Posted by shiraz on March 17, 2004, at 15:44:19
In reply to bipolar and screwed up, posted by Kirsty on March 17, 2004, at 12:00:53
Hi Kirsty,
I agree with the other posters that it's very
important to find a doctor you can trust who will be patient about finding the best combination of meds for you. Emergency psychiatry (such as you have probably been subjected to) is mostly concerned with
ensuring that patients don't harm themselves or others. Mind-numbing doses of lithium or clonazepam
or whatever are needed under emergency conditions but if you are stable a doctor can work with you
to optimize the treatment. For example I was on
lithium for a long time but my doctor allowed me
to take a `sub-therapeutic' dose because I had difficulty with the side effects. For your part you have to confront the difficult question of whether you want to be `manic-depressive' or `normal'. Most of us prefer to be manic depressive
at the beginning but the school of hard knocks
(wrecked relationships, wrecked careers, addictions) usually causes us to change our minds in the long run. You my find the books by Kay Jamieson
helpful. (She is a bp1 and a professor of psychiatry.) If at all possible, try to get back
to the grind at school ASAP!
poster:shiraz
thread:325284
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040313/msgs/325348.html