Bipolar Depression

Ok so this is my first time writing and I'm not sure what to write. First off about 1 year ago I was diagnosed with bipolar 1. I've been on different medications for this but they all seem to give me side effects I just cant stand or live with. I'm recently on Abilify 10mg. It has me having so much anxiety and restlessness it isnt even funny. I went to the doctor today and she put me on a drug called benztropine to help with the stiff muscles and restlessness and says it should help with the anxiety. I'm not sure if this will work. I know she was talking about maybe putting me on Risperodal. Has anyone ever experienced this medication? And how long does it take for you to find the right medicine? I just don't want to be one of those people who doesnt find the right meds 30 years from now. Im only 22 and want to live my life. I'm tired of sitting/laying in bed all the time wishing I could just be normal! Anyones have any tips for me besides medication???

Amber- Meds are a tough thing to figure out and it is a painful process for most people. That said it is still your best tool to getting the life that you want and need. Watching your diet, exercise, sleep, and healthy relationships make up the rest of the factors in the life you desire.

The truth is you will have a different life then someone without BP but it can still be a good life. One thing to keep in mind is you still have the power to make good choices before your swings get too wide. The better habits you learn now when you are young the better chances you have to live the life you want for the long haul.

The older you get the more stress you will encounter and each lesson is a building block for the next level of life.

For my family it was finding something bigger then ourselves to be accountable to (God) that helped us bridge the gaps in our hope.

You are just starting this journey and you might just become the inspiration for a generation of young people who have to start this same journey.

Keep up hope that you will find your way even when it gets tough.

I don't know if this would work for you, but I saw a Discovery Health Channel special on Truehope EmPowerPlus supplement which is supposed to work for BP. If you go to YourTube.com and type in "discovery" and "bipolar" or maybe "truehope" into the search engine you can probably find it. It's an alternative to meds for the people it works for and it was studied at Harvard.

Other than that, I understand that lowering your stress level, staying organized and eating lots of wild caught salmon to pump up your omega 3's can help. Good nutrition is just helpful in general for everyone. Stay away from sugar and processed foods. Try to eat a lot of green veges and colorful fruits throughout the day. And, some chocolate so you don't feel deprived. Stay away from the white breads and pastas. And, do yoga, pilates or other low stress exercise to center yourself and tone your muscles. You can by videos or DVD's to work out with at home. Some hiking amid nature would be a good cardio workout which would also help with mood regulation. And, except for your BP meds, try and stay away from meds in general - if a problem can be controlled through diet, stress reduction, exercise or other means, try those before putting more chemicals in your already taxed system.

Risperadal is a dangerous drug - one of the 10 most dangerous. I just read that tonight on the MSN website. It is an anti-psychotic. If you absolutely have to take it, than do so, but if you can control your symptoms by any other means, I would try them first.

Take care and good luck.

Amber;

Risperdal is also an effective drug that can help a lot with aggressive behavior, impulse control and other issues normally associated with being Bi-Polar. Yes it can be a "dangerous drug" but aren't they all really? If used correctly and without illicit drugs, it has shown to be extremely useful. I too am Bi-Polar and so is my SO. I am on Lamicatal and it has shown to be beneficial to me, my husband is on Lithum which works well for him. I know it is a very scary time for you right now, but the good thing is that you are taking responsibility for your illness and doing what it takes to get a handle on it. You should be commended for that.
You can get through this, it is not a death sentence and you can have a really good life if you continue to take your medication and do what is best for you.
Good Luck
RebbaJO

PS. I would trust in your doctor and the medical professionals. If your doctor told you this medication might help you and he is not the type of doctor just to hand over a great amount of medication, try it, because not getting the help you need can only make the problem worse. I am not a doctor, nor do I try to act like one. I don't know enough about being BP, except my own personal experience of HAVING the disease. but I do know that it can be managed very well by medication and therapy.

I took Risperdal about 8 years ago when I was having psychotic episodes, but I could not get past the sleepiness it caused.

Based on comments from my bp support group, the right mix of meds take a while to nail down. But I think it can be done in a matter of months.
The other things, which you probably know, are exercise, sleep and avoiding stress triggers. Stress is inevitable, but guarding yourself from it helps you cope with bp.
It is not easy to execute (do) these things well all the time. But I think they are the keys.
As far as side effects, yes, they are a pain. Need to talk with your doc about that and figure out if it is a good tradeoff--better mood stability vs. fatigue, weight gain, or whatever your side effects are. I don't like them either.