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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by catmint on May 14, 2004, at 5:21:37
I have Bipolar type II. I have been on many meds in the past. Right now what works for me is Lamictal monotherapy.
Recently I have been partying with friends a lot. I have done cocaine twice in the past 10 days. I really like it and that worries me. There's always NA meeting I can go to.
I'm just wondering if any other Bipolars out there like the high from cocaine. I've heard it's the drug of choice for many of us.
Posted by Impermanence on May 14, 2004, at 17:53:59
In reply to Bipolars and Cocaine, posted by catmint on May 14, 2004, at 5:21:37
Coke is the drug of choice for everybody who tries it... Be realistic my friend, this is the devils dandruff we're talking about. Depressed, happy, bipolar 1, 2 or schizo.. everybody loves a line or ten!!!! I havent touched the stuff for about a year now and I still crave that power buzz so much.. I'll stay away for now, too much other shit to deal with, but I'd be lying if I said I wont touch it again.... Cocaine is bloody fantastic.
Posted by Caper on May 14, 2004, at 22:34:25
In reply to Bipolars and Cocaine, posted by catmint on May 14, 2004, at 5:21:37
catmint,
I think there is some truth to the theory that Bipolars gravitate toward drugs like cocaine and speed. I remember reading some studies in college (I was a psych major) that called it "self-medicating" when a depressive phase was coming on, an attempt to hold onto the hypomania. To be perfectly honest, I like my hypomanias and that may have been why I developed a fondness for speed and other such drugs.
I do have to agree with Impermanence too though- coke and speed just feel great! I love the feeling! The downside is that the effect is so short and when you've come down from the high you are still you and still have the same problems as before. I try to stay away from those now, not only because of them being illegal and bad for my health, but because I ended up liking the mood-altering affect so much that I turned to alcohol when I couldn't get speed. So now I'm a bipolar alcoholic- not a good thing at all, obviously.
NA meetings might be a good idea for you. You'd get to hear the stories of those of who suffered a lot from our using, before it's too late for you and you become one of us. You also might want to consider telling your doctor- it's possible you have adult ADD and could benefit from a med made for that, or that you need an added antidepressant with your Lamictal.
Hope this helped a little. Best of luck to you.
Caper
> I have Bipolar type II. I have been on many meds in the past. Right now what works for me is Lamictal monotherapy.
> Recently I have been partying with friends a lot. I have done cocaine twice in the past 10 days. I really like it and that worries me. There's always NA meeting I can go to.
> I'm just wondering if any other Bipolars out there like the high from cocaine. I've heard it's the drug of choice for many of us.
Posted by T_R_D on May 17, 2004, at 12:53:52
In reply to Bipolars and Cocaine, posted by catmint on May 14, 2004, at 5:21:37
Hey there. Yep, loved it. Wasn't a heavy user...too expensive! Had a friend I did it with sometimes. He has ADD and it would really clear his head--stimulants supposedly do that (eg. Ritalin etc...) I've never tried Ritalin or others so I don't know how they'd affect me.
I think what made me stay away were the depressive crashes and the paranoia that I would encounter the next day. It made it unbearable and it just became too scary to use the drug.
And again, the cost factor...couldn't justify it. Booze was cheaper and more accesible so I went that route.
Posted by Caper on May 18, 2004, at 2:12:44
In reply to Bipolars and Cocaine, posted by catmint on May 14, 2004, at 5:21:37
I just happened to come across a study today that said as many as 60% of bipolars end up with a substance abuse/dependence problem as well. It is that "self-medicating" thing that triggers the substance abuse problems, supposedly.
Makes sense to me, since I had a slight problem with Ritalin, Adderall, etc. and now have a MAJOR problem with alcohol.
So, please be very careful and try to remember how temporary that drug/alcohol "fix" is. I wish like hell I'd never touched either- the bipolar is bad enough but addiction is pure hell.
Good luck to you, and I hope I didn't come off sounding too preachy- I just couldn't help but warn you because I'd never want anyone else to fall into the same trap I did.
Caper
> I have Bipolar type II. I have been on many meds in the past. Right now what works for me is Lamictal monotherapy.
> Recently I have been partying with friends a lot. I have done cocaine twice in the past 10 days. I really like it and that worries me. There's always NA meeting I can go to.
> I'm just wondering if any other Bipolars out there like the high from cocaine. I've heard it's the drug of choice for many of us.
Posted by catmint on May 18, 2004, at 2:19:51
In reply to important info re: bipolars and drugs, posted by Caper on May 18, 2004, at 2:12:44
>>>Good luck to you, and I hope I didn't come off sounding too preachy- I just couldn't help but warn you because I'd never want anyone else to fall into the same trap I did.
Caper,
you don't sound preachy at all! Thanks for sharing your experience, that's what we are all here for. No judgements!I love you all!
Posted by catmint on May 19, 2004, at 1:14:31
In reply to Re: important info re: bipolars and drugs » Caper, posted by catmint on May 18, 2004, at 2:19:51
I have good news. I got myself to an NA meeting. I don't know if it was the meeting that did it, or the conversation I had with a coulple of folks from the AA meeting next door, but I FEEL FREE of the desire to do more coke!!
I'm serious, this is not something I want to get hooked on. I have enough to worry about as it is with my illness.
I am so grateful that I feel this way, 2 days ago I was asking my friend to bring me more coke in 2 weeks and looking forward to it, and NOW I have the strength to ask him to NOT BRING IT!
I really love him as a friend, our friendship is based on much more than using coke. So... I am going to tell him to not bring it around me any more and even if I ask to tell me he doesn't have any,
I don't want to do any more coke
I hope I feel like this tomorrow. Please I need any support you guys can give.
Seriously, I didn't do coke for over 10 years, now after 2 weeks of doing it twice, I loved it too much, and was worried I would get addicted to it.
Someone told me tonight that it is VERY addictive.
F that. I will not do that to myself, and my family.Thanks.
Posted by Impermanence on May 19, 2004, at 23:51:06
In reply to Re: important info re: bipolars and drugs, posted by catmint on May 19, 2004, at 1:14:31
Thats good to hear Catmint. Stay well away from Coke. It has the power to destroy your life, what goes up, must come down! and after a while the comedowns start to seriously outweigh the short lived and costly good times. As you said you already have enough to deal with, coke can get a hold on you very quickly.
Take care.
Posted by catmint on May 21, 2004, at 1:35:53
In reply to Re: important info re: bipolars and drugs, posted by Impermanence on May 19, 2004, at 23:51:06
> Thats good to hear Catmint. Stay well away from Coke. It has the power to destroy your life, what goes up, must come down! and after a while the comedowns start to seriously outweigh the short lived and costly good times. As you said you already have enough to deal with, coke can get a hold on you very quickly.
> Take care.
>>> Thanks, man. I can't thank you enough for making me realize.Hope you're doing well.
Posted by shadyut on May 28, 2004, at 1:00:48
In reply to Re: important info re: bipolars and drugs » Impermanence, posted by catmint on May 21, 2004, at 1:35:53
Cocaine is the devil!!! Last summer I spent nearly half of every lousy pay check I had on the stuff. And all it does is leave you craving more. When I first started doing it was the best high in the world. You literally feel like your God. Then for me at least, after using 4-5 days a week I started to get paranoid. My nose was all messed up. And coming off of a high was the very worst feeling I've ever had.
Posted by Chairman_MAO on May 28, 2004, at 11:52:50
In reply to Bipolars and Cocaine, posted by catmint on May 14, 2004, at 5:21:37
If you are truly bipolar and use cocaine long-term, you will make your cycling more rapid.
This is the end of the thread.
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