I have bipolar 1 + schizoeffective disorder. I am taking Resperidone 1 mg twice a day and Lamictal 50mg at night, which has somewhat worked to help stop my delusions about being a secret agent, cops spying on me bugging the house, but i almost to the point where the medicine isn’t going to keep on working at this dosage. I am already slowed down enough during my day because of the medicine. But I am still hearing things and smelling and seeing things that aren’t there. For instance the other night I swore I had seen a cat outside and I took a second look and there was no cat. I heard someone or thing banging on my window, but there was no one there. I am wondering if I should just get a higher dosage of Resperidone or go to something else.
I want to say thank you for all of the supportive emails and kind words about my books- I am so glad they help so many people.
My health has not been A-OK lately which is why my writing output is limited. But I do promise to get a newsletter out soon! You can go through the blog by topic to get a lot of great tips- there are videos and recordings as well. I will update you on all that is happening in the next few weeks. What matters is that I keep moving forward with my work!
How is your work- how are your relationships? What role is bipolar playing in yourl life? Feel free to send in your stories. I love to read stories on how the Health Cards and my books have changed your life.
I will be a guest on the Audrey Chapman Radio Show out of Washington D.C. tomorrow morning. I look forward to learning more about Audrey’s work and ideas and sharing our ideas on bipolar disorder, depression and the African American Community. Here is some more information on Audrey: Audrey B. Chapman, Relationship Expert
Audrey B. Chapman is a family therapist, author, trainer, and nationally-known relationship expert. She has developed a “tough love” approach to helping men and women develop loving, interdependent relationships, build communication, and take responsibility for their happiness. She has appeared on dozens of national and television programs, including Oprah, Phil Donahue, 20/20, Sally Jesse Raphael, Maury Povich, BET’s Tavis Smiley Show, Good Morning America , NPR’s Morning Edition, and many, many more; and has been featured in The Washington Post, Essence Magazine, The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, Ebony, and others.
I will be on the Audrey Chapman radio show this Saturday morning May 21st, at 9AM EST- which means I will be up at 6AM here in Portland, Oregon to make my appearance! I love doing radio shows- it’s a great way to meet interesting people- such as Audrey Chapman- and also a great way to let the public know about my ideas on how to manage bipolar disorder.
Audrey is a relationship expert- so I am hoping we will spend time talking about how our moods affect our relationships. I know this is one of the most important topics of my life- I am always so concerned about how I come across to others and I like to help people with bipolar disorder be as aware as possible about their own potential mood disorder affected behaviors. It’s hard to keep your relationships steady when the mood swings are raging.
I am taking Oxcarbazepine (Trileptal)(800 mg a day) ..my doctor wants to switch me to Lithium Carb 300mg. I don’t know anything about this medication..does anyone?
Karen
Hi Karen,
It’s not super common for people with bipolar to take Triliptal (Oxcarbazepine) which may be why your doctor wants you to switch. Most people take Depakote, Tegretol or Lamictal – these are all epilepsy medications. Lithium is the only true mood stabilizer and if often the first choice for bipolar treatment. Your doctor is making a very normal treatment change from a anticonvulsant drug to the mood stabilizer Lithium. This change is very much based on your personal symptoms and how you respond to medications- so there is no right or wrong here. A lot of it also has to do with the dosage, so that will probably change around a bit as you work with your doctor. It’s all very normal to [ Read More ]
So many write me and ask how I manage to move forward with my life even thought I am pretty much constantly depressed. The answer is the Health Cards. They let me life my life like a normal person. I don’t know what I would do or where I would be if I didn’t have their skills. I highly suggest that you try them. Usually, I just tell people- hey, check out the Health Cards, you will love them! Today, I feel a need to tell people to at least try they. They are risk free-
I want people to find peace when they have this illness. The only way to have peace is to have a plan that works every day. The Health Cards work every day. I will use them all day myself as will my family. I am glad to have them. THey remind me that bipolar is a rotten illness and [ Read More ]
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The health information contained herein is provided for general education purposes only. This site should not be seen as a substitute for an official diagnosis or for professional health care.
Audrey B. Chapman is a family therapist, author, trainer, and nationally-known relationship expert. She has developed a “tough love” approach to helping men and women develop loving, interdependent relationships, build communication, and take responsibility for their happiness. She has appeared on dozens of national and television programs, including Oprah, Phil Donahue, 20/20, Sally Jesse Raphael, Maury Povich, BET’s Tavis Smiley Show, Good Morning America , NPR’s Morning Edition, and many, many more; and has been featured in The Washington Post, Essence Magazine, The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, Ebony, and others.
