I’m So Tired – Bipolar Disorder and Fatigue

I’m tired all the time & it gives me a scared feeling to feel so lethargic & uncomfortable…

I just wish I could get help with meds over a online doctor just for a couple weeks to be able to get outta the bed long enough to make it back to a doctor's office. I have a child I haven't been able to do anything with almost 2 years now I lay and cry feeling so bad. I've begged for a place to help me get back on Prozac just long enough to get to a doctor but no psychiatrist think that no help apparently is better than some help. I'm sorry but I think a lil help is better none. Sometimes you have to take baby steps but if that's what it takes to get someone better than I feel like if it's in my chart I've already been on this medication and it has worked long enough to where it would help me at least get back into a doctor. I feel like happy that I just don't know what a lot of people pay three say therefore they cannot relate making it harder for them to even see where somebody's coming from a and b making it hard for a patient to ever really want to go see a doctor. There's a big difference in studying psychology for a degree and "living it"anything is I don't feel like too many people really should be able to argue with that considering half the time when you go to psychiatrist I put you on 15 different medicines before they find one that works because why it's all trial and error they don't actually know what medicine works with your body which is something they need as a patient might actually know so therefore sometimes I feel we're more qualified in psychology when it comes to our own bodies and these doctors are of course I try hard I'm not going to say that because God forbid. Nvm sorry I just want you to text me I still need to call you from years so I understand the textbook study and Doctor side but I also understand the patient side too. And I feel like putting someone being put back on a medication cuz they have a record of being on by itself that they're telling you help them just not in the long term should be ok. Because the other side of that is this is not a patient crying begging for help killing me they know that they would never make it to an appointment because I'm sorry that that happens when you get too bad off. To have someone say they won't help them on top of making out like they're stupid & crazy that's a recipe for disaster typically. But what do I know I've only delt with mental illnesses my whole life between me my mom, my 2 kids and grandmother. And took a few classes but as I was made to feel I'm just a moron. Anyways Thank you 4 having a comment place to just type this I apologize if it's somehow offended anyone.

Reading these comments I don't seem as bad as some being hospitalised but then again if people knew about my experiences I have sometimes then I may of been hospitalized. As I kinda keep quiet about thinking the world is going to end and thinking of ways to stop it and thinking spiders are going to kill me and other fantasy I have had. My problem really is being tired as that's the only thing that keeps me from a normal life anything else I can hide. I don't really get depressed if anything I'm tired and I have delusions that don't really affect my day to day life apart from arguments sometimes. My main problem isn't the delusions it's the debilitating tiredness. It's mad because I have a normal parsonality if you don't know me but completely different tired not that I'm unwell tired but being like that for a good amount of time people start to get suspicious like their is something up with him. I don't care so much what people think but I can't get anywhere in life just for the fact of the tiredness literally spend most of my life in bed or hardly doing much. It really shuts me down I can't think properly I even speak a bit slurred.
Trying to get a change of medication at present but getting an appointment is an nightmare, pre corona virus still no luck. I'm only on 5mg of olanzapine and I'm really tired, I did try olanzapine and sertraline which worked amazing and I mean amazing but then after so many months ended up with not much motivation and a real crap sex drive which totally wrecked a relationship I was in plus didn't feel like a man anymore. The most weird thing was I was just happy staying in bed for so many months like I never got fed up of it on the sertraline I was just happy to do that haha. I have a female friend who felt the same in the sexual department so atleast I know the medication does this. All the same I'd of stayed on the sertraline if I didn't get really lazy again just in a different sort of way but with the same outcome. The Dr said I may of just needed to up the dose. I just took myself off it which wasn't a problem as I was only still on the starting dose. I mean how long does it take to get a Dr's appointment anyways and if its not unsafe to do why not.. Maybe a consultation first may of been a good idea. I tried coming off olanzapine previous to this, never felt so horrible in my whole life! Only dropped half the dose! It's unbelievable that the tablet actually fixes so many problems for me it's just crap that I'm tired/ lethargic, too chilled out all the time. Granted I do get more energetic times but when I get tired I can't do much at all. Its weird because even though I was scared for my life and depressed morning to night, was visiting family all the time as I felt that I'd didn't want to die alone at home I'm still more concerned about being tired when I compare halfing my olanzapine dose to my usual life on 5mg of olanzapine. Maybe that's because I could easily solve the horrible anxiety by taking more of the olanzapine tablets where as this tiredness I can't solve as of yet. Though maybe so by taking sertraline! Though I did hear I went a bit off my nut taking sertraline though I could of just been having a bit of an episode anyways.. Tbh I got really over confident anyways as my memory was top notch, could speak to people normally, get up really early, concentrate really good. Everything just seemed really fluent.. I mean I managed to remember my 1 to 12 tables in about 5 days which I can still remember now and I could look at 13 didget numbers once and remember them quite easily. Everything I have wanted for such a long time and more .... Bang! It was kinda crap though as I had reached normality but still no job, no friends and living on my own, I was getting bored really really easy as I'm used to being tired and withdrawn. Which suites someone with no friends and nothing to do. I had started going to church to make friends but I don't know about anyone else but church people are really boring and are different to the rest of us they might aswell have mental health problems as far as I'm concerned because if their was a god and he was good why is everyone on this message bored suffering with these problems eh. I just pretended to believe in god and didn't particularly like the personality of the people who went to these groups to do with god anyways as some used it to manipulate their opinions to be right by using quotes from the Bible which infuriated me but never mind about that haha. Anyways just thought I would pop a message on here, like we are not alone:)

After 40 years of treatment, I'm the one who said,l "Hey. I think I am bipolar!" I have bipolar 2. My most serious complaint is fatigue, exhausting, depleting, fatigue. Last spring I became so weakened, I couldn't walk without assistance, my memory was shot with significant mental confusion. My arms were even weak. I was put into the hospital with the doctors thinking I had had some kind of stroke. After thousands of dollars of testing, nothing showed up. They took me off lamictal, but my psychiatrist doesn't believe it had anything to do with my symptoms. I've had these symptoms in the past (only very milder) and am in a fatigue state now where my hands & arms feel weak and all I want to do is go to bed. I need to push for a definitive dx for these symptoms. At the same time, I remember being 16 and having to push through a wall of fatigue to do what I wanted & needed to do.
I want to encourage everyone. I started treatment in the mid 70"s. At that time, it was still common to have professionals who blamed mothers for their children's schizophrenia. Depression was caused by anger turned inward and and we could all get well if we just wanted to bad enough. And, medication was considered a crutch unless you were absolutely unable to function and the professional didn't know what to do with you. When medication was used, it was much like the brillcream commercial - "A little dab will do it." And then you went through it all again..... At least they know we have neurological disorders that are thought of as life-long. Now there are psychiatrists who truly function in a medical mode.

I just came across this page. I am on lamictal, lithium, prozac, an ADD medicine, Rexulti and valium for sleeping. I cannot add another medication to my list. For the past several days all I can do is sleep. I am taking two naps a day and going to bed very early and sleeping until morning. I cannot wait to take a nap as soon as I wake up. It's times like these I miss the mania. At least my house is clean, I am showered and am able to function. I just cannot do this anymore. I can't. There is no point to my comment other than to vent. It is depressing being depressed.

I’m bipolar type 1 and on a injection of drug to keep taking it. As I have a habit of taking myself off the drug in order to have energy. They took me into hospital in February and forced me to take medication otherwise I wouldn’t be allow to return home. I’ve since had to give up exercise, walking the dog & brain is foggy all the time. Even struggle to put clothes on at times. I’ve got myself a part-time job only 12 hrs but even that feels too much. I’m constantly thinking I wish I could take an injection of medication to combat this and end it... I can sleep 12 hrs a night and still want to sleep.. please tell me this is not just me. It’s like I have memory loss was a competent individual able to over come most things now a waste of space, lazy, in-creative and boring. Any suggestions appreciated

Its a relief to learn that i am not the only one,,,,i am alwaysracing in my mind with all the stuff i am up against for the week,,,,i am bipolar,,,i get tired very easily and feel this is lead on because i tire my mind and soul with every task i think of,,,i have worked with myself by using a form of meditation,,,i try not to ket it take me over because i have a shortattention span and i get annoyed pretty easily...so i try to help myself to stay calm and try to focus on what im doing at that moment,, i mess up sometimes and i just hate myself for losing my cool,, i usually end up yelling and arguing ,i wish i could find other avenues sometimes,,i believe that people who have bipolarism, we are very sensitive,,with all our senses, and we want everything perfect,,,we are very smart people and we get let down very fast,, because we move in our minds and feel the ending on anything which depresses our" spirit or drive"so quite frankly we work harder than one who does not have bipolorism, i believe it tires your mind,,,,maybe the sleep is actually the best part for this.And the medication i was prescribed is too strong for me,,,does anyone have a recomendation for a med, that has the exact dosage to put one into a better mode and mood?? Ive just been analyzed for the first time and was told i am bipolar, my moods got so bad, i was admitted to a clinic,,with no choice because i wound up in a very irate and wild mood swing....im so embarrassed, but in my own mind i felt it to be justified for the way i was,,, i got lost, the med im on is zirprasidone, is there one thats more popular than the one im on , it needs to be one that will not put me in a stuper mood of wanting to sleep?

So pleased I read this. My hubby has bipolar type 2 and is on medication under care of a psychiatrist. He is constantly tired and I have really struggled to understand it and feel as though he is just "giving up" or "being lazy" when he spends so much time on the weekends sleeping. This article has just opened my eyes to the tiredness just being a part of the disorder and that it is so difficult to fight against for the sufferer. Thank you! I will try to be more patient and undertsanding.

HELP! I am a newly sober bipolar schizoaffective diagnosed person who was homeless, a junkie basically, and had lost hope in my ability to have anything even close to a normal life. Long story short I reached out to my father for help to get into treatment and get back on the right track and how grateful I am that he paid for (he is very well off so it didn't put him out or I wouldn't have asked) a rehab and I am now home and trying to live sober and manage the bipolar as best I can, which means cooperating with medication. THIS IS INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT FOR ME as I struggle with having to take drugs, after I got into drug rehab to get away from putting any substances in my body. So I'm already really having to pray my way through the day and focus on the tiniest little victories and my gratitude to stay positive. I take Topomax, Depakote (THIS is the one I am certain, that with Haldol is just a nightmare when it comes to side effects), Haldol, Prozac and sleep aid. My father has let me live with him to get back on my feet and work at his office until I am further in my recovery, more stable, and able to live on my own the right way this time. Unfortunately with the *EXTREMELY* debilitating side effects of drowsiness, Fatigue, Lethargy, Disinterested, my mind is on Slo-Mo, motivation disappears, and I have to pretend I'm coherent and force myself to act like I'm all there or else I just appear lazy and feel the fatigue exacerbated. My concern/question/BEG FOR ADVICE or someone who gets it and can relate... is other than trying new meds (I've been going in for med switches to find what works for soooo many years on and off...and it gets to be so much that I become weak and turn to self medicating in the past) I'm wondering if there's a solution to at least make it easier to explain, show, handle the situation with family who has NO IDEA how hard this is and how bad I feel for being a useless zombie sometimes, cannot predict when, and certainly have no control over it. My dad is supportive, and I'm so grateful really, but it hurts and breaks me down and affects my self esteem when it's obvious he sees this as a choice I'm making and that I am just not trying hard enough or I'm making excuses. OMG! I can't even respond because I know I'll get upset and sick of trying to convince him that I have little to zero control over being able to get up and ready for work, stay awake at the desk during work, and keep up with life and my recovery in addition to the full time job. He assumes that the meds fix the problem and I am better now, and if I don't act like that it's on me. I am losing hope and I don't want to get discouraged to the point of relapse, giving up, having a breakdown, etc. I just want some advice or encouragement on how to make it clear that I am doing my absolute best! Thank you... ;_;

Good article. I'm dealing with a few of these issues as
well..

My GP and I think I have Rapid Cycling bipolar. I have yet to be diagnosed by psychiatrist. I have struggled through life with this daily up and down of moods and energy for 30 odd years. Unexplainable tiredness has been one of the hardest to accept. Thanks for helping me feel less like a lazy person who just can’t motivate herself.

Thanks so much for this article - it's great to know I'm not alone. I've been suffering from extreme fatigue since about 2012 - ever since I was diagnosed with Bipolar-2 Disorder. I take Lithium and Latuda - and I have to wonder if it's not the Lithium. I gave up talking to my doctors about fatigue a long time ago because they never offered any useful solution except to tell me to lose weight. (Yes, I have a few extra pounds to lose, but I'm not that overweight, and frankly, I gained weight because I was exhausted all the time and too tired to do anything). I exercise nearly every day - 60 minutes of walking or 30 minutes on an elliptical. It doesn't energize me or help at all - in fact it only makes me more tired. I've been tested for Sleep Apnea, had blood tests, and there's "nothing wrong" with me. Yet day in and day out I'm exhausted. I've learned to cope and I hope to find a solution eventually that will let me feel well and alive again, but until then, it's great to know that I'm not the only one going through this problem, that I'm not just lazy, or that it's not just in my head. Thanks!!!

I have found that the lithium had a disorder for me called hyperparathyroidism which includes tiredness. Also anemia and a lack of vitamin B-12 as I got older.

Wow I feel like I'm am sick I can't do anything stopped going to the gym stopped walking I think my colinopin make it worse I don't no but at times feel very suicidle I geuss just keep trying to do stuff no matter how hard

@Debbie - my psychiatrist has me on Vyvanse for bipolar 2 depression, and I love it. It's actually for ADD. Just letting you know of a possible option in case you and your doctor haven't discussed Vyvanse before

Well well! Finally I see that I'm not weird after all! My fatigue can sometimes be utterly ridiculous, but in reading all of you I see that it's okay after all. Thank you!!!

Not only am I bi-polar, I also have ADD. They both cause fatigue. It's awful. I too, am known for my naps.

Bipolar medication completely wiresssss me. I've tried to listen to "doctors" putting me on medication that made me want to die everyday. Thankfully my faith kept me going but it was hard. So hard. Thank God I got pregnant and got off those horrible Satan drugs. Do your research people. Think twice about what you put in your body. It's a temple, a holy place. Much love!

I've been on depakote for 6 months now and every time the doctor increased my meds I gained weight and became more tired. I don't work but I'm a stay at home mom and it's hard to keep up with everything. I just don't have the desire. Especially in the Fall/Winter months. I have to start saying no to friend get together because I just don't want to be around people. I could watch movies in bed everyday. My husband might divorce me! It's good to read all of your comments-no one likes to be alone!

Hi Theresa
I feel much the same way only I have bipolar 1 disorder. I'm taking anti seizure meds too. But medication is just one form of the many therapy options out there. I also have a counsellor now but I'm finding that it's not really helping me that much. I'm still tired and depressed most of the time.
Have you thought about seeking out a naturopathic doctor as an adjunctive form of therapy? I'm looking into a naturopath myself but first I wanna to try a light box. I'm off to get one today. My funds are pretty limited but anything is worth a try
R

I have been on tegretol for a few months now for seizures which seemed to be controlled now. However the tiredness is killing me. I used to be mildly border line bipolar. Enough to notice ups and downs but not severe enough to treat. I miss my ups. I am supposed to be doing a degree in social work and I can't help myself. So how can I possibly be of use to anyone else. I'm so tired that I don't spend nearly enough time doing fun things with my kids. I get more sleep than when my toddler was sleeping worse 6 months ago and yet I feel worse now. I forget peoples names who I know well. Forget the names for things or simply descriptive words. I have a tightness in my chest and sometimes my heart feels like it's beating funny. I am so low it feels like I won't live through this and maybe I shouldn't try. I feel like everyone knows I'm a faliure. Different. Not good enough. I have a few people who don't think that but maybe they just don't want to. They have their own problems. I was on a low dose of valporate with the tegretol and I'm sure I didn't feel this bad then. I don't know. I over think everything so much. No expert seems to really know, it's like they are all guessing. I think I felt better being wiped out from seizures. I can't even remember anymore. I miss being able to live on minimal sleep for a few days, get things done then crash for a week. It was better than seizures and medications.

It's just nice to see others like me. I wish I could take all your suffering away. I share it all: the never-ending grinding thoughts, sometimes horrid, violent thoughts; the highs so high you don't sleep for 2 days and tell everyone you're going to run for mayor of New York; the yelling at or around loved ones and then the heart-splitting guilt that follows; feeling like "I'm sorry" and "ill try to make my behavior better" are completely empty promises.... finding the right balance at work between a job you want to do, one you can do, and one you can last in without getting fired. I had to start a company to be able to feel safe and at peace at work.
I just wanted to write and say I get you. All of you. And your pain. I've been there. I'll be there tomorrow. This moment is a peaceful moment so I'll cherish it. I pray for more peace tomorrow. And I'll pray for you and your loved ones as well. May healing and wholeness be ours. Xo.

Hi All,
Just been to hospital for what I thought was heart as feeling tired and heart pounding. Now I am thinking its lithium as this came back very low on bloods. I reckon it's that. Anyone else had anxiety and health problems when lithium is to low. Feeling of exhaustion?

im a high functioning bipolar disorder person

All I can say is hang in there. Exercise helps. Time helps too.

Needing some support today. Reaching out to others who can relate... sending deep hugs out to you all.

I just came upon this post, while searching bipolar lethargy. I am taking lithium, lamictal & seroquel because I was having twirling thoughts, ruminating, round & round. I'm still having the twirling obsessive dark hopeless thoughts.
I'm joining in on the extreme lethargy discussion, to which I can relate. A load of laundry? Cook a meal? Maybe later or another day.
So it's now almost 3 & my big accomplishment is that I walked my dog for 1/2 hr & I managed to eat something fairly healthy. It's a gorgeous day & I'm feeling really low... and deeply lethargic. Trying to find help, support, & inspiration on YouTube videos and on psych sites.

I WISH I could nap. I absolutely cannot sleep during the day. My husband is a night owl. He is up until 1:00 a.m. most nights so the lights keep me up. I get up at Dawn to feed our cats, then go back to bed but rarely sleep deeply after that. Before going on meds, I had Tons of energy & also could nap during the day when needed. I got all my work done (when I had a job) & could help co-workers. I ran, walked, hiked & danced all the time. My meds really really slow me down. I take Depakote for manias & seizures (I am mostly manic). Seroquel (125 mg/night) to sleep, as I have had chronic insomnia leading to hallucinations all my life. Primidone to stop the shaking caused by Depakote. I wish scientists could find meds that do not make you sleepy/tired/fatigued.

Amy,
I am right there with you. Had the same problem of needing a 2+ hour nap at work and I'm sure my boss started to wonder what was going on everyday. Certainly didn't help my career and I was lackluster at best.
I've been BP-2 for 20+ years and here's what I've found. Routine go is is KEY. You need to go to sleep and wake up the same times 7 days a week. Naps aren't horribly deteriorating if you keep them short (<45 min) and limit to once a day. Also - Jen - BEWARE off going off meds as a diagnosed bipolar 1!!! The sad but true fact of life is we will ALWAYS be dependent on a medical regimen for the rest of our lives. Just a hard fact I guess. I've been on the same three for 15 years and it's worked pretty well.
I did want to ask though - does anyone also suffer from ADD? I'm finding it very hard to concentrate (last 2-3 years) but my Dr says he won't put me on anything for the ADD out of fear that it launch a "major manic episode"???

I was diagnosed with Bipolar 1 with primarily mixed symptoms a few years ago. I stopped taking medication completely 6 months ago after weaning down. I've been trying out natural alternatives, but not so sure how well that is working out for me. Some days I feel fine, others I feel some symptoms creeping back, and the majority of the time I feel somewhere in between. Lately, I am so tired. I am not sleeping excessively, but just unaturally tired by mid to late afternoon each day. I do have a toddler that I take care of all day. So I've wondered if that is the cause. However, the tiredness is accompanied by agitation and some other bipolar type symptoms. The fatigue I'm experiencing is very familiar, like what I was experiencing when I first got diagnosed with bipolar. Back then, they started me on Seroquel. I took it at night, and slept great. An hour or so of morning grogginess was followed by steady energy all day. I would not get tired again until I took the next pill. It was great. Had to stop the medication after a couple years bc I started to get involuntary muscle spasms all over and racing heart. sucks.
So, in my case, the fatigue is purely due to the disease and not the medication.

I just started on lithium, been on lamictal for 2 1/2 years. I wish I knew something to increase my memory or mental fatigue. Only 3 days on lithium and I'm really nauseated.

this is for sick and tired id like to talk with you about some options i had the same problems and some still to this day

Hi sick & tired
Every thing that you wrote is EXACTLY what I go through everyday. If only God would help us and cure us so we can lead a normal life! I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO TIRED TOO OF BEING SICK AND TIRED!

Lamictal is the onlu medication that has helped me with the exaustion. It took twelve years to find the right medication. I used to fall asleep everywhere. Couldn't keep my eyes open when I was driving! I also take Provigil (modanifil). I pretty good throughout the week, however I spend a good part of the day sleeping on Sundays. I have to take two days off of Provigil a week so as not to build a tolerance, and these days are way worse than on the days I do take it.

Amy where can I look for a job at home? Most of them have been scams. I have a BS in human services. I was taking graduate courses but had to quit. I was working full time and going to school full time but that has completely changed. I worked part timefor a nonprofit, but teaching parenting skills to those who have had their children removed from their home and we're required to see me to get them back. Also a class to first offenders and their parent. I need another field. These people hate me before we ever get started. Well, maybe I should say that they are really pissed off at everyone and don't believe they need any change in their lives. I take one sometimes two naps a day. If I don't I'm toast. Thank you for your help.

Amy,
I'm sorry to hear that you are feeling so tired. I too go through periods where I quickly get my son ready for school each morning and then am so tired that I lie back down and take a nap for 3 more hours. I feel like depression is always present to a small extent on meds but hypomania is gone. I miss it because I felt so happy about life, so fulfilled, more awake and energetic 7 hrs of sleep was enough vs my usual 12. One thing I thought of for you is if your provider is following your labs at least every 3 months. Lithium will cause hypothyroidism and you will need to take throid replacement medicine. Hypothyroidism can cause fatigue and tiredness among other things. Well just in case, I thought this was worth mentioning.