bipolar and ptsd/anxiety disorder

Hi,
So I was recognised with above conditions and I wonder if there's anyone else here who shares that mixture of disorders and if yes how does it show up in you.
I just feel very confused about everything right now.

Hi Pepera,

I have been dx with bipolar as well as PTSD/Generalized Anxiety/Panic Disorder. I am in trauma therapy now and will be learning how the anxiety can affect or trigger bipolar issues in me. I don't have answers yet, but wanted to say you're not alone.

thanks, that means a lot

I was diagnosed a few years ago with bipolar and PTSD. I think I've "gotten over" the PTSD through prazosin and therapy and my bipolar diagnosis was changed to schizoaffective. I'm with ya! (((hugs)))

thanks for the reply! I also feel like some of my ptsd/anxieties is under control now. It's bipolar that mainly shines through now, but having so much trauma and triggers under my belt surly doesn't help. I can't deal with stress wtahsoever, my docs say I am highly functional, but I don't feel that way at all. It's getting harder with every year and I feel like I loose more control with every epiosed. It's frightening.

I believe I read that about 1/4 of bipolar people have GAD or panic disorder. It's extremely common. PTSD isn't all that uncommon either. And lots of bipolars have ADHD as well. I would think it would be uncommon for someone to only have a bipolar diagnosis.

I have GAD/panic disorder. How do I deal with it? SSRI's and an occasional benzo. Also I stay away from any stimulant like caffeine and nicotine (where possible).

Paniic wrote:
I have GAD/panic disorder. How do I deal with it? SSRI's and an occasional benzo. Also I stay away from any stimulant like caffeine and nicotine (where possible).

I'm on Lexapro, which is an SSRI, and my doctor also told me to stay far away from caffeine. I don't have PTSD, but I get anxious over small things.

thanks for all the replies.

Dunno if it's a nice thing to say but it's somehow comforting, knowing that I'm not alone. That there are people who also struggle but they don't give up and keep on fighting. For many years I felt like I'm alone in this, well I only had my father who also was bipolar but he self-medicated with drugs&alcohol, so living with him wasn't exactly fun and eventually a few years ago he commited suicide, and knowing that this is my possible future wasn't easy to process. In fact this image is making it very hard for me to accept my diagnosis, but I'm so much more willing to do whatever it takes to be relatively healthy.