Mental Health Bipolar mixed sate (mixed bipolar disorder)

[D.E.S]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mixed_state_(psychiatry)

So after long, long struggle of finding a proper diagnose for my girl, that would be the most suitable. Problem is, I can't seem to find enough information about it.
Anyone else here have this condition? Anyone have any information about it, useful links, info about medications etc?

 

[herbavore]

Wait, are you diagnosing her or was she diagnosed by a doctor?

 

[abracadabra girl]

I know a lot about it from dealing with a bipolar family member. Basically this needs to be a diagnosed and treated by a psychiatrist, most likely with medications. I am not sure what else you are asking.

 

[paranoid android]

You are not a doctor and only a psychiatrist can make a proper diagnoses. I get mixed state mania or i used to before being on meds and it's awful. I have nearly killed myself and have done the dumbest most reckless shit when in a manic state hence why it's about the most dangerous mood episode you can have. But alot of things can look like mixed state mania and as i am neither there i person or a doctor i can't say that is what she has. If she does have bipolar with mixed state features she can get treatment for it.

The first step is getting her to a psychiatrist or failing that a GP. If she's in that dire straits she needs professional help asap.

 

[D.E.S]

I know I'm not fit to make proper diagnoses. It's actually something that my girlfriend's mom figured out after having long discussion with her friend who suffers from this condition and has had it in control for years, and after taking closer look at it, talking to my girl's therapeutist, we've come to the conclusion that this "mixed state" is the right diagnose. She's a 100% textbook example of a person with such condition.
We have a meeting tomorrow with the mental health chief doctor whatever of this town, and discuss about medication, and possible visit to the psych ward to start the meds in proper enviroment, and well basically everything about the condition.

She's been diagnosed with bipolar disorder for a year now, But she didn't believe in it untill now, after learning about this mixed state. Don't get me wrong, she's perfectly aware of her situation, and how fucked her mental health is, and something needs to be done asap. but we haven't really knew what to do since we didn't know what's this all about. She didn't believe in the bipolar diagnose, because she didnt, and I didn't know how much the symptoms can vary, and our impression of bipolar disorder was that theres clear variation between manic and depressive episodes etc. Her condition, she basically has manic and depressive symptoms combined the same time. Her thinking is manic and super fast racing, thought loops, cant sleep, reckless behaviour etc, but also the same time she's so extremely depressed she can't do much more than sit or lie there eyes closed. Theres also some substance abuse, mainly alcohol and weed, self-harm etc.

Would be nice to hear what medications you tried and what other ways you've learnt to cope with this etc. also would be nice to get my girlfriend to create an account, and write about this herself.

 

[paranoid android]

If she's already been diagnosed with bipolar she should be on meds to treat it now. If she isn't no wonder she's getting mixed states. I found zyprexa zydis (the wafer you put on your tongue) to be the best med for stopping a mixed state dead in it's tracks. After 10 or 15mg's i would be back to normal in about 20 minutes. Under a hour if it was the olanzapine tablets and not the wafers. It's a really good med to keep for emergencies and unlike seroquel it works right away as opposed to taking the better part of a week to work. I used to get psychotic like symptoms and would sometimes self harm during a mixed state so i know how important it is to have a medication that can end that torture asap. Right now i take lamotrigine (trade name lamictal) as my mood stabilizer and also seroquel. If i am really depressed I'll go on either wellbutrin or trimipramine both of which work fairly well for me. The lamotrigine has really done wonder to stop the rapid cycling and mixed states have gotten alot more rare for me since i went on it. The seroquel doesn't work as well as olanzapine for me but i can't get my insurance to cover the stupid olanzapine!

The important thing to remember is that in treating bipolar it's basically trial and error in finding the right meds. So tell her not to give up hope if the first medication or 2 doesn't work or she can't tolerate it. It took me a good 2 years to finally get mine under control. Also exercise does help alot as it helps get out that manic energy. I would do pushups until the zyprexa kicked in just so i wouldn't do something to hurt myself.

 

[D.E.S]

Aye we know that finding the right medication on the first try is comparable to winning a lottery. She was on Quetiapine + risperidon combination for 6 months or so (quit em a year ago) but didn't really find them that helpful. The side effects were too much compared to the desired effects. She went totally flat, and couldn't draw/paint or anything the hwole time she was on the meds, and It was hell for her. Quess It's just about finding the right medication, and finding your inspiration and creativity with newly medicated brain..

Exercise would be good yeah, nut she's been so depressed she can't get herself out for a jog or anything. She's also a heavy cutter past 12 years, so doing pushups doesn't really help when the urge comes.

We have the meeting with the doctor in one hour, will see how that goes.