Q: Are anxiety disorders common with bipolar?
I have been in a depressed phase of bipolar for almost a year and in addition to lithium and anti-depressants am taking xanax for anxiety. Anxiety has been present during all my previous depressive episodes but I find that there is always an underlying pschological issue I can't face that causes it. Here a good psychotherapist is key. If you can define and then face the underlying issue with the help of a good therapist, not only will the anxiety lessen, but the depression will lift as well. Unfortuneately, I'm not there yet this time around.
GOD is not punishing you, but anxiety disorders are VERY common with bipolar. with bipolar a lot of others have issues with anxiety, adhd, post traumatic stress disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, etc. I promise you are not alone. I see this all the time. I am a support group leader for bipolar and depression. u need to talk to your doctor IMMEDIATELY
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Thank you so much for what you said. With everything that has been going on I feel incredibly alone. Some of my friends are supportive but some of my other friends look at me like I am some sort of an alien or a stranger. My husband has also had a very difficult time accepting all of this. Some days he is understanding and other days he tells me that I am perfectly fine and don't need medicine or that I won't be on medicine forever. I feel so bad that after I saw some of my friends reactions to my diagnosis, I refuse to tell my family anything about my diagnosis. It makes me feel even more depressed and I've thought about stopping all medication but then I think about all the heart ache I put my husband and family through with my temper tantrums, shopping sprees and other outrageous behavior. I'm reminded every day that I have bp with all those pills that I have to take and with my agoraphobia, I find it hard sometimes to leave my house to attend support group meetings so I get comfort out of talking to people online who understand what I am going through.