I’m generally pretty good at it when I am comfortable with someone. But when I am anxious or sad I cannot for the life of me make eye contact with anyone.

And Lisa’s weird smeary pearl necklace/drool entity.

Ah! Lamotrigine is one of the ones my relative takes! It also seems like they take another medication in a similar class as your aripiprazole. The one they take in that class is called Vraylar.

Tbh I don’t think I really need a second opinion look for bipolar. I don’t think it really fits my issue. I know I’m no mental health expert, but borderline personality disorder seems to fall a bit more in line with my “symptoms” of rapid and dramatic mood swings, although I’ve never inquired about it (plus my online friends have occasionally cautioned me of the stigma surrounding it). It seems that there isn’t really a standard mode of treatment for it, but that certain bipolar meds like lamotrigine are found to be helpful. After hearing that my brother found it to be really helpful for him, it made me even more curious to ask about it. But idk if that would be weird if I ask about a specific medication. I might just bring up that my issue is more related to mood swings than overall base depression.

One of the difficult things I’ve had in seeking proper mental health care is that I feel totally normal in between “episodes.” Often I’ll be feeling just fine when I have an appointment and don’t feel like I have any complaints or anything to say. Then I’ll end up in a crisis some time later that doesn’t correspond to an appointment. Bleh.

Do you not understand what I’m saying?

Let’s say it asks you to pick from multiple questions.

1. X
2. Y
3. Z
4. A
5. B
6. C

You choose questions Y, B, and C. You answer them as none1, none2, and none3.

When you need to answer a security question, it randomly gives you question Y. But question Y is not numbered. How do you remember that the answer to question Y is none1 and not none2 or none3?

help

If you don’t mind me asking, what do you take now?

I started psych meds for the first time in March and have been on escitalopram. For a bit I think it was working because my mood tracker showed a positive shift, but I think I just had a period of less stress because I’m back to my old ways.

I know we are all different, but I’m just eager to know other’s experiences. My problem seems to actually be intense negative mood swings that are suddenly brought on by stressors. I was screened for bipolar disorder and I don’t have it (my moods are more volatile and rapid, not cyclical), although I have a first degree relative with it. I asked my relative with bipolar disorder what they take as a curiosity, as I know our genetics are going to be similar. My relative expressed something similar to you…it was rough going through so many different meds, but finally finding the right ones felt pretty life changing.

Anyway, I’ve been wanting to ask for a med change or increase on my next psych appointment and am just eager to know other’s experiences.

Thanks and sorry for the long winded response.

I think you have to take a real sit down with your girlfriend and try to explain this with her. I know she just wants to commiserate with someone, but if it’s damaging your mental health then it might be a better idea for her to find another political outlet.

Haven’t you ever had places randomize the question order when you have to answer the. Later?

I mean, I know it’s entirely opposite to the accepted advice…but when I can’t sleep, I actually find it helpful to go on my phone.

Scrolling social media doesn’t help though. What helps is putting on long form videos on YouTube that aren’t overly engaging. It helps if you’ve seen them before too. If my thoughts are racing, having something else to focus on (but not too focused) helps a ton.

Sitting in the dark without a mild stimulus doesn’t help, despite what the common advice given seems to be.

I know you said you can’t have sound, but what about headphones?

You are very sweet, OP. Thank you for the kind words to all. 😊

Oh lol yeah same boat! I couldn’t see it!

Have you heard of asexuality? Not the scientific concept, but the sexual orientation.

Wow…similar experience growing up I guess. My dad was very verbally abusive to my mom and a bit to my older sibling. Some physical abuse in private too I guess. The rest of us siblings didn’t really get that from him.

As a kid I would always ask my mom why she didn’t leave my dad. Thankfully she did eventually in my case. Been over 10 years since she left and I think has improved her life remarkably. Older sibling has also gone no contact with my dad so that’s good there too.

I’m sorry your parents are still together like that.

I wouldn’t say that I was spoiled, but growing up middle class without parental abuse towards myself I think would rank me pretty highly on this. I didn’t realize how privileged I had it until I became an adult. Probably 8/10.

However, my dad was abusive to my mom and a bit to my older sibling. So for my older sibling the score would probably be significantly lower.

I’m a sucker for vehicles with fun colors!

The hearts with the bandage are a nice touch

Do you want him to congratulate you for getting COVID lol

Yes I have very recently. It is currently an ongoing ordeal but I am not hopeful. People have gone to HR about my supervisor before and it has never changed anything.

Thank you for your lengthy message. Many others on here are quick to shun and judge me.

I actually didn’t realize that there was a difference between counselling and therapy. I’m sure I could use both, but that is a good thing to be made aware of. I have both stress and anxiety haha!

The vast majority of my outbursts are with my supervisor. I do on occasion have it with someone else if I feel they are treating others inappropriately.

From the internet, a lot of people ask me why I don’t just quit. In some scenarios it’s not really that simple and really not what I want to do. I don’t entirely feel comfortable as to stating all the reasons why, but you just have to trust me on this.

Dude I would love to be able to induce that rn