Hi Jaceyy,

It's kinda scary to get this kind of diagnosis isn't it? I was just diagnosed in October and I'm 49. I know I suffered from depression ever since I was little. Thought the high/hypomania times were my normal.

I don't know what kind of advice you are looking for but I can give you lots of support and encouragement. That's a gift that I have been given.

Can you tell me (and us since there are lots of us that read shareposts) some more about you? Are you on meds? Do you have a therapist? What brought your diagnosis about?

My best advice is to do your best to accept that you have bipolar. Most people have something either physical, mental or emotional that they are diagnosed with in their lifetime. It's nothing to be ashamed of. Bipolar means that your brain has a sickness. Lacking some chemical balance. It's OK.

The second thing is to keep being a teenager...explore life as you have been (without the harmful or hurting self or others, if that's something that you may have been doing). Live!! Explore your gifts and strengths. Maybe you're good at art or writing or listening or being a friend or math or reading or singing. Or maybe even all of those plus many, many more!!

Don't let this diagnosis stop you from living. You HAVE bipolar, you are not bipolar. There is a huge difference. Just like someone HAS cancer, they aren't cancer.

One thing I've learned since finding out about this disorder, is how essential sleep is. Teenagers like to burn the candle at all ends! but you gotta get at least 7 hours sleep straight. How I need to avoid alcohol and caffeine...even energy drinks or soda or chocolate (ugh). Exercize is essential. Friends to talk to...

I hope that helps...keep us posted!

God Bless You.

Shelly

jaceyy

6/ 2/10 3:54pm

Well lets see. Right now i am only taking 5mg of Lexapro. And it doesnt really seem to be doing anything. I dont really know how all this came about, just one day i was talking to my mom and i told her that i knew some thing wasnt right. My mood swings were way out of hand, i wouldnt get out of bed for days at a time, and i missed so much school, there was no way i was going to graduate. So i dropped out. Over the last 3 months my medicine has been changed 4 times, and nothing has even came close to working. As for my sleeping, thats pretty much all i do. I will easily sleep 16 hours straight and still be tired when i wake up. I know thats not normal. With the caffiene and all, i dont really eat or drink a lot of sugary stuff. I maybe drink 1 can of coke a day with no candy or anything. I think my biggest thing is im so frustrated that nothing is working, ive kinda given up living a normal life. I dont know how to deal with things anymore ive just let myself go.

Any more advice please?

Shelly

6/ 2/10 4:17pm

oh, honey...so sorry that you're not getting answers or results.

 

when's the last time you saw the psychiatrist? or is it your family doctor that diagnosed you and prescribed the lexapro? did you have a complete physical to make sure nothing physical is wrong? like thyroid or other glands out of whack? that should have actually been the first thing the doc did. sometimes they jump the gun and start prescribing things for the brain when that is just a side effect of a different problem.

 

were you in college or high school? what do you think about dropping out? what do your parents say?

 

to sleep so much could be a sign of depression or a sign of something else. you're still a teen and teens need almost as much sleep as toddlers. if in the past few years you were not listening to your body...you could have depleted your stores...then the physical symptoms start in.

 

I hope that you will go back to the doc. What else have they given you to try? It does sometimes take a couple weeks to notice a difference.

 

I will pray for patience for you and hope that you get some answers.