School Stress Causing Episodes...

[Paige1989]

School starts for me in 23 days (not including today) and I'm starting to reallllly stress out...well, actually I've been stressing out since August fourth (one month before school starts), but anyway. My mood has been flucuating like crazy (I'm a rapid cycler) and my anxiety and irritability is through the roof. Mostly, I'm in a mixed episode and I've been sleeping almost constantly, almost 18 hours a day on some days and occasionally up to 20. It's rediculous! I've been trying to cut back on caffeine because I know from experience that that only worsens episodes, but it's not working...the more upset I get, the more coke I drink. I'm eating very little - usually a couple snacks throughout the day and dinner, but no lunch or breakfast. I'm compliant with my meds (Lamictal 400mg. and Klonopin 3mg.), but the Klonopin was just increased and I've felt loopy, almost drunk, ever since. My psychiatrist is out of town until the twentieth, of course. :mad: But I figure if I cut my midday dose (on Mom's suggestion), it might help because I've always been on the night and morning doses - only the midday dose was increased. I'm really worried that I won't be able to cope with school this year as I was hospitalised last year and am paranoid that it will happen again...

I dunno if anyone can help, but I needed to vent, I think.
~Paige

[Sapphire]

I know this concerned feeling all too well. That dreadful sense of foreboding. Keep plodding on. Take things day by day. If you feel things getting worse don't hesitate to seek more support. Doing things this way has helped me get through the summer and will (hopefully) get me through uni.
Have you been able to get your doses sorted out since you posted here? If not then push them to correct it. Being on the wrong dose is sometimes worse than not being on any drugs to help control it at all.

[Archduke Robert of France]

You're stressing out about school starting? Forgive me, but that seems kind of silly. I think there are underlying reasons to your stress that go beyond school.

[Sapphire]

School can be a very stressful environment for some (me included) so don't try to belittle her fears.
What is it you are dreading so much about the return to school?

[RaisingSand]

I agree with Paige and Carole. :/ School is one of the main factors behind my "episodes" most times.

[Zephyr]

That happened to me back in October/November. I had 2 Advanced Placement classes (English and History), the first half of Spanish 4 and Psychology and Student Asisstant. Along with working an average of 15-25 hours a week at work, struggling to pay my bills, my best friend moving away for the school year and it being my senior year, it just made me go crazy. My schizophrenic tendencies started coming around and I started hearing voices in my head again that told kept telling me to run my car into passing semis or go crash on the freeway. My sister made me go to the doctor, and the doctor had me quadruple my doses (not the big of an increase as it seems for my medication).

Things did get better though. I pulled through the trimester with a 3.60 GPA, made the honor roll, got a car with way better economy which is saving me $15 a week, my best friend moved back and my mom decided to help me out with car insurance and cell phone bills.

Things will get better, you just have to get the appropriate help and hope for the best.