Bizi

I have read your post several times. I wouldn't shorten it. It has a wealth of information. Any reference material (like your post) is useful many times over. So I'm glad that it is here and so informative. Thanks again for posting it.

As a young person who is just not only starting to realize, but full aware of how this disorder is affecting my life and has previously before learning what was affecting myself... This article YES LONG but for someone who is grabbing at straws right now trying to find an answers and methods/skills to cope with this. The article is almost a god send...

Now when i look back at all the times ive been challenged with "life" knowing this years ago would have helped...

My big question is, management skills and how to cope.. Currently "coping" is becoming harder each day the past couple weeks have just been a huge nightmare of crying and punching stuff(4 fractured fingers) and no sleep... My food intake is horrible, maybe 2000 calories a week...

Any help would be so appreciated

Hi,

Make an appointment with a psychiatrist.
Or see regular family doctor to make a recommendation / referral to a psychiatrist.
Or go to the ER.

The psychiatrist will evaluate you and perhaps give you some medication.

The coping skills are about dealing with the medications.


Mari

Currently seeing a medical team, and have been put on 900mg of lithium (been about a week and a half now)

Eburns,


Avoid or reduce coffee if you can.

Did the pdoc (psychiatrist) ask you to take the lithium in divided doses -- part of it in the morning and part later in the day for example?
Drink plenty of water.
Some times after two weeks some people start to feel a little bit better but it usually can take several weeks longer to feel the way you want.
Probably the pdoc wants you to get a blood test soon to see your blood level. Then you might be given a higher dose.


Here are some web sites that might be helpful.
http://www.nami.org/Content/ContentG...e1/Lithium.htm
http://www.crazymeds.us/pmwiki/Meds/Lithium
http://www.psycheducation.org/depres...s/lithium.html

NAMI is a good organization for family members: https://www.nami.org
They might have a good support group near you.
http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Sec...iateFinder.cfm

You can also find other bipolar groups in real life at http://www.meetup.com

Again, do not concern your self with skills at this time.
Is there something that you are most concerned about?
Try to get enough sleep at night, mostly eat things that are healthy for you, and get some exercise if you can -- like walking.
(If you exercise and sweat a lot, you will need to drink lots and lots of water -- Lithium is a salt.)

Take it easy on yourself while your body and brain are going through this med transition.


M