This may sound kind of stupid but...

[high maintenence]

That's so funny Brian...
I used to be obsessive about cleanliness of my children and my home and just well, everything that we came in contact with...That all disapperared with the crash of my BP. At present, I would love to have things my way (clean), but I am unable to get up and do it myself and I am currently learning that I can't control everyone else's behavior, only my own, so I clean up after myself, do some laundry, I am the only one to clean toilets and sinks, so I do that. I cook the occasional meal, but that's it. Frog is now doing most of all of the things I used to do, like yardwork (btw, he's not doing these jobs as well as I would), and billpaying, and loafing the children back and forth to where they need to go. I depend on him for so many things that I used to do and it makes me feel humiliated. I don't see how anyone stricken with BP can be OCD unless they are completely manic at the time. I have obsessions that seem to fluctuate, for ex. One week I will do nothing except watch tons of movies, the next week, I'm glued to the computer. I scrapbook an obsessive amount sometimes. Like I said, it just depends on what is going on with me. Sometimes I am obsessed with walking around in circles bored to death, when there are plenty of things that I should be doing. It's a never ending circle for me.

Cathy, Lamictal for me has no side effects and is a wonderful stabilizer. You are a beautiful girl and I would hate to see you ruin that by crashing into the "deep abyss" and ending up on some of the meds that I have and blowing up (weight). I was beautiful on the outside at one time myself and when the crash came, the only way out of it was meds and I gained 70lbs. in just about 4 months. If Lamictal keeps you stable, then I wouldn't mess with it....I'm not a doc, that's just my experience talking.

[Cathy]

Brian, alphabetising is a big one for me too. CDs, DVDs, books, lists, everything. I agree that it is common for people to have mild OCD and it's always interesting hearing about other people's obsessions!

Thanks High, that's really sweet. I'm calling the clinic as soon as they open to see if I can get an appointment earlier than Tuesday so I should be on Lamictal really soon.

[elwood]

My Doc put me on Lamictal about two years ago.  He did start me on a real low dose and then slowly increased the amount to 200 MG twice a day.  It took about 5 weeks to get to the full dose.  At first at the lower doses I wanted to give it up as it did no good.  My doc said that it would not work until I got up to the therapeutic dose. 

Now that I am at the full dose it has been a great mood stabilizer.  It worked for me but everyone is different.

Good luck

[francie]

I took Lamictal and really liked it.. i did have the dizzy side-effect, and if it weren't for my broken bones and the fear of falling down my stairs, i'd have put up with the dizziness.. but i had physical problems and it was hard to go up and down stairs in the first place... Lamictal was a good med for me, hon.  I guess the best advice anyone can give is to try it and see what it does for you?  We are all so different, it's difficult to give 'advice' on medications. 

You all mentioned ocd like symptoms -- i've always had to have things clean and orgnized.  doesn't matter about my painting area so much, but before i start painting, it seems i always have to tidy the area first.  Strange how that goes.

CBT is a pretty good therapy, but just like everything else, a person has to work the program in order to get anything out of it.   I can tell you what it did for me -- helped clear up some of my unreasonable or unrealistic thinking -- such as the way i let others impact me... i had to learn that the behaviors and actions of others don't directly affect me.  Seems i was taking on the personal issues of others (which is very common). 

CBT also helped me with my reactions to situations or things people might say to me....  Instead of knee-jerk reactions to unpleasant situations, i now stop and count to 10 or 20 in my mind before saying anything or even thinking anything... this pause really helps me to see things more rationally/clearly, instead of emotionally (a favorite way to react in my past). 

I believe that, depending upon the patient's issues, CBT would be handled in different ways.  i know there are many websites which explains the therapy... i'm going to look that up now and add the links to one or two here, just in case you might be interested in further information.

take care, francie

http://www.answers.com/topic/cognitive-behavioral-therapy?cat=health

[high maintenence]

I agree with you Francie, but in my personal situation, which you are right everyone's is different, CBT seemed to even take the "good" out of me. The therapists are concerned about you and how you take care of yourself. That's just not me and I never am able to make them understand that b/c they are totally focused on their education of the illnesses and on the patient. I give to people, even when I probably shouldn't, but noone is ever going to be able to convince me to be any differently in that area. I believe what the bible says, and if I feel like God wants be to help someone, I'm going to. Therapists, at least most, don't think of what God wants, and I guess in their jobs, they shouldn't. I look at it this way, someone was there for me when I was in need of help. If they hadn't of been, I would have taken my life. What if I am not there for the person that is in need of my help?

[francie]

High, well, everyone is different in their choices of how far they want to go and what they can or cannot give.

Perhaps your therapist(s) were trying to tell you that helping people who are perfectly capable of helping themselves, or helping them when they are self-destructive is not helpful at all -- but it IS enabling.

There is a big difference between helping and enabling.

No one wants to be used or exploited... it's not healthy.

so maybe that is what your therapist was trying to get you to see?

I believe that there are many people out there who NEED good help and the SUPPORT that might come with it... and i am always willing to help others who have a goal in mind and who are at least TRYING to make their lives work out.

So, let's say someone got laid off from their  job, is looking for another, and needs help with something, i'd certainaly help if i could.

If the same person needed money because they blew it all on partying, they'd have to suffer....

the difference between help and enabling.

[clayton]

  I wish I was OCD about keeping the house clean--place resembles a pigpen.

[Cathy]

Heehee poor Clayton.

Saw the pdoc today and he prescribed Buproprion (Wellbutrin) because apparently it works more quickly than Lamictal, so we're going to see how that goes - if the darn pharmacy ever get the stock in, that is. They always happily take my money then tell me they won't have it in until later  never mind anyway. Anybody else on Buproprion? Pdoc didn't mention CBT again so maybe I won't be getting it.

[Phyllis]

I'm on Wellbutrin XL but also take Lamictal. The wellbutrin is for my depression and the Lamictal acts as one of my mood stabelizers.

[sojo]

Being bipoar is having a chemical imbalance in the brain, sojo

[Phyllis]

Yes?

[sojo]

Getting off medication does not determine whether you are mentally ill or not. Some people do have illnessess but can handle not being on meds.Maybe if you are determined to get off medication ,just try lowering it and see if you do ok, I myself cannot go off meds because I will hear voices.I am sorry you are having a bad time,sojo

[sojo]

 Hi Phyllis, the only thing I can s is that we are born this way.The symptoms decide to come out when they want in  life when we reach adolescence or a little older. Don't qoute me on this but, from my understanding we are born with one less chemical in the brain than other people and , that is why we require medication to keep it balanced. Notice I  don't say normal people because , mental illness does not make us abnormal,only if you want to beleive that about yourself. I don't consider myself not normal in any way, sojo I know I feel horrible without medication. I wish though that I didn't tell people I am a little different. It could have spared me some emotional pain this way.That is the advice I offer, sojo

[Cathy]

Thanks Sojo, I was having a bad time but I know deep down what I'm like off of meds too. Hopefully these new ones will help my depression.