GideonG’s Profile

Close Bipolar Disorder

Treatments

Abilify Not Working

Was on it for only a month. I was too many other meds at the same time to really tell what difference it made.

Ativan Working / Worked

Well, I guess it worked, kind of, but it packed one hell of a whallop. It zombified, more so than the Haldol. I felt so slowed down and awful, and it blunted my inner life. I was on it very briefly -- about a week, if that.

Depakote Working / Worked

Very effective. I remember one day when I was pretty manic. I had to teach a class, and I was worried if I'd be able to do my job. I called my psychiatrist; he told me to take just one right then. Within an hour, I was fine. Without the Depakote, I would probably have had a lot more manic episodes in the past couple of years (I've been on it for over three years). The down side is a rather unfortunate side effect: weight gain.

Group Therapy Somewhat Helpful

I was in group therapy for only a couple of weeks. Some of it was helpful; some of it wasn't. I prefer one-on-one therapy.

Haldol Working / Worked

Worked, but hit me like a sledgehammer. Fortunately, I was on it for only about a month. Effective, but knocked me out of whack -- I felt sluggish and zombified. Nevertheless, I think I needed it at the time.

Lamictal Working / Worked

It seemed to help with my depression to an extent. I took for about my two years, until my psychiatrist decided I no longer needed it.

Risperdal Working / Worked

It helped when my mania got ugly. I was never on it for more than four months at a time. A lot of easier on one's system than Haldol.

Seroquel Not Working

I took it only briefly and didn't perceive any real benefits from it.

Zoloft Working / Worked

Before I was diagnosed with a mood disorder I was treated mainly for anxiety for which I was prescribed Zoloft. For a number of years I was on Zoloft for more than 12 years it helped me to be calmer and concentrate better. However it did exacerbate a very bad manic episode. When my shrink had me go cold turkey on it accordingly I had an apparently unpleasant for my family dissociative episode. He put me back on it eventually I got off it. By then it had outlived its usefulness.

BuSpar Working / Worked

In addition to being manicdepressive I have generalized anxiety disorder. Three years ago I was afflicted with paralyzing anxiety. It was just awful. The Buspar really helped and continues to help.

Close Bisexuality

I'm a 27-year-old bi man. As far as I can recall, I first became attracted to females at 12 and to males (though in a much more confused and subconscious way) at 15. I identified as straight between the ages of 12 and 21. Subsequent experience made it obvious to me that I was bi. I have a lot of issues that I need to work out in this area.