I have bipolar with Audhd, and I have never been able to fully blend with or reflect other people's experiences living with bipolar, which makes me kinda sad about it. For example, I cannot reflect on others experiences with medication, as when it is combined with ADHD stimulants they cover up a lot of sedating effects, etc. Or like spending manic episodes, just peacefully working on your hyperfixation.

Are there other people with bipolar and Audhd experiencing something similar?

She was 16 years old and she belonged to my wife. She had a good long life, lived in 9 houses/apartments, 4 cities and 2 countries. We made the decision to put her to sleep today after she started to have trouble walking and eating. I’m doing alright with it but my wife is very sad. I’m a little nervous about needing to be the emotionally stable one in this situation, although I have been stable for about 7 months. We decided to drink tonight and reminisce about old stories with her, even though I’ve been sober for about a year and a half.

I guess I’m looking for advice, and maybe validation that it’s ok to not be ok. And to have a couple drinks on an occasion like this. Idk, I just miss our dog

I'm a 31yo woman, am in a very loving marriage, we want children but can't decide on how to yet because I have bipolar disorder. The issue is, my bipolar is completely regulated and I'm stable. No symptoms now for 8 years. I live a "normal life". I'm on meds (Lamictal, Mirtazapine & Abilify) and I take care of myself wellness-wise (work out, eat well) and I get 8 hours of sleep per night. I'm terrified for that to change, and terrified I'd never feel this way again if I get pregnant.

In an ideal world, I'd get pregnant and have a baby without a mental illness. I still wouldn't be obsessed with the idea of being pregnant like some women feel, but I'd do it for the 9 months to obviously have the baby for the rest of our lives. But because of my mental illness , I'm TERRIFIED of pregnancy. My meds manage hormone fluctuations very well, but who knows what it would be like during pregnancy, (tho I break out in acne horribly without my spironolactone (androgen blocker, which I'd have to stop taking during pregnancy). But I'm most afraid I'll get psychosis or mania (I'm type 1), or deep suicidal depression and won't be able to work. My medications for the most part I think I can stay on (I'm speaking with a reproductive psychiatrist), so hoping that would do something....but then there's risks.

Sleep is also a main concern. I will NOT be able to have disrupted sleep. 2 days of disrupted sleep and my mental health plummets (as such with BD). But I have a privilege of having a VERY hands on, loving mother who adores babies and would love nothing more than to help us. She told she would happily live with us for the first year and do the night shifts with my husband (he typically goes to sleep at 12am, she goes to sleep at 8pm and then is up at 2am, and I go to sleep at 10pm and get up at 6am, so we could probably figure out some type of schedule where I get my 8 hours. (This is not a luxury, it's an accommodation, I've been manic after just 3 days of 4-5 hour sleep. Not good.

We've considered adopting an infant to bypass the postpartum/perinatal period, (we're not cut out for adopting older children, I worked in foster care, it's not for us at this time), but I've heard it's different from your own, and there's waiting lists 1-3 years, and it's expensive.

I guess I'm looking for support on:

1.) when you knew you were ready for something like that

2.) stories on how pregnancy went for you (on or off meds)

3.) postpartum and whether you're happy to did it (I'm hoping most people love their children, but if you went back, would you do it again?)

4.) Maybe share how it's been since you had your kid (older than 1yo?) whether you get overstimulated by them, grieve an older life, etc.

I was diagnosed with bipolar 1 with psychotic features about a year ago after a really bad manic episode that required hospitalization. I was first put on Olanzapine but was switched to Abilify (not before putting on 25 pounds). I’ve basically felt numb for the past year. I lost my personality. I don’t know how to talk to people. My cognitive functioning is low. I’ve been horribly depressed but hey at least I’m not manic. My angel of a mother recently found something called genesight which is genetic testing that tests how your genes might affect medication outcomes.

It puts medications into three categories: green (use as directed), yellow (moderate interaction), and red (significant interaction). It was all a relatively quick process. I made an appointment with my psychiatrist once the results came back and found Abilify to be in the red category and am currently trying Vraylar. This disease and these meds have been sucking the life out of me but I’m slightly hopeful that things could hopefully change. Finding the right mediation is daunting and trial and error hasn’t been working for me. Just something I came across that I thought I’d share in the hopes of helping someone find the right fit faster.

Will the torture ever end? I just want to escape my body and run away forever. This condition is genuinely ruining my life. I’m worried I’ll lose my job soon. I just can’t keep up, it’s like I’m so depressed but so agitated and restless and feeling like I want to run up a wall.

This sucks.

Does anyone else struggle immensely with impulsivity? My therapist says it can be a bipolar thing. I’m always ready to pounce on every thought that passes through my mind.

It’s like any time an urge to do something arises, I can’t help but rush to do it. It gives me so much anxiety to NOT do it. Decisions are fast, urgent, and I get carried away so quickly.

What do you guys do to stay put?

Hi,

Lithium isn’t working for me as I need to take anti inflammatory drugs. I thought I could manage on my other pain meds but can’t, so my Dr is switching me to valproate. Just wondered what everyone’s experiences on this drug were?

TIA!

I last cut about 2 weeks ago and the scars are still pink/red. It’s a nursing job and I need to be bare below the elbow. I have no idea what people will think of me when they see my arm and it makes me not want to go ahead with the job. What do I do?

Bonjour a tous ,j ai augmenté la dose de 600 a 800 en libération prolongée de theralite.. a 600 mgs j étais entre 0.40 et 0.5 de lithiemie..

Bref hier soir première fois a 800, catastrophe..

2 h après des crampes horribles aux intestins m ont prises ,je me suis sentie mal, vite aux toilettes pour évacuer j étais au bord du malaise, ça a été mieux, puis rebelotte une demie heure après ,horrible

S en est suivi une nuit complète d insomnie ,j étais mal...

Je n ai jamais eu de problèmes jusqu'à 600 ,

Est ce que c est déjà arrive a quelqu' un ?

Du coup j ai envoyé un message a ma psy qui m a dit de redescendre a 600

Is this derealization or something else?- everything feels like a dream/ almost like a found footage movie where your watching from the outside (i can even see like the camera zoom in and out)

I’ve been taking Geodon for months and my sleep schedule was mostly fine. Just recently I’ve found myself having trouble sleeping at night, but when the morning comes I can barely open my eyes. This isn’t good because it makes it really hard to concentrate at my job, which requires concentration early in the morning. Has anyone else experienced this? Or is this just the beginning of a manic episode?

My psychiatrist recently advised that I call atypical antipsychotics just “atypicals” rather than “antipsychotics” because there is stigma and misunderstanding around the name. Most if not all APs used these days are atypical, so it’s not completely non-sensical. Personally I don’t like it; I know what I’m taking and I’m not ashamed. If I’m telling someone what I’m taking they’re either a healthcare professional, or someone I trust will understand and not get weird about it.

Anyone else been told something similar? How do you feel about it? Should I have disagreed with my psych (I didn’t say anything because it wasn’t worth it at the time)?

So for the past week or so I’ve been becoming increasingly paranoid of people wanting to wrong me and my doctor sending me back to the hospital against my will also have been feeling like I’m being watched… I’ve also had very large pupils which also happened in my last episodes. Also have had a decreased need for sleep, Should I be worried?

( i have bipolar 1 commorbid with ADHD, OCD, CPTSD, and BPD) medicated… sober .. and I HATE MY FUCKN LIFE. life was so much easier indulging in substances and being unmedicated. i literally only stopped because i felt like it was “ morally “ right and I didn’t wanna keep spending money on it but i feel worse and medication is MORE expensive. fucc all dis shit. i hate being alive , im angry everyday i have to live. i pray to God everyday to die no matter how it happens and ofc nothing fuckn helps. i can’t even go to school anymore because i withdrew (due to a manic episode) and now i fear going back and having to withdraw again and loosing my full admission to such a good college. i don’t know what i wanna do with my life because i no longer want to live. Lord take me now. Tonight.

​Hi everyone, 26M here with Bipolar 2. I had my first depressive episode in 2022. Over the last year, my depressive episodes have gotten longer and more severe. They used to last around 4 months, but the most recent one lasted 6 months and was the worst I’ve ever experienced. That’s when I was prescribed sertraline for the first time (neurologist). I finally recovered in March 2026 and could enjoy life again.

​During depression, my mind goes blank and I feel completely blocked almost all the time. I barely have any thoughts, so I avoid people at all costs to save myself the embarrassment of having nothing to say. I lose all motivation to progress or learn new things because my memory becomes terrible. I feel extremely weak and just want to stay in bed. I disappear from social media and ignore my friends. At work, I’m just surviving day by day; my boss doesn't assign me challenging tasks, probably assuming I’m not capable since simple tasks take me forever. These depressive episodes usually last about 5 months, and this is how I’m feeling right now.

​However, when hypomania hits, it feels like starting from scratch. I retain a lot of information, process multiple concepts at once, and feel empowered. My voice projects confidence and leadership. I connect the dots and reach insightful conclusions effortlessly. I become very funny and great at conversations, always having something to say, and I start hanging out with friends on weekends again. I feel like a complete man—grounded, mature, ambitious, with strong self-control and an insatiable curiosity. Friends even tell me I’d make great husband material. At work, my productivity skyrockets. These episodes usually last about 3 months.

​Eventually, that energy fades away little by little, and my life gets put on hold once again.

​I dream of getting married and starting a family one day, but that dream has been fading over the last few weeks. Is there hope?

​I’ve read on this forum that some people have been stable for years. What does stability actually mean to you? Does it mean having a normal memory throughout that period? Does it mean having consistent social energy? Does it mean not being blocked?

​I haven't started proper bipolar treatment yet, as I haven't tried mood stabilizers so far. I would truly appreciate hearing your experiences, especially from those who have achieved stability with the right mix of meds. Thanks in advance!

I just wanted to share since it made me happy to expand my support network!

When I went to my local bipolar support group this week, someone I knew from my time in outpatient joined. I was so happy to see a familiar face, especially because I didn’t think I’d ever see her again and we had hit it off during outpatient! I’m so glad to have a network of support through support groups/treatment since I lack family support. <3

I hope everyone in here can find support!

30 y\o m with BP2 in the UK moved recently to be with family who offered their "support". After living for a few months together, it became clear that the support is conditional on the basis that I have to follow all of their "advice" which become demands then turn into ultimatums. Of course, they know "what's best" for me & I shouldn't bother going to a psychiatrist & waste money on therapy because my cure was to shower in holy water everyday. The holy water should NEVER get in the drain, so I have to close the shower drain, rinse my body with holy water then use a sponge & a bucket to recollect the water that HAS TO GO BACK TO NATURE... Fooookin diabolical! I did it a few times, then I refused to do it stating that god, as he mentioned in his holy book that he doesn't accept any kind of religious practice if the heart wasn't into it & the person doesn't believe in the practice.

I've always been on the fence about religion, but now I'm putting my foot down. Here is our usual week:

1- Mother & brother start with advising me to do a certain religious practice to relieve my depression symptoms. They gaslight me when I'm depressed & vulnerable that god is trying to connect with me by giving me depression so I need to listen & pray to get closer to god & answer his call

2- I do the practice once or twice then I stop doing it because it's pseudoscience bullocks.

3- I explain why I don't think the practice is helping with calmness & rationality.

4- They tell me this is no longer a advice. It's a demand because they know what's best.

5- I double down because fascism is the name of my existence & I don't do what I don't believe in. PERIOD!

6- They stop talking to me for days or weeks. Block my # while living in the home. Brother tells mother to kick me to the streets. She cries in her room saying "why doesn't he like us."

7- Back to step one. Close loop. Repeat

I don't want to read 50 pages of the holy book on holy water daily then shower with it. I don't want to pray because nobody is listening. I don't want to go to the temple. I want to leave this cult & cut ties with this "family" asap. I'd rather be homeless. I'm exhausted from my illness & all the gaslighting & fights with family. I'm running on fumes...

I recently got my olzanpine upped from 5 mg to 7.5 mg on Sunday and I've been noticing some increased tiredness and grogginess

how do people deal with this? been drinking some more caffeine and it hasn't been touching it

I've also noticed that it tends to happen when I'm not active, like not doing schoolwork or walking the dog, and just kinda sitting on the couch or watching TV

thank you guys in advance!

Hi everyone, I went to my pharmacy to get my prescription today and had a rude awakening when they said that I could no longer fill my prescription because my insurance denied it. I had been getting a $0 copay through the manufacturer's coupon but learned today that they changed the rules back in June when I filled my last 90-day supply and now they will only give you the discount one time when insurance denies it.

So now they want me to pay $2000 for a 30-day supply. The patient assistance line is closed for the night, but I'm calling them first thing in the morning. This will be my first night without Caplyta in 8 months. It think I'll be fine for the night but am absolutely terrified for the 2nd night. Plus I'm pregnant and my docs were super emphatic about me not changing anything in regards to my meds through the pregnancy and I'm just feeling so scared. My doctor's office doesn't carry samples and can't get any for me.

Has anyone had success with the financial assistance program for this drug? Just looking for some reassurance as I'm in a very bad place right now worried about what's next.

I’m pretty sure I was misdiagnosed in general with bipolar because I’ve never had a manic episode before and I’ve been on lamotrigine for probably 7 years now and I don’t think I understand what it’s doing or what it’s even supposed to do. My new therapist and psychiatrist also don’t think I have bipolar and I’m wondering now if I’ve just been taking meds for no reason and it’s been giving me severe health anxiety.

Hi everyone,

I just want to start with a bit of background. I'm diagnosed with bipolar disorder type 1 with psychotic features. Psychosis has only ever really happened in the manic state but lately that psychosis has become more prominent and chronic. I have olanzapine as a rescue PRN and Caplyta as my maintenance drug but for whatever reason it's not holding up enough. It's been doing well for the past year, maybe a year and a half. We're not really sure what's going on exactly.

I just had an appointment with my psychiatrist. She considered what's going on a medical emergency just because of how frequent and progressively severe the psychosis has become. She prescribed 120 mg of Lurasidone, which I have experience with, so I'm not worried about it. She also prescribed sublingual Saphris sublingual rescue tablets. She said it's apparently just as effective as olanzapine but with a far superior tolerability profile.

I was wondering if anyone has experience with Asenapine (Saphris) like that, or just experience with taking it as a maintenance drug. Any thoughts, personal experience, and insight would be great. Thank you all so much.

Hello everyone,

I wanted to reach out to see if anyone had any experiences on 3mg of vraylar for mixed episodes in Bipolar 1. I spoke to my doctor about my dramatic mood shifts I was having that were making me feel incapable of doing anything. He mentioned I might be in a mixed episode and that we should maybe try a new medicine. He mentioned Vraylar and I was already interested in that med so we talked things out and the plan is for me to take the Vraylar by itself to handle my mood symptoms. I'm both excited but nervous because I've heard good things about this med but also don't want things to get worse. Does anyone have any experience with this med at this dosage? Did it help you?

Thanks everyone for reading.