Forums
New posts
Search forums
What's new
New posts
New profile posts
Latest activity
Internet Search
Members
Current visitors
New profile posts
Search profile posts
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
New posts
Search forums
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Forums
General Discussions
The Watercooler
Need good thoughts, prayers...anything!
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="GoingNorth" data-source="post: 610134" data-attributes="member: 1963"><p>I agree with CTMom on this one. You have been skating from crisis to crisis for a while now. You need to talk to your psychiatrist. If your medications are sedating to the point that you have to take your PM medications at dinnertime in order to be functional the next day, your medications aren't right.</p><p></p><p>Xanax is NOT a long term treatment for anxiety. There are other medications that work better and are a lot safer.</p><p></p><p>The thing that really works for anxiety is counselling to teach you better ways of coping with triggers. I suffer from Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and panic attacks and have found CBT therapy to be incredibly helpful.</p><p></p><p>It teaches one how to think differently and how to nip the anxiety "litany" that starts in one's head when triggered. If you are having trouble sleeping, the Xanax,while it may help you sleep initially, actually is bad for sleep. In addition, Xanax used long term can cause depressant. There are other medications out there for sleep that are safer and don't leave you groggy in the AM so long as you get 8 hours of sleep.</p><p></p><p>PM medications are to be taken at bedtime, unless otherwise prescribed. The fact that you are taking your medications mid-evening to avoid being under the influence is telling me that your medications aren't right.</p><p></p><p>Saphris is a "good" medication for a lot of bipolar people, but it is incredibly sedating. In addition, Adderal, which you seem to be taking more for weight loss than for ADHD, is really bad for people with high anxiety. It is actually counterindicated in folks who suffer from severe anxiety.</p><p></p><p>You might want to look into a neuropsychologist exam to definitively determine if you need the drug. Most bipolar folks can't take stims, especially if they aren't stable, which you currently aren't.</p><p></p><p>I have executive functioning issues. There are ways to learn how to help deal with that. You also might want to sit down with a financial planner to work out a budget...one that includes setting aside money for savings each pay period. Even if it's only 20 dollars a month, that is still money you can count on for emergencies.</p><p></p><p>I have a system worked out for paying my bills on time. I found setting up my accounts for online notifications and bill-paying was very helpful. I got bit the first year up here on water bills. I'd never had to pay them before and hadn't budgeted for them. I dealt with that by really skimping for one month before I bought a clue and added them them to the budget.</p><p></p><p>As it sits now, I get SSDI on the 4th Wednesday of each month and my VA pension on the 1st. I am budgeted for a certain amount for groceries and unexpected expenses. I pay my lot rent and some other bills when SSDI comes in, pay the rest when my VA pension comes in, and don't feel that I'm depriving myself by skimping in other areas.</p><p></p><p>My pets and the household bills come first. After that, I pay myself my spending $$ for the month and put my allotted amount into savings. I have my direct deposit account set up so that on the day the VA pension comes in, funds are transferred to savings. I don't even miss the money as I never see it.</p><p></p><p>I do have credit cards that I normally pay off each month. When I bought the new laptop a few months ago, I had to carry a balance on one card. I set up a repayment plan for myself, adjusted the budget to allow for the extra money coming out, and paid off the one card in four months.</p><p></p><p>I don't think at this point that credit cards are a good idea for you.</p><p></p><p>Also, you NEED, as Susiestar said, to talk to your doctors about the forgetfulness. Whether they can help you outright or not, I don't know, but there is nothing to be gained by hiding the info from them.</p><p></p><p>Also, be aware that anxiety can mimic ADHD and stims aren't good for anxiety. In fact, it's a side-effect of stims listed on the customer handout given with them.</p><p></p><p>In all honesty, I think you are due for another evaluation. Neuropsychs work with adults, too, and not just those who've suffered TBIs and the like. THe other way to go is to go with a multi disciplinary evaluation. I'd also look into getting a different psychiatrist or at least a second opinion.</p><p></p><p>Do what you have to do. Right now you aren't functioning well. There's more to being able to function than remembering your medications and holding down a job.</p><p></p><p>My best wishes for a resolution to your problems.</p><p></p><p>Hugs, GN</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="GoingNorth, post: 610134, member: 1963"] I agree with CTMom on this one. You have been skating from crisis to crisis for a while now. You need to talk to your psychiatrist. If your medications are sedating to the point that you have to take your PM medications at dinnertime in order to be functional the next day, your medications aren't right. Xanax is NOT a long term treatment for anxiety. There are other medications that work better and are a lot safer. The thing that really works for anxiety is counselling to teach you better ways of coping with triggers. I suffer from Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and panic attacks and have found CBT therapy to be incredibly helpful. It teaches one how to think differently and how to nip the anxiety "litany" that starts in one's head when triggered. If you are having trouble sleeping, the Xanax,while it may help you sleep initially, actually is bad for sleep. In addition, Xanax used long term can cause depressant. There are other medications out there for sleep that are safer and don't leave you groggy in the AM so long as you get 8 hours of sleep. PM medications are to be taken at bedtime, unless otherwise prescribed. The fact that you are taking your medications mid-evening to avoid being under the influence is telling me that your medications aren't right. Saphris is a "good" medication for a lot of bipolar people, but it is incredibly sedating. In addition, Adderal, which you seem to be taking more for weight loss than for ADHD, is really bad for people with high anxiety. It is actually counterindicated in folks who suffer from severe anxiety. You might want to look into a neuropsychologist exam to definitively determine if you need the drug. Most bipolar folks can't take stims, especially if they aren't stable, which you currently aren't. I have executive functioning issues. There are ways to learn how to help deal with that. You also might want to sit down with a financial planner to work out a budget...one that includes setting aside money for savings each pay period. Even if it's only 20 dollars a month, that is still money you can count on for emergencies. I have a system worked out for paying my bills on time. I found setting up my accounts for online notifications and bill-paying was very helpful. I got bit the first year up here on water bills. I'd never had to pay them before and hadn't budgeted for them. I dealt with that by really skimping for one month before I bought a clue and added them them to the budget. As it sits now, I get SSDI on the 4th Wednesday of each month and my VA pension on the 1st. I am budgeted for a certain amount for groceries and unexpected expenses. I pay my lot rent and some other bills when SSDI comes in, pay the rest when my VA pension comes in, and don't feel that I'm depriving myself by skimping in other areas. My pets and the household bills come first. After that, I pay myself my spending $$ for the month and put my allotted amount into savings. I have my direct deposit account set up so that on the day the VA pension comes in, funds are transferred to savings. I don't even miss the money as I never see it. I do have credit cards that I normally pay off each month. When I bought the new laptop a few months ago, I had to carry a balance on one card. I set up a repayment plan for myself, adjusted the budget to allow for the extra money coming out, and paid off the one card in four months. I don't think at this point that credit cards are a good idea for you. Also, you NEED, as Susiestar said, to talk to your doctors about the forgetfulness. Whether they can help you outright or not, I don't know, but there is nothing to be gained by hiding the info from them. Also, be aware that anxiety can mimic ADHD and stims aren't good for anxiety. In fact, it's a side-effect of stims listed on the customer handout given with them. In all honesty, I think you are due for another evaluation. Neuropsychs work with adults, too, and not just those who've suffered TBIs and the like. THe other way to go is to go with a multi disciplinary evaluation. I'd also look into getting a different psychiatrist or at least a second opinion. Do what you have to do. Right now you aren't functioning well. There's more to being able to function than remembering your medications and holding down a job. My best wishes for a resolution to your problems. Hugs, GN [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Forums
General Discussions
The Watercooler
Need good thoughts, prayers...anything!
Top