[Breaking Point]

Hello, I have just joined this site after being diagnosed with Bipolar, Id like to learn a lot more about it and would be interested to see how people are dealing with it, does it get any easier? and how may this effect my normal day to day living?

Hope everyone is well.

Its nearly the weekend (thank god)

Warm regards

Crystal

[BlackPup]

Welcome....

How does it effect life: its different for everybody - you have lows and highs that can affect your relationships and work, and you have side effects from drugs that can make you dopey, sleepy, shakey, hungry and thirsty....

It's a long journey with lots of twists and turns... there are drugs to help but they have side effects and it can take some time before you get a combination that works...

With the right drugs and therapy, you can have a "normal" life... with minimal side effects and good control of symptoms, but if you read through this forum you can see how hard it can be to find the right meds...

Things you can do to help
Take your meds
Talk to your doctor about problems
See a therapist
Set wake up and sleep times and do it!!!
Eat healthy and Exercise (do what I say not what I do!!!!)
Track your mood
Learn about BP

[Anneinside]

BlackPup has good ideas for you. I would also suggest that you read Bipolar for Dummies. It is inexpensive and has clear, concise information. As to what it is like day to day... you already know.

[blueoctober]

Welcome Crystal. What I found helped me was educating myself on bipolar. I've read over 20 books on the subject and my fav is in my signature. It's for significant others/family members, but I found it was very informative for myself. Finding the right med combo was frustrating for me, but it was well worth the effort.

I was diagnosed in 2007 (at age 32) and I'm much better at managing the illness now. When I was initially diagnosed I thought all I had to do was take my meds and I would be cured. That didn't happen and it will never happen. It takes effort on my part to manage the illness, but each year I've gotten better at it. I made this list for someone else that was newly diagnosed and it includes what blackpup suggested and some others. I hope it helps

·Take meds as prescribed.
·Educate yourself on the illness.
·Be honest with your psychiatrist, GP, therapist etc.
·Get regular sleep, if you can't sleep ask for a prescription for sleep to be taken regularly or as needed.
·Eat properly i.e. avoid excessive caffeine, junk food etc.
·Avoid alcohol.
·Avoid non-prescription drugs and/or drugs not prescribed to you.
·Exercise regularly.
·Set a routine for yourself i.e. getting up at the same time, going to sleep at the same time.
·Surround yourself with people that fill you up.
·Take time for yourself.
·Be patient. The med regime for many diagnosed does take time, but it's worth taking the time.
·Write in a journal especially with how you are feeling right now; that way if you ever considered going off meds it may help you make a better decision.
·Track your mood. Great free one online at http://www.medhelp.org/land/mood-tracker
·And finally remember you aren't your diagnosis. You have bipolar, but you aren't bipolar.

[reader71]

Everyone has such good advice, but I just want to add that yoga and meditation have helped me greatly with managing my bipolar. I also think that it's important to be vigilant about doing the things that Beth and Crystal describe. I did very well for about two years because I stuck to a regimen and took my meds and stopped drinking. I stopped taking my meds last June and generally tried to ignore my disorder, but I'm back to square one. It's okay though because I am committed to getting myself healthy again. It's tough, but manageable. Good luck to you.

[BlackPup]

thanks Anneinside...
Always love your list Beth
Just for emphasis I might restate:
TAKE YOUR MEDS and stop deciding that you don't need them!!!!!!!!!
That's been my biggest issue!!!!
Does it get easier??? Don't know about easier, but better - definitely
Not sure if life is ever easy, but the depressions always end... I'm not sure what your struggles are so it is hard to give a good answer. I have learnt heaps about myself because of therapy, meds control the imbalances, I'm surronded by people I know will stick by me coz they have... life is good

[Direction]

Originally Posted by Breaking Point

...how may this effect my normal day to day living?

Lots and lots of good advice here...this question of yours seemed to jog a thought...you pretty much know your normal day to day living...now you may find yourself (with help from professionals) able to better understand how you've felt all along finding ways to be more _____ (fill in the blank according to your values).

I saw the comment about being honest...I've been evasive and many times didn't think I was telling that thing that starts with "whole". Getting honest with myself and those helping me has been a positive turn. Although the word "whole" can be elusive

[Trippin2.0]

[sugahorse1]

Hi and welcome!

BP is very complex and my first advice is to learn patience. Finding the right meds can be a HUGE rollercoaster, and there are going to be times where you really just need to be patient to see the outcome.
Yoou will go through phases of feeling down, and then joyfully manic, but as your meds improve, this will happen less and less.
You will learn to notice patterns and be able to prepare yourself much better. So while it doesn't necessarily become easier, it does become more familiar, and you learn to cope with it.
Talking to people who know and understand has also helped me a lot.
And I cannot tell you how much therapy has helped me too - just someone to check in with weekly, that cares and doesn't judge