Panic attacks w/ Bipolar

[trustinhim83]

Does anyone else experience Panic attacks with the Bipolar disorder, or did you experience it before you got treatment?
I have gotten panic attacks since I was in my early twenties. So first I was diagnosed with "Panic Attack disorder", and GAD. Was given Lexapro, and Klonopin which did not go too well. The Lexapro made me a little manic, and Klonopin just lowered my inhibitions to go with it. It made me very daring.
I now know that I was misdiagnosed, as the panic attacks can be a symptom of severe or progressed Bipolar disorder.
Has anyone else experienced this?
I just got one the other night, again. They happen maybe once every month or two. It always happens to me in the middle of the night, when I awake from some weird dream. I awake with my mind spinning, going a million miles an hour. Almost like a train wreck, and then the panic attack begins. It's very scary. I find that if I ever drink caffeine or alcohol, even just a glass, this increases the chances that I'll have one that night. Even if I don't though, I may get one out of know where.

 

[ChristianSambodhi]

Yes. I get more anxiety attacks. Sometimes they are related to me being a little paranoid and sometimes it's just straight up anxiety. I've also woken up in the middle of the night in a panic. It's more rare, but it does happen. I was diagnosed with GAD and panic disorder before doctors finally gave me a diagnosis of Bipolar.

 

[Loven God]

I have panic and anxiety attacks with my bipolar , my pdoc told me that it is normal and treats me for it as needed and my therpist helps me with diffrent way to calim them down .

 

[artsygal]

I feel like iv'e only had them since i received and stopped Abilify. But thats just me, man they are not fun. I get them sometimes when driving and my hubby has to drive for me!

 

[Cush]

Does anyone else experience Panic attacks with the Bipolar disorder, or did you experience it before you got treatment?
I have gotten panic attacks since I was in my early twenties. So first I was diagnosed with "Panic Attack disorder", and GAD. Was given Lexapro, and Klonopin which did not go too well. The Lexapro made me a little manic, and Klonopin just lowered my inhibitions to go with it. It made me very daring.
I now know that I was misdiagnosed, as the panic attacks can be a symptom of severe or progressed Bipolar disorder.
Has anyone else experienced this?
I just got one the other night, again. They happen maybe once every month or two. It always happens to me in the middle of the night, when I awake from some weird dream. I awake with my mind spinning, going a million miles an hour. Almost like a train wreck, and then the panic attack begins. It's very scary. I find that if I ever drink caffeine or alcohol, even just a glass, this increases the chances that I'll have one that night. Even if I don't though, I may get one out of know where.

Most of my experience has revolved around making home made cocktails. When mixing my medication with alcohol or recreational drug use. For years I had intense anxiety, and now that I am clean (approx. four years) from recreational drugs, the anxiety has ceased. I'm certain that the alcohol could be responsible, after all, there's a warning label on the medication about mixing the two.

As to racing thoughts, I still have these now and then, when I am beginning to cycle. Usually the doctor increases my dosage.

As for dreams, I too was plagued by this. Not only would I be going a million miles an hour in my thoughts after the dreams, but I had a severe conviction in my conscience for the things I had dreamt as if I had really done them. This subsided too, mainly from therapy, communication and talking about issues with another. For years I had concluded that if I filter the content in which I hear and view then my dreams would be affected in a positive manner. I was wrong, now I view everything and seem less affected, perhaps because I have been desensitized towards many things by viewing and hearing them in the media.

Hope you progress and God bless!

Shout Glory

 

[trustinhim83]

Thank you Cush. Yes, It seems a lot of people who are Bipolar like to try to self medicate....alcohol and street drugs being some of the choices at times. Alcohol has never really been a huge issue with me because i just can't tolerate it since it causes me to have panic attacks. Never really wanted to drink much anyways. I did use to have a problem with Marijuana at one point though. I would smoke three times a day, and hardly anyone would even know because I would hide the fact that I was always high. I did it to self medicate. It really helped make me be a little more even keel, and took the edge off, but did cause a lot of hallucinations. So that was no good...aside from the fact that it is illegal in my state. I knew what I was doing was the wrong way,and knew I had to stop. I guess it is no excuse, but I didn't have insurance at the time, and it just seemed to be an easy fix. In the long wrong it really didn't fix anything...just made me a huge undercover pothead, and made me feel bad about myself.

I'm glad you are clean now as well.

 

[Cush]

Thank you Cush. Yes, It seems a lot of people who are Bipolar like to try to self medicate....alcohol and street drugs being some of the choices at times. Alcohol has never really been a huge issue with me because i just can't tolerate it since it causes me to have panic attacks. Never really wanted to drink much anyways. I did use to have a problem with Marijuana at one point though. I would smoke three times a day, and hardly anyone would even know because I would hide the fact that I was always high. I did it to self medicate. It really helped make me be a little more even keel, and took the edge off, but did cause a lot of hallucinations. So that was no good...aside from the fact that it is illegal in my state. I knew what I was doing was the wrong way,and knew I had to stop. I guess it is no excuse, but I didn't have insurance at the time, and it just seemed to be an easy fix. In the long wrong it really didn't fix anything...just made me a huge undercover pothead, and made me feel bad about myself.

I'm glad you are clean now as well.

Thank you for sharing this. I had experienced hallucinations too. Go figure though, going to a secular psychiatrist I was diagnosed as going through many psychosis. My Pastor, however, wouldn't rule out a spiritual experience, and my now Doctor who seemingly has faith leads me to believe the same thing. The medication I had been on at the time was resperidone, and I have read that it can cause psychosis and hallucinations. Since then I had been prescribed Abilify, and the dosage as previously mentioned are catered to my cycles.

Question for you. Have you ever come to the point where you feel healed, and in faith think it time to go off the medication? I"m at this point but worry that this may be a mistake. How should I approach the Doctor in requesting that perhaps through faith I would like to place my trust in the Lord? While I realize that this could be in effect a negative thing to do, I just tie a lot of my bi polar symptoms with a immoral/lack of discipline from childhood. Do you think that the Bible, reading Scripture, and faith, all can heal us, how do we know if we don't try to at least go off the medication?

Lastly, I've been disabled over my disability. I have some questionable thoughts, I fear having to go back to work or losing my disability if I do go off the medication. After having been out of the work force for almost a decade, quite frankly I'm scared at the thought of having to return.

Thank you

Shout Glory

 

[Cush]

And also I'd like to add a few things:

Curious as to what may be going on in your life. Do you have many stressors? And you know that worrying, or rather thinking to deeply about your illness will dig you into a pit, don't you? It helps for me to engage in something mentally throughout the day, mainly I do data entry and site design. I'd like to share my site with you, and one thread that I compiled on the bipolar illness.

Faith and Vision - ReligiousVerse

Topic: What does the Bible say about Bipolar Disorder / Manic Depression? (1/1) - Christian Discussion - ReligiousVerse

 

[Loven God]

Cush,
I to have not worked in six years and am on SSDI and I am up for renewul and it scares me because like you I don't think I can go back to work I have still have way to many issues to deal with , with my bipolar . I am still working an asleep pattern and meds , which have been changed many times . I find it hard to be around people and haveing to deal with them . So if you could please pray for me that it will be renewed .

 

[Cush]

Cush,
I to have not worked in six years and am on SSDI and I am up for renewul and it scares me because like you I don't think I can go back to work I have still have way to many issues to deal with , with my bipolar . I am still working an asleep pattern and meds , which have been changed many times . I find it hard to be around people and haveing to deal with them . So if you could please pray for me that it will be renewed .

I will pray for you.

My symptoms are very much like yours, and just about everyone here, but they have subsided some six months ago. The only episode that I encountered, I began to cycle mania was when there was a tremendous stressor in my life. For years I flipped from day to night for my sleep pattern every few weeks. My doctor prescribed a medication, but it really was the social changes going on in my life. There are so many things we are prescribed pills for, but I believe that there really are underlying spiritual issues. We only deal with things upon the surface, give it time my friend, in time it will surface and come up in discussion.

With Love, Cush

Shout Glory

 

[Cush]

Cush,
I to have not worked in six years and am on SSDI and I am up for renewul and it scares me because like you I don't think I can go back to work I have still have way to many issues to deal with , with my bipolar . I am still working an asleep pattern and meds , which have been changed many times . I find it hard to be around people and haveing to deal with them . So if you could please pray for me that it will be renewed .

I forgot to add Loven. Try to not to stress over your review, if you'd like some friendly advice. I had one too, and I missed the appointment. I had ended up in the hospital a few days before the review, due to the stress of worrying about it. The reviewer cancelled my appointment and said that I need not go because of the circumstances. This was four years or so ago. I had full blown mania with scitzo episodes. I was convinced then and now that I heard the voice of God. I really to this day believe it because the things that were said came to pass so they were true.

People always say why doesn't God answer my prayers, but y'know, I say be cautious about what we ask for. To imagine is one thing, but hearing a voice as real as any other in your mind. It's enough to drive anyone into the hospital, but moreso the mind is amazing, how it can without a mouth or larynx speak or relay the message of God.

Shout Glory

 

[trustinhim83]

Hey Cush, this is going to be long b/c I have a lot to respond to. I read your the link you posted to your webpage. Thank you for sharing! You are a great writer. Here are my responses to some of what you wrote:

"Having Bipolar Disorder is not a sin, but blaming sin on BD is inappropriate. It is we who make sinful choices due to our sinful nature."
I agree

"In summary, Bipolar Disorder is a type of human frailty that is ultimately caused by our sinful heart condition."
I disagree because this statement is contrary to much research that proves the existence of a chemical imbalance in the brian, and genetic factors strongly linked to being the cause of Bipolar Disorder.

"BD does not determine a person’s identity, nor is it a life sentence that cannot be overcome."
...and I agree.

"The answer to surmounting BD lies in the spiritual reality we face. We need salvation through Jesus Christ. Salvation sets the captive free from the chains of sin. Without Jesus there is no hope of a redemptive work in our hearts to overcome human weakness." (sorry had to take out your scriptural reference bc the site would not let me add it for some reason...something abt too short of a link)
Strongly agree, but this is not the only answer. We cannot shut our eyes to the tools that God has provided us with for healing our mind and bodies. It is God who made us, and it is also God who put people in the world who would become doctors and researchers. Some of the masterminds behind unlocking the answers to the many questions we have about the human mind and body. Imagine, that these very same people who dedicated their lives to helping people cope with illness, also prayed to the very same God to help them in the work that they feel was God's purpose for their life.

"Medication and psychiatric/psychological counseling can be helpful, as long as it is done in conjunction with spiritual guidance. Otherwise, such counseling is nothing more than a band-aid for BD’s symptoms and could potentially cause more harm if it keeps a person from seeing his greatest need is Jesus."
YES

Cush, and to answer some of your other general questions about my life. I lead a pretty low stress life at the moment. I have been afflicted with Bipolar during both times of difficulty, and during happier times. It is ever present. I am actually a newly wed, have a wonderful hardworking husband, I work with people and mainly with my hands in a very low key environment, and only work a 30 hr. week which is considered full time for my industry. So four days on and three days off. We have a lot of financial security, thanking God.
I find that staying as productive as possible, continuing to work normal hours, or being very productive in some other way, even pulling myself up to go exercise...anything that gets me going really helps with the illness. Even when I really don't have the energy to, or feel like doing it. Working hard, and being productive is what the scripture calls us to do. So I am obedient in this regard. What makes me feel worse is when I do nothing for too long of periods of time. I feel so much better about myself and about my life when I have goals, feel I have a real purpose, and am using my energy somewhere for something. Still, this does not make the illness go away, but I think by being obedient I am helping myself spiritually. The struggle is being obedient to scripture when I get to work. Not gossiping when I am mad about something, not being mean to co-workers when they make me mad, trying to be forgiving when I perceive others have wronged me, inability to perform well when depressed and low energy, mood swings throughout the day, the list goes on and on. I cannot blame the BP for the way I am, although it is the likely reason for much of it. I can only blame myself for not making the right choices in dealing with the illness if I have not done so. I know one of those choices needs to be prayer, and also CBT has helped me some.
I actually just now started taking Quetiapine. I have gone unmedicated for many years...and have led a pretty rough life due in part to it. I am on a very small dose of the Quetiapine to start out. Not enough to level the moods yet, and only enough to help with sleep. I am upping my dose gradually, per doctors orders. I'm being careful not to leave the spiritual aspect out of dealing with the illness, and this site has helped me a lot with that.

 

[trustinhim83]

I also want to add, I understand that some people with Bipolar Disorder are so afflicted with the illness that they are at times truly unable to function in the work environment. I have seen this happen to family members of mine before, including my father, who at one time had to go on disability.
I think some industries are easier for people with this disorder to function in than others.