Life After Bipolar

If it's not numb and boring yet I bet it won't ever be. I used to be on meds a long time ago that didn't make me feel numb or bored. But they did make me feel STUUUUUPIIIIIID. If your meds don't give you bad side effects by now they probably won't ever.

Hi Crimson, I understand what you're going through at the moment. I was once here when I started my new meds. I used to have a lot of interest before my meds that now I couldn't even find the slightest interest in. One hobby though that has really stuck with me is cars. I live and breathe for cars undoubtedly with Chevelles and old Mercedes. You'll find something that interests you, just takes time. Just look at it this way, the interests you had before might have just been the mania with a sudden spark in interest and might have not lasted. No loss there. Take care.

Jake

Hi, I was diagnosed with having bipolar back in 2011, I have been taking 900mg of lithium since then, plus a range of sleeping tablets to just get me to sleep. I haven't become numb since taking the tablets. I was numb before the medication. I would find myself shut down completely and in these periods that's when I would do the worst things. Since being medicated I haven't had to deal with anything like that. But I do find that I am no longer doing things that once made me happy, like drinking or going out. I find myself becoming socially isolated from my friends, but it is because I don't want to see anybody.

I still have my ups and downs, last week has been a constant down for me, but they are better than what they were before

I lost all my desire to go out, stopped drinking and using drugs, which is just as well since I'm skint and can't afford to do any of those things.

The NA "Just for today" book says that "we used to get 'happy' by using drugs, now we get happy watching dolphins frolicking in the ocean". When I first read this I rolled my eyes -- I think the word 'frolicking' was the worst offender. But actually now this is true. I'd love to see dolphins frolic in the ocean. :$

I also lost some of my edge. I no longer feel the need to prove things to people; some of my most edgy clothes gather dust; can't be arsed to dye my hair red (which is good -- my shower is still pink from that time, and I hate pink). So I guess I did change. But I have no problem with it.

Now if anybody's looking for me I need to watch Smurfs 2 before going to bed at 9pm (kidding, kidding...)

I guess my life hasn't really become numb but I guess it's more organized... for instance I used to arrive late at work or other appointments but now I've worked on arriving on time or before time so I can have time to go to the restroom and all. I also set myself some small goals like exercising or following my diet, I also try to manage my money on a better way, but that's been hard haha! I've always been goal-oriented but never on small things and they do make a difference. My goal now is trying to go to bed earlier. I'm not sure if this is because of meds or because since now I know my diagnosis I'm more focused and I've learned to pay attention to probable symptoms, and because I don't want my life to be out of control again, well, now I'm dealing with a dissociative disorder and that's a real mess, but at least I can have some control on these little things from everyday life.

L0rena wrote:So... is there anyone besides Oliveira whose life hasn't become numb and boring? I've only taken these bipolar meds since around June last year... should I expect for the worse, is that inevitable? Sorry about these questions I don't want to offend anyone.

I dont' feel like my life has become numb and boring. On the contrary, I actually feel as though I have a lot going on that I really enjoy. Perhaps my definition of enjoyment has changed much as Oliveria stated, but that doesn't mean that I don't derive the same amount of joy from those things. I kind of think of it as growing older. When you are a teenager there are different types of things that you found super fun which as an adult you might find really stupid and cheesy.