Lynsey's Story
“I suffered with depression and anxiety for many years and was constantly prescribed antidepressants. In 2013 I had a big breakdown and went to my GP, I explained about my mood changing so much and the antidepressants not working and I asked if she felt I could have bipolar. She then asked me a few questions (which I now know relate to number 10 on the bipolar mood scale), and when I said no she simply said ‘well, you don’t have bipolar.’ She prescribed different antidepressants and diazepam. I was never referred to any mental health professionals.
In 2017, after a suicide attempt, I was referred to the mental health team, I was given a CPN and psychiatrist. Again I was prescribed different antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications. I then had further breakdowns and two hospital admissions. In 2019 I was finally diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
Since then, I’ve found life very difficult, I’ve had numerous relapses and hospital admissions and have been on a variety of different mood stabilisers. My private life has been massively affected, as has my work life. I had to resign from a career I had worked hard to get. I feel I had to educate myself in the illness and I only really see my psychiatrist when I’m at crisis point.
I am now currently working in the same field but not at my previous level or in a permanent position and I often have long periods of absence. I do have good stable periods where I feel like myself and live a good life but I’m always worrying about the next relapse.
I feel that I’m only now at the stage of fully understanding my triggers and warning signs after five years. I’ve never been given a psychologist and I am constantly told I need to learn to manage the condition myself. I have attended a bipolar support group which has helped greatly.”
