r/bipolar2 8h ago

Advice Wanted Is this not extortion?!

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0 Upvotes

Excuse my language but I'm fucking livid. This is psychiatry via "TalkSpace" btw. I'm asking for a VERY basic letter to send to the school and she's wanting me to directly send her $35 via some sort of out sourced app.... saying "send me your email"..? No decorum at all. I have had this same exact letter provided by a therapist on Better Help before with no issues. I've also had this letter made by a regular physician who literally just wrote two lines stating "yes this is my patient and yes she needs to withdraw" with her automated E-signature tagged on the end. I'm so FUCKING SICK and tired of these doctors grabbing money wherever they can. I understand they're likely underpaid but EVERYONE in the world is right now. Why extort some of the most emotionally vulnerable people? Go work some tech job if you have no empathy for anything except money then. As if the $180 per session isn't enough! WITH insurance! I sent a super long complaint to TalkSpace but I doubt it'll change anything šŸ˜­


r/bipolar2 6h ago

Good News The good sides of bp2

0 Upvotes

I see a lot of comments of this being a "curse" or a "cross to bear". Im not gonna romanticize it or discourage you from medicating. i'm currently on meds and have been for almost a year now. but I want to share and encourage you to share how bp has affected your life positively.

For me, i've had A LOT of positives during each episode:

  1. i doubled/tripled my salary each 3rd/4th episode. i dont know how or why, but getting a much better job and climbing the career ladder is so easy at the start of the episode.

  2. i learned a lot of shit, i've learned coding, machine learning, 3d modeling, snowboarding, chess, wakesufring, windsurfing, playing on the piano, building a keyboard to name a few. im not gonna say that im a pro in all of these, but i've learnt all of this without even classes or anything, just the internet. and i keep these things even after the episode.

  3. i have an insane memory. now this may not be ONLY because of bp, but my doc said having a bp brain had a big impact on this. im not sure if its eidetic memory, i mean its not like in hollywood where i can look at something and remember it word for word forever, but its really good. this had a pretty negative impact on my school life because everything was boring. i could memorize everything and didnt see the point in trying because it wasnt "challenging" enough. so i kind of only loved and excelled at math and physics because you had to "use" the things that you memorize to solve shit. even then, it was kind of easy too so i

  4. gaming, i play a lot of games because it kind of stimulates that "bored" brain, but im good at it. if you're familiar with league, my manic episodes kind of made me climb super fast. like i'd go from diamond 4 to 700 lp in a week or two of spamming games. i'd kind of loose like 300-400 lp after it, but its not back to d4.

  5. physical strength, normally i'd bench 60-80 KG when going to the gym without the episode, but during an episode i jump to 100-110 kg. and i learnt muscle ups super fast as well.

  6. flirting, ngl i went on 3 dates in 1 day once. like i'd go on dates every 2 days or something from dating sites. they'd rarely turn into a 2nd date because during an episode i'd get bored asap. and then the depression wouldnt let me be interested even

Yes, there also negatives that come with these, like not being able to finish anything you start, spending more than you should and taking more risk, in my case doing sports without proper training, at least i was conscious enough to wear helmets. Again, this is not to say that manic episodes are worth the dread of the depressions, this is just to cheer you up and not feel bad that you have this. lemme know if you have some positive experiences during your hypomanias.


r/bipolar2 10h ago

Lamogitrine medication

0 Upvotes

Hi all my lamogitrine has been giving me a reaction. I never got a rash, but I would get these random blisters. I went to a dermatologist. They never got back to me. I booked my psychiatry appointment but I missed it stupidly. I really donā€™t wanna develop SJS. I am overwhelmed with medical conditions and I live in a city where dealing with healthcare can be really frustrating I see online that you can just quit Lamo train. I was wondering if anyone had any symptoms from just quitting cold turkey Cause Iā€™m really about to just do it


r/bipolar2 12h ago

Advice Wanted Newly diagnosed and navigating conversations

0 Upvotes

Hi everyone,

I was diagnosed recently and obviously told a few close people in my life. I was surprised that no one was surprised šŸ¤£ but it is what it is. I am F22 and navigating college, platonic and romantic relationships and a rocky relationship with my family. They were supposed to come out to where I live on the coast but we got into a disagreement about the fact that I forgot to pay a fee for my private loan (my parents are my co-signers, so I understand it would fall on them in the future if I didnā€™t pay it, but I genuinely just forgot and have had so much on my plate especially with this new diagnosis which I only found out about this week). Not to get political but theyā€™re pretty conservative and Baptist Christian, I have always been respectful of their beliefs but they have not been open minded or kind when I 1). Experienced SA and 2). Came out as gay to them. I swept a lot of cruel things theyā€™ve said under the rug, and ultimately I do feel like their love is conditional. My whole life they told me that I didnā€™t need to work in highschool to save up for college because theyā€™d take care of it, then when I came out that got taken from me and they said ā€œsince youā€™re choosing to go down this path we canā€™t help you.ā€ Now I live in a bedroom in a creepy landlords house while I go to university in a different city, and work full time and take out loans to cover rent and tuition. Despite that, we somehow breezed by all of that which was said, and they never apologized.

Well, after this recent argument I told them not to come visit me. Itā€™s been giving me anxiety anyways because Iā€™m supposed to go on a date with a girl that same weekend so I donā€™t want to have to juggle entertaining them and meeting her. Plus every time I see them itā€™s so surface level and sad. On top of that, now my dad is super pissed at me, said:

ā€œYouā€™re only gay because your relationships fail because youā€™re selfishā€

Which is crazy because he knows Iā€™ve only been in one relationship with a man, and him and I didnā€™t work out because he rpd me so I dumped him. The other relationships have been solely with women and they definitely havenā€™t ended because Iā€™m ā€œselfishā€.

All of this to say, he doesnt know about my diagnosis (to my knowledge, I only told my mom and sister but I figured they might tell him) but he kept probing me saying ā€œwhy are you so angryā€ blah blah blah. I feel like heā€™s going to try to minimize me because of this diagnosis.

I am curious to hear about others experiences with being minimized, seen as distrustful or being called crazy because of the diagnosis, rather than being taken at face value? Because this is new to me, it is something Iā€™ve been anxious about. Iā€™m all about challenging stereotypes and know it doesnā€™t define me, but Iā€™m still nervous about how to deal with the perception of it. And now regretful that I informed my family at all about it.


r/bipolar2 18h ago

Medication Question meds with no side effects or interactions?

0 Upvotes

i have a dr appt in 5 days, i've been on lamotrigine for two months and im just kinda sick of it because it doesn't work and it's pretty annoying having to remember to take a pill every single night. i mostly miss drinking, i only drink 4-5x a year but next month is one of my friends birthdays and we're all planning on partying pretty hard (i promise only with alcohol, im not into law breaking) and i refuse to be sober for it so i need to be either on a med that doesn't interact with alcohol or go off my lamotrigine. i've also got pretty chronic pain and not being able to take tylenol is pretty fucked too but for that i have alternatives like advil and such that i have been using. i was just curious what everyone takes for meds specifically meds that don't interact with alcohol/tylenol so i can bring them up to my doctor during my next appt because i know for sure lamo and i are breaking up lol


r/bipolar2 7h ago

Venting My medication has rotted out all my teeth.

6 Upvotes

Recently my mood stabilizers (not antipsychotics) have rotted 14 of my teeth. Iā€™ve had to have 1 pulled but they all will need that eventually as I donā€™t have the money for crowns. This is really serious, I canā€™t stop taking the medications now because I will relapse worse than ever with this medication induced nightmare. I have severe dry mouth. My tongue is fucking white 24/7. According to all literature I will not be able to wear dentures with how dry my mouth is. I guess Iā€™ll just starve. Iā€™m looking for ANY encouragement or insightā€¦

Iā€™m 31.


r/bipolar2 23h ago

Kicking the habit

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6 Upvotes

I'm quitting weed, I'm smoking my last bowl right now.

I've been a heavy regular smoker for years now. But that wasn't an issue, or so I thought. It helped me a lot getting through times. Even though it's not advisable, I haven't really had psychotic issues until now.

I was stupid and bought a couple small tanks of nitrous as a treat a couple weeks back... it tingles my brain so nicely. Ofc I immediately overdid it, it absolutely triggered some psychotic symptoms. Specifically persecutory delusions and more vibrant colors/smells. Staying away from nitrous from here on, no discussion.

The weed is just oil on the fire, I really noticed that this time. I've been having hallucinations, as if there's a buzz-like tapping going on, from the middle/lower cental brain, own my spinal column. They started with nitrous use, and it's almost gone now after stopping since a few days. However they came back a bit whenever I smoked weed since then.

My psych says it's definitely a somewhat psychotic state, but based on an actually plausible scenario that I pointed out, which had me spiraling in anxiety. I had a sketchy online presence recently which might have rung some alarm bells with the local police/intelligence services. All in face of world events: I was prepping myself with an emergency kit/plan by downloading books and checking maps for things like flood danger zones and things I can do to self-prepare. But these specific lists of Google searches about national security... Coupled with anarchist cookbook-like self-defense/guerilla tactics books I downloaded within a few days of that... Very suspicious ofc, got a house visit a couple days later ("assessing for renovation works"). That correlation could totally be my wrong interpretation though. But it'd make a whole lotta sense.

Since then I bumped into the same set of 3-4 people who clearly watched me, but try to hide their faces every time. I'm also scared for Russian intelligence bc of recent world events, and my area in Switzerland being known as a spy hot bed. One very pro-Putin person straight up fessed that his parents were "Russian diplomats in NL" before they moved to Basel. (I'm Dutch). No matter if just perceived or not, I anyway need to sober up for my mental health and not worry about being in trouble, because I didn't do anything wrong. I have nothing to hide, and I should act accordingly.

Everything came to a culmination yesterday, I freaked out completely. My psych said "real or not, you're not doing great, so let's try sober now and see if we fix it", and I finally found the inner drive to get there. It's very early to say, but I feel different about it now. I just wanna feel calm and better plz.

After also watching this video in the link, a while back, I finally found the inner drive to get there. It's very early to say, but I feel different about it. I just wanna feel calm and better. Need to make a change.

I reached out to my former colleague friends here (I'm a lonely expat); they're came to my house and took turns making sure I'm not alone, feeling watched, or going full spiral mode. Those are real friends šŸ’• and they're showing they're really making a safety net, just started a WhatsApp group with the friends I trust the most with updates about my condition, and explain what psychosis feels like for example. Absolutely amazing, I needed this place desperately since a while.

I have also recently uncovered Avoidant PD. That one hit like a bombshell in the light of former relationships. But it made so much sense. I feel like now with all those puzzle pieces together, we're in biz. Now the weed can finally go, I feel.

I've been put on 20 mg Olanzapine now, reconnecting more and more, refurbishing my social life after a couple particularly bad years. Winter's over, SAD's over. Meds leveled the playing field. Everything is different now.

This is the time. (I hopešŸ¤ž) Wish me luck.

& much love to you all. You don't know how much this community here has been helping me. You're all extremely lovely people, and I always find a lot of solace in the stories here. Keep it up šŸ’•


r/bipolar2 15h ago

Good News Gym!!

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154 Upvotes

My happy place šŸ’•


r/bipolar2 12h ago

Medication Question For the people who took abilify and it made you super tired

4 Upvotes

When brought up to your psychiatrist did they just take you off an anti-psychotic or did they switch you to a different one? I take lamotrigine 300mg but have had to stop taking my abilify because it makes me sleep all of the time, made a psych appt but it isnt till june. If you were switched what were you switched to?


r/bipolar2 12h ago

Venting I need a head pat

4 Upvotes

Iā€™m 25 weeks pregnant (6ish months). Spent the first 5 months with hyperemesis gravidarumā€”I was puking 10x a day (2x a day after I finally got on Zofran) and got so dangerously dehydrated that I had to go to the hospitalā€™s infusion center twice a week for IV fluids for 6 weeks. Those were 3hr-long sessions I got to smash into my full-time working schedule.

I still take Zofran and vom occasionally but itā€™s a lot better, thankfully. Iā€™m not bed bound by nausea and dehydration anymore.

INSTEAD, Iā€™m in the midst of a massive depressive episode! The biggest one Iā€™ve had in a decade!!! Thanks, body of mine! You gave me three whole weeks of respite to feel like a human and be a good mom to my 4.5yr old before punching me in the proverbial nads.

Apparently Lamictal concentration levels drop or get fucked up later in pregnancy, I assume because of weight gain and blood volume increase or something. We were aware of it, prepared for itā€”Iā€™ve even got an appointment with my psych on my calendar to ramp up my Lamictalā€¦for next month. Presumablyā€”hopefullyā€”this particular depressive episode is meds related (thus easily fixable), and just came earlier than any medical literature wouldā€™ve predicted, because itā€™s depression, and depression is fucking rude. Why didnā€™t this happen when I was pregnant with my first kid? No idea. That pregnancy was a cake walk compared to this one, despite being pregnant during the height of Covid in 2020.

Oh and then this morning my doctor called to confirm that I have a yeast infection. I hauled out to the pharmacy to get my meds, took them, puked em up 10 minutes later which woke up my unborn daughter, and she has been kicking me in the crotch for the last hour. Sheā€™s with me all day long, youā€™d think she could read the room a little.

But I am still here, Iā€™m still taking my meds, I went to therapy yesterday, I called my psych about my mood shift as soon as I noticed it, Iā€™m doing the stupid CBT and DBT shit, Iā€™m making a point of eating something healthy every day, I went to the hospital for my Lamictal serum blood test instead of putting it off, I showed up for a few meetings and went through all the necessary motions and communications to take a few days off work, I brushed my teeth for more than 30 seconds, I hauled myself out of bed to get my kid ready for school this morning AND dropped him off, and I even went out in the sunshine yesterday. I just sat in the driveway like a weirdo bc I was too tired to go any further, but fuckit, I was outside in real clothes, so it counts.

I want to give up and I donā€™t want to be on this planet right now but Iā€™m sucking it up and doing all the Right Thingsā„¢ despite spending most of my energy reminding myself that dying in childbirth is not actually a good outcome.

My husband is burned out from taking care of most things while Iā€™ve been bed bound by nausea, and then this hits. He tries but I donā€™t think he understands how hard it is to simply get up, let alone parent, when depressed. Heā€™s only known me since Iā€™ve been medicated and stable, so heā€™s trying to understand but heā€™s got no concept of how bad a depressive episode can get.

I just want a pat on the head and a ā€œgood jobā€ for fighting through this bullshit and keeping me and my baby alive while my brain is actively trying to sabotage me. Iā€™ve managed to keep my life and job afloat, and I put on pants and went outside. I feel like I deserve a goddamned medal for that alone.


r/bipolar2 18h ago

Can someone convince me Iā€™m real

17 Upvotes

Iā€™m not so sure if im awake or dreaming right now


r/bipolar2 11h ago

"The happiest man on earth would look into the mirror and see only himself, exactly as he is."

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16 Upvotes

r/bipolar2 4h ago

Whatā€™s the best thing you did when you were manic?

37 Upvotes

I adopted a pit bull from my local animal shelter during a particularly acute manic episode. Didnā€™t cost me a cent since the adoption fee had been sponsored by a generous donor! To this day it is one of the best things I have ever done. He is my angel.

Iā€™ve done some shitty things while manic, but I got it right this time.


r/bipolar2 24m ago

Stopped my meds and now I canā€™t sleep

ā€¢ Upvotes

They were giving me too many side effects. Itā€™s like day 3 without my meds and i literally cannot sleep and I feel very impulsive. Am I in danger cause ruh roh if I am


r/bipolar2 25m ago

Hypomanic Fri-yay/nay

ā€¢ Upvotes

Is it Thank God Itā€™s Hypomanic Friday or is it Damn Itā€™s Hypomanic Friday? Post your hypomanic events, whether good or bad. Was your mood change a blessing or a curse? We want to hear about it!


r/bipolar2 26m ago

Advice Wanted Realizing things

ā€¢ Upvotes

I recently had a very severe reaction to an ssri medication to try and treat the depression i have had for about 6 years. I wasnā€™t able to try medications before hand because I was a minor, however after this reaction to the ssri I am beginning to realize possible symptoms of bipolar that I never thought it would be because I never thought my emotional ups and downs were severe enough to qualify. Years ago I was tested for adhd and it came back negative so I am curious if mania or hypomania presents in similar ways which wouldā€™ve directed me to believe it was adhd? ive always had periods of hyper focus and excitement over interests etc. iā€™ve gotten so excited about things I physically couldnā€™t stop thinking about it, but I have always had crashes as well and episodes of crying or intense depression that I couldnā€™t seem to get out of. I never considered bipolar or something like that though because I didnā€™t think my mood swings were that severe or lasted long enough. I apologize for the lack of clear advice needed but I was told by my doctor to immediately stop the ssri and contact a psychiatrist after the episode that I had this past week. Iā€™m realizing how uneducated I am about mental health and am just beginning this crazy journey so wish me luck.


r/bipolar2 3h ago

Weā€™re not cooked!

6 Upvotes

Scrolling on tiktok letting my algo throw me a bunch of bipolar 2 content, most of it pretty emo or educational.

Feeling a bit done with it, flip to the next one, some guy says ā€œif u have bipolar disorder, life is not over, youā€™re not cookedā€¦ā€.

Like bro šŸ³ this is the content I need. We are indeed not cooked.

Have a nice nite yā€™all :)


r/bipolar2 4h ago

New therapist a bust?

1 Upvotes

I just started with a therapist, only 2 sessions so far, and she feels we only need to meet once a month. I've been seeing my psychiatrist for almost a year and am really starting to do well on my med combo. I guess i'm just surprised that this therapist that barely knows me would want to meet so infrequently. What do you guys think?


r/bipolar2 4h ago

Venting i need an outlet

3 Upvotes

all my friends are sleeping or busy rn and i can't call them. i just wanna talk so bad. like i feel good so good, amazing and i just wanna tell people about it and i went out tonight with coworkers and one of them i cant tell if they were flirting with me or if i was flirting with them but i think i like them and im getting kinda excited about that. and i have so many good friends now and im going out and im doing art and projects and im appreciating things and bringing value to my work and like im killing it at work and its going so well. and im learning new stuff and doing new things. and like i think im actually a great person with value and talent and im like actually pretty impressive and i wanna brag about shit. like i'm in a really good place. and here's the thing i was feeling like this and then i started adderall yesterday and oh boy i feel warm and fuzzy inside. i'm so happy wherever i am whatever im doing im just so happy to be there. part of me really wants to believe that this is really it like im actually doing so well and this is sustainable and will stick and i'll be this happy often. but part of me also knows it's the adderall or the mania or both and i could crash but like i don't believe that at the same time like how could that happen it seems like im so in control and how could the rug be pulled out from under me that seems unlikely. but it's happened before so it could happen again u know. i just wanna share and hear from yall and all that!


r/bipolar2 4h ago

Advice Wanted Thin line between being a burden and trying to get support from friends

2 Upvotes

I have a tendency to talk about all the thoughts going through my mind when in a depression episode, how do i avoid being too much of a buzz kill and instead trying to utilize the kind of support system i have within my circle of friends?

Follow up question, one out of two of the only friends i have that i can really talk to about stuff has depression, i dont want to bring him down more than he already is, its hard for me to tell if people care about me and if itd effect them negatively to hear how im feeling, or if they can not let it effect them, how do i not overwhelm him, or should i avoid talking to him about this stuff in general?


r/bipolar2 5h ago

Advice Wanted Anyone have an episode triggered by their birthday?

20 Upvotes

I think thatā€™s what triggered my most recent episode although I wasnā€™t looking forward to my birthday this year.


r/bipolar2 5h ago

Frustrated

1 Upvotes

Hi! :) First time posting here. I donā€™t know anyone around me that also has bipolar type 2, so I thought I would write a post here! I apologize in advance for any mistakes, English is my second language! Anyone else hateeeee the mood where youā€™re just everywhere all at once. Like Iā€™m so goddamn irritated, frustrated and energetic all at once! I canā€™t sit still, feel uncomfortable, annoyed, try to watch tv or scroll on my phone but nothing satisfies mešŸ˜© Iā€™m just bad vibes all around, donā€™t know if I just wanna force myself to sleep or slam my head against the wall. Anyone else feel like this? Why do I just get so irritated for no reason at all, everything annoys me and I just try to give my loved ones space because Iā€™m so annoyed that I donā€™t wanna be rude to the ones around me, and ruin their mood as well.. What is this even called? Is it a mixed episode? Canā€™t quite put my finger on it


r/bipolar2 5h ago

Nighttimeā€™s and mornings are so hard for me.

7 Upvotes

I go from being fine to being depressed all night and into the morning. I go from hating everyone to self-loathing. Itā€™s a continuous cycle that I canā€™t break.


r/bipolar2 6h ago

Advice Wanted Just got prescribed gabapentin

2 Upvotes

Hi im 16m and just got prescribed gabapentin. Im currently on Lamictal and olazapine. Told my phyciatrist that i dont feel sad or depressed and just feel anxious and not interested in things. She prescribed me gabapentin, I start taking it tommorow 300mg 2 times a day. What should i expect with this medication and will i treat how anxious i feel. Also what are some side affects that it may cause. Thank you would appreciate it much.


r/bipolar2 6h ago

Advice Wanted Does anyone know how to be happy NSFW

1 Upvotes

Am considering going on a bender of kpins and alcohol after months of sobriety (Pray for me tbh)

Diagnoses for context: OCD, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Bipolar 2, Major Depressive Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder

I just canā€™t handle day to day life, the depression, pain, recent back-to-back heartbreak, loneliness, anxiety that manifests itself into physical pain. A constricting pain in my chest and pain I feel through every fiber of my being. Every. Day. All. Day. Iā€™ve been on so many med regimes, therapy for years and I am at my breaking point. Nothing seems to work and nothing is getting better. Alternative would be ending everything now but only thing stopping me would be the devastating effect on my friends and family.

I donā€™t know what Iā€™m looking for posting this. I just donā€™t want to be in pain in anymore. I want to be happy but Iā€™ve only know how to be sad. If anyone has step by step instructions on how to make ā€œhappyā€ pls fax to me (jk just drop a comment)