggestions/Guidelines" in our local "Leadership Manual." Are we missing something???
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Leigh Roth
Sunday, January 24, 2010 at 03:54 PM
I was officially diagnosed after insomnia depression tried to jump off the golden gate bridge in 2000. I am a severe case and only now in my tenth year feel I have a good handle on managing my illness. I was once deported from Mexico on the pretext of my behaviour! One intervention was for my friends to yell CODE BLUE, as a nurse that registered instantly that I needed to pretend my tongue was cut out or my mouth taped shut and to RUN AWAY from the provocation -- always PEOPLE, since I cant suffer fools or lightly. Another tactic is to say, "You are making me upset, and if you continue, I may loose control." Then walk away for a while. I read somewhere Omega 3 helps, havent researched it. I also would like to point out something interesting: a new diagnostic sign for hypomania: if I smoke marijuana when hypomanic, wow! But if I am in "neutral, I feel no effect. P.S. My only med is a bit of serequal to sleep. ESSENTIAL that we sleep. But dreams stop with this med. Thanks for this site, Leigh Roth, BSRN Certified Nurse Midwife, MFCC.
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bipolar in mexico
Saturday, March 12, 2011 at 03:46 PM
well it is too late now, all I wrote was indexed under my name in google...not that my psychiatric history is any secret where I live, ,my neighbors charo rosario peurit and chip truett had the police knock down my door without a police order, on another occasion she opened the door herself and dragged me out and tied me up with electric cable and had the police take me to prison for nine months....do not be manic in mexico where us citizens think they can engage in vigelantism under the guise of a citizen's arrest and accuse you of anything instead of getting you to your docter...she tried to get me deported once....no no watch out don't act weird in mexico they don't know how to handle it...
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Leigh Roth
Sunday, January 24, 2010 at 03:54 PM
I was officially diagnosed after insomnia depression tried to jump off the golden gate bridge in 2000. I am a severe case and only now in my tenth year feel I have a good handle on managing my illness. I was once deported from Mexico on the pretext of my behaviour! One intervention was for my friends to yell CODE BLUE, as a nurse that registered instantly that I needed to pretend my tongue was cut out or my mouth taped shut and to RUN AWAY from the provocation -- always PEOPLE, since I cant suffer fools or lightly. Another tactic is to say, "You are making me upset, and if you continue, I may loose control." Then walk away for a while. I read somewhere Omega 3 helps, havent researched it. I also would like to point out something interesting: a new diagnostic sign for hypomania: if I smoke marijuana when hypomanic, wow! But if I am in "neutral, I feel no effect. P.S. My only med is a bit of serequal to sleep. ESSENTIAL that we sleep. But dreams stop with this med. Thanks for this site, Leigh Roth, BSRN Certified Nurse Midwife, MFCC.
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