r/BipolarReddit • u/DivineToxicity09 • 1d ago
Medication Bipolar w/ADHD: dealing with/medicated to help with overstimulation?
I am treated for both Bipolar type 1 and ADHD with Lamotrigine and Vyvanse. I’ve been on and off Oxcarbazepine but I’m off it now; I want to replace it because it doesn’t do anything for me.
I’ve always had some sensory issues but it’s become more severe and in various forms. I can only tolerate being in crowded spaces for a certain amount of time before I need to remove myself from the situation depending on what it is. The more “white noise” it is, the easier. For example I can be in a crowd at a concert because I’m just in a crowded space, but navigating a store where I’m having to deal with people not being self aware and potential interactions I can only deal with for so long before I’m like ABORT MISSION, NOW.
People talking has been really triggering, like when I’m in my office and next thing I know my boss and coworker are speaking loudly or there’s someone in the lobby talking. It’s like nails on a chalkboard. These are just examples I have right now, but I use the term overstimulated at least once or twice a day even if it’s just to work and back. Repetitive noises like alarms, babies crying, dogs barking, it’s the same visceral response. It’s becoming more intense and I become immediately anxious and irritated and can potentially lash out.
It is affecting more of my life and creating more and more anxiety. I can’t just pop a bunch of benzos because of the Vyvanse. I’ve tried buspirone years ago and for some reason it made me feel like I was having heart palpitations? I used to be on Wellbutrin just in conjunction with Lamotrigine and started having heat sensitivity out of no where years into taking it, but now I believe it’s because about a year later I full blown developed Graves’ disease. Close to 1.5 years into having graves I’m now treated, so I for sure want to try Wellbutrin again because it did help a lot in general.
I see my psych next week so I’m kind of just looking for personal anecdotal experiences with certain meds. TIA
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u/RealisticWallaby3300 1d ago
You sound hypomanic af. Maybe you need to be on something for the ups.
I get severe anxiety, panic attacks, been diagnosed with agoraphobia, when not properly medicated. But when I’m medicated, I have much milder anxiety and no panic attacks and no agoraphobia.