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Bipolar Disorder/Bipolar
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Question
Hi.my name is amanda and i just got the news i have bipolar....i am confused why does my mind always race night and day even when im asleep.and do u always get panick attacks when u have racing mind. i also get headachs after my panick attacks then i feel tired and sick to my stomic.with lithium will that help me at all.Will it help me at all so i dont feel worthless or like a freak in my own head
You should give the lithium a little while to start working, but if it's making you sick to your stomach enough that it's causing you to worry substantially, contact your doctor. I haven't personally been prescribed lithium, so I'm not terribly familiar of what side effects it has that are a big deal and which side effects aren't.
Since you recently received your diagnosis, it can be overwhelming at the beginning, but it does get better with time. I'd recommend that you read all that you can about bipolar disorder, keep your appointments with the doctor who is treating you, and keep track of your symptoms so that you can mention which of them are decreasing and whether any new ones have come up.
Let me know if there's anything else I can help you with, and if you want to keep me updated on your progress that'd be wonderful. Hang in there!
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Answers by Expert:
Jennifer
Expertise
I am available to answer questions of a general nature about bipolar disorder, provide online resources that address bipolar disorder in a more in-depth manner and sources to serve as a starting point for those looking for substantial information on the illness from a healthcare professional approach. I am not a doctor or a psychiatrist, my background is based in personal experience and extensive reading in my own process of understanding my diagnosis. I can also take questions that deal with the social issues surrounding bipolar disorder such as relationships; coping for family, friends, and the patient; marriage, choosing to start a family and related. Answers to questions of a legal nature will provide general information but anyone with a serious legal problem should consult an attorney licensed to practice in their jurisdiction.
Experience
I was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder type II in 2000; as a SSI beneficiary, have experience and knowledge of the limitations and processes involved with the program; I understand the moods, the feelings, the worries, the doubts, and a lot more that there's not enough room to express - from the personal experiences of being bipolar. I have first-hand experience with the challenges of returning to college following hospitalizations and various combinations of medications that were tried before my doctor and I finally arrived at the most effective medication program for my treatment. My family and I have learned so much about each other in the process of dealing with the highs and lows that followed my diagnosis. I've had relationships with someone who also is bipolar and someone that is not - romantic relationships are no easier on either side! I feel that many of the ideas and beliefs that people have regarding bipolar disorder and those who have the condition promote the continuation of social stigmas associated with mental illness in general, and after learning from others with bipolar disorder, hope to guide others who may be trying to navigate the government health care system,& share information on other possible means of obtaining assistance with the cost of medications and/or mental health services and limited financial assistance programs for meeting basic living expenses for qualified individuals, dealing with problems from or with family & loved ones, co-occurring substance abuse problems, medications and side-effects (and when it feels like nothing will work, or why it's not helping the situation to ask whether or not a patient has taken their 'meds' when they seem hostile or moody to those around them).
Education/Credentials
I have a B.A. in Liberal Arts and will earn my J.D. upon completion of the Spring 2011 term after which I will be preparing to take the multi-state bar exam.
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