Bipolar

[Alan Medic]

I've had a sad of sorts email from someone whose daughter has this illness. She is an adult. Her parents want her to have CBT, as they don't think her medication is enough. Has anyone had to deal with or know this problem? If so would you please share your experience?

[PaulK]

In other words, who here is a nut job?

[Isla]

PaulK Wrote:

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> In other words, who here is a nut job?

what a twat.

alan - CBT can be a very positive treatment for many. I know a few people who have undergone this and it has always helped them through their illness.

[Otta]

I'm not so sure CBT is the way to go for this condition, it tends to concentrate more on specifics.

[Alan Medic]

PaulK Wrote:

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> In other words, who here is a nut job?

You?

[Alan Medic]

Otta Wrote:

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> I'm not so sure CBT is the way to go for this

> condition, it tends to concentrate more on

> specifics.

I don't know Otta, but if I could learn anything from someone on the forum who has experience of dealing with a person who has this condition, I'd like to be able to pass it on.

[Otta]

I know a couple of people with it, and staying on your meds is key.

Where CBT could be useful is in "training" a person to avoid behaviour which sets them off.

If they feel meds aren't working, they should discuss it with the GP as there are several different options, and maybe she's on the wrong drugs for her...

[LadyDeliah]

I've suffered from bipolar disorder since my early teens and it is a massive disability. I learned ways to normalise my moods using things like exercise, but it was always a struggle and I have had a number of spectacular crashes.

I also found being on the contraceptive implant and injection helped the massive monthly swings that added to the general ups and downs. I've had some behavioural help which gave me further coping techniques and with grim determination I was able to acheive quite a lot in the past 10 years, without any major meltdowns.

I had a huge breakthrough, though last year, when I thought I was about to lose the plot and felt like I'd just had enough of the constant stuggle with this debilitating illness. I'd previously been prescribed an anti-epileptic, Lamotrogine, but didn't want to feel weak by having to take medication to cope. I felt so bad though that it seemed the lesser of two evils and I decided to try the Lamotrogone.

Within two days of starting the medication, the constant noise of chaotic thoughts in my head just switched off. It was incredible and I have stuck with the programme, progressing from 50mg to the optimum dosage of 200mg. For the first time in my adult life I feel stable. I have discovered what it feels like to be a normal person and realise just how much of a disability bipolar disorder is.

After struggling for so long and pushing myself so hard for so long, to get where other people get to easily, I feel like I could achieve anything now that I no longer have to struggle contantly to keep control of myself.

I did some research and asked a lot of questions about why Lamotrogine, an anti-epileptic, works for bipolar disorder and it appears that bipolar disorder is linked to epilepsy, in that it seems to be caused by misfiring electrical pathways in the brain.

There seem to be no side effects so far, other than getting leggless way too quickly on very little alcohol, so I tend not to drink very much nowadays. That is a small price to pay for the kind of stability I never dreamed I'd have.

Everyone who knows me, knows that I talk openly about my struggles because I think it is important for people to be educated about these issues. I hope when people get to the point where illnesses such as bipolar can be openly discussed without stigma, people like PaulK will be too ashamed of themselves to come out with the kind of comment he posted above.

I hope this has been helpful and she gets the help she needs. I have a daughter who is also bipolar and it is difficult watching her go through it.

Well done for airing it on here xx

[Alan Medic]

It seems like a difficult situation where the parents who are now elderly want to do the best for their daughter and think CBT may be it. But CBT requires the person to want to do it and I'm not sure that's currently the case. It seems she is on her meds but is becoming more erratic. My concern is that they think she may be suicidal. I'm sure PaulK will offer advice or is that P(ric)K.

[Alan Medic]

Thank you LadyD. I hope you don't mind if I share your thoughts and experiences with my brother.

[LadyDeliah]

I'd be happy for you to share it. You might want to check what type of medication she is taking and see when she last had a review.

The link with epilepsy was discovered about 10 years ago, I think, so some less up to date psychiatrists or GPs might still be prescribing the older medications which might not be the best for her.

[Gidget]

I don't know much about it but knew one person who had it, although she called it having manic depression, the older name for it. Apparently there are two types - I and II. I do know anti-epilepsy drugs are now used for illnesses that they weren't originally devised for. There is a clinical psychologist called Kay Redfield Jamison who has it and has written some books on the subject. I read one of them - The Unquiet Mind - over ten years ago.

The person I knew had a psychiatric nurse attached to the Maudsley as she lived in Camberwell.

PaulK, you should be ashamed of yourself.

Edited to add: I just googled Kay Redfield Jamison and there is lots about her.

[LadyDeliah]

Thanks Gidget, I'll have a look.

I think one thing you might want to tell your friend Alan, is that even with the medication, you still have to make sure you have regular sleep and meals to ensure you keep on track.

As soon as I notice that I am doing too much and not sleeping enough, I get the warning signs, but it's been easy to put things right so far.

[Voyageur]

.

[Help-Ma-Boab]

AM,had a good friend with this and keeping to medication was key while also looking at other options. The meds as otta says were key. I always knew when he had skipped them.

[Alan Medic]

Voyageur Wrote:

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> Christ... you really are a damaged @#$%& aren't

> you :(

Meaning what?

[Alan Medic]

LadyDeliah Wrote:

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> I'd be happy for you to share it. You might want

> to check what type of medication she is taking and

> see when she last had a review.

>

> The link with epilepsy was discovered about 10

> years ago, I think, so some less up to date

> psychiatrists or GPs might still be prescribing

> the older medications which might not be the best

> for her.

I've been told today that she was first diagnosed in 2006 (she is now a thirty something) and has an annual review of her medication, which it seems is lithium. Her parents though are obviously more concerned than ever, possibly due to being told of her rambling posts on FB along with spending Xmas on her own when she could have been with her parents and sisters.

They live in a rural outpost of Ireland and I wonder how much understanding and/or support there is for both parties there.

[LadyDeliah]

Lithium is the reason I refused to take medication for years. It's horrible and makes you feel like you are drugged. The Lamotrogine doesn't do anything like that, it just seems to switch something that was malfunctioning, off. Maybe that's why she is having problems, no-one wants to stay on Lithium.

[LadyDeliah]

There are lots of new generation medications for bipolar disorder, not just the one I'm on. I'd recommend they try to get her to see someone more up to date, even if they have to pay for the initial assessment.

[the-e-dealer]

Nut job? Paul K? does the K stand for stupid C**T?

[Voyageur]

PaulK Wrote:

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> In other words, who here is a nut job?

Christ... you really are a damaged f***wit aren't you :(

Lady D - superb post, I salute you x

(and apologies to Alan Medic, whose post I wrongly quoted in error!)

[El Pibe]

Paul[a]K, longstanding troll, don't keep feeding it please.

[the-e-dealer]

Nut Job you mean?

['bout now]

AM, my best friend is a sufferer and over the years his repeated attacks have affected his career ( consultant of emergency medicine) and his family. He is now a full time Lithium user and it is apparent to all that he is 85% of the person that we all know and love.

He has undergone CBT with some success, however, as with a lot of medical professionals he knows better. His mania is a thing of awe, sadly his lows can strike him down for months, leading him on three occasions to disappear. Two things his CB Therapist has repeatedly advised is exercise and a decent diet including plenty of oily fish. My friend is a junk food addict and very overweight (I know, he's a Doctor etc. etc.). I remember Stephen Fry did a series on Bipolar a few years ago and the case studies involved a Surgeon who controlled her "friend" by staying away from a high pressure career (she did locum work as a GP) and ate plenty of fish which seemed to fend off the the Black Dog.

I know a lot of this is not relevant to your relative but exercise and a good diet seem to help, as does CBT.

PaulK, may you break your wrist flagellating at your own reflection.

[Alan Medic]

Thanks 'boutnow for telling me your experience. As my brother has kept this under wraps for so long I really don't know how educated they (his family) are about the subject. I expect, being the intelligent person he is, he has read everything there is available to know. However, I'm sure there is always something else which might help.

Thanks again.