hypomanic and BipolarII

[cathyl]

I was just told that I am hypomanic and Bipolar II, and I am very upset, confused and angry about his. I completed a battery of tests with my psycholgist..the MMPII? and the Ink blots. This was all to see about my depression and what I thought I had and had been treated for before...ADHD. I feel horrible about the new diagnosis. I am not on meds yet, as I just got the news yesterday and I will be seeing a psychatrist next week to get on meds. From all that I have read, I feel I am more a rapid cycling person. My biggest fear of being on the meds is weight gain, as I am only 4'11" and 36 years old. If I gain a lot of weight from the meds it will send me into a deeper depression. I am darned if I do and darned if I don't. I am so frustrated by all of this and extremely upset. Has anyone experienced any of this before. Are my feelings normal? Please help me as I need some encouragement right now. Please help me see that this diagnosis isn't a "bad" thing. Thanks a bunch!

Cathy

[2stop]

{{Welcome}}~Cathy, glad you found us here at SoberRecovery..I felt the same way you do now when first diagnosed with bipolar...There are some good results now with various meds and therapy and so many live productive , fulfilled lives. Hang in there and keep posting, it's good to talk about it.

[Lilya]

Cathyl, you´re not alone.

When I got my diagnosis I got truly mad. I even told my shrink to take a walk in a cemetary, because his diagnosis of being normal obviously referred to the living deads! Of course this phrase was used to further boost my bipolar diagnosis, but I somehow got over it. I´m sure you will too. Now I am proud of myself for having struggled with this disease for so long and I accept it´s a life long process that demands my fullest respect.

I know it´s difficult with the meds, but you´ll find the right formula that doesn´t make you gain weight. Drink a lot of green tea, every day - it rinses the system, speeds up metabolism and cuts appetite. I use to be on meds that made me gain 5 kilos (about 10 pounds) so I switch on different ones and I lost weight fast and am now happy with it.

We Bi-polar persons tend to make a mountain out of a molehill. I started cognitif therapy to work on my langage and thoughts. It means using my reason to guide me more than my feelings. The mind is powerful and one thought leads to a feeling that leads to another thoughts. The trick is to stop it before it gets too destructive, so check your thoughts. Try using words as: "I would like to," instead of "I have to!" which stresses you up.

Exercises are great, I think and vents a lot of negative feelings.

I know this diagnosis is followed by grief, so come here and post and vent your feelings - instead of venting it on the shrink!

Use adversity

[Caveman]

Oh yes.

I was 38 when I was diagnosed. Which was about six or eight months ago. It was really had to accept. I thought about nothing else for weeks.

Finally, after trunning it over in my head a million times. I figured it just a label. It really does not change who you are, or what you do. It just words.

What is important is how you feel, not the fancy names that some people attach. Work to make yourself feel better.

[Juls]

Cathyl,

Welcome to the forum. I can't say anything better than what has been said by the members here already.

I can understand how you feel hearing that diagnosis, and I think your reaction is normal, however as Lilya suggests it is easy to perceive it as being worse than it actually is. I experienced some with gain when I went on meds, although I am only being treated for depression, but exercise helps me to keep it down. Exercise is also a great release, and helps me to feel better about myself.

Keep posting and let us know how you are doing, and ask any questions, plus let us know how we can help you.

Juls

[sanribo]

Today I go to the doctor to talk to him about my bi-polar disorder. I do not know what to do anymore. I have just went through a manic episode where I did not sleep for 3 days and my wife left. She since came back but it is getting worse. I am currently going to college and at first I was alright but it seems to me that this thing does not get better it only gets worse and damnit all I wanna be is normal.