Posted by SLS on March 10, 2016, at 14:18:40
In reply to Re: to Larry, posted by Fiftylager1 on March 10, 2016, at 10:29:45
> I'd love to know to.. All I've been questioning myself lately is are there any bipolar out there who have found a truly happy meaningful life.
:-)
It is difficult. I think it depends on the degree of severity of your depression and the health of your core psyche. The worse the depression, the greater the need for support. This might include psychotherapy. For me, psychotherapy was helpful. However, I also made it my goal to follow a path towards self-actualization according to the model of Abraham Maslow. For me, this was much more helpful. Both modalities together made it easier for me to WORK towards a truly happy and meaningful life. The depression must be sufficiently ameliorated in order to reach the goal, but if the other things are addressed prior to finding an effective biological treatment, you have a head start. I'm about 40% improved with respect to my bipolar depression, so my mind has more resources to work with.
> Or is this just forever. Started when I was a kid and I'm now.. I Don't think I can face another 30 more years of this. I don't even look forward to tomorrow except for the nap I may get to take and being called lazy for it.
I know.
Please hang in there. Even if you have tried every single drug out there, I doubt you have come close to using all the permutations of combining them. Your bipolar illness is probably difficult to treat, but probably not impossible. There are a handful of new non-invasive brain stimulation techniques available or in development. Some truly novel compounds are on their way, although they are a few years away.
Depression is truly an altered state of consciousness. It can be smothering. When it is severe, sometimes all you have is hope. Hope will help you stay alive and give you the resilience to better tolerate frustration and pain.
No antidepressants:
You might explore combining Lamictal, lithium, and Abilify - possibly with NAC. These are for the bipolar depression.
For GAD, things are more difficult without using an antidepressant. Lyrica is one option. I would also give some consideration of using prazosin if there exists a history of childhood chronic physical abuse, emotional abuse, or neglect. Propranalol is a possibility.
Have you ever tried a MAOI?
- Scott
Some see things as they are and ask why.
I dream of things that never were and ask why not.- George Bernard Shaw
poster:SLS
thread:1086405
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20160306/msgs/1087012.html