[manic most days]

Grr is all that I can say right now!!! I've started reading a new book about bipolar and in the first chapter it expalins the writer has absolutely no more manic or depressive cycles anymore. Okay why not me then?!?
Should I be expecting more relief than I am getting?!?! I am a rapid cycler that is manic most of the time. I am CONSTANTLY accused of being on drugs so much so that I literally called children services on my darn self!!! I am sick of proving to people that I'm just bipolar which to them means crazy erg!!!
On one hand I am like middle fingers in the air to everyone because I am the biggest over achiever there is but does it affect my kids do they think I'm crazy sometimes? That stupid mental health worker stuck a little jab in saying imagine how your mania appears to your child so of course over and over and over this has gone in my head like a ping pong ball in there!!!!

[MommaR]

I know how it feels. I often wonder how my kids still love me after some of the things I say and do- but they do. They arent perfect but they sure do love unconditionally- even the teenagers who occassionally yell I HATE YOU! come back and say sorry quick enough

[manic most days]

My son 14 is sitting in shelter refusing to come home to me only to his alcoholic father whom doesn't make him follow his probation, smokes pot, can't carry a stable home. I get it, it's the easy way out but throw me under a bus to do it???

[moremi]

Well I used to be manic most of the time and I sure as hell was a better mother. I had everything done. Nobody wanted or needed anything because I had it done before they could even ask for it. Wow I miss those days.

[Setso]

Yes I can empathize

World is very unfair

[Setso]

Yes I can empathize

World is very unfair

While it may well be that you can get more relief than you are getting, the first thought that came to mind about the book was wondering if it was by one of those "I'm totally cured and you can be too if you follow my ways!" books. Because... when he claims to have absolutely no cycling, I'm sorry, but he either didn't actually have it or is in remission. Or delusional, which, well, that makes me chuckle with irony.

I won't say that there aren't measures one can employ to smooth the road a bit and improve things in general. But don't get me started on grandstanding gurus. Having all the answers, speaking in absolutes, if someone doesn't reach the top of Everest like their super-fantastic self has, then they just aren't really trying. Because if the really apply the author's magic formula, it will work. Any evidence to the contrary is met with this response, which is a ridiculously easy "out". And doesn't prove a thing. The entire super-success guru genre drives me up a wall. And though BP books are barely represented, I just couldn't help but wonder from the "no cycling" thing.

Anyway, sorry about the rant. Anyhow... if any of that sounds like what you were reading, and it makes you feel worse, you probably want to consider reading something else.

Welcome to the forums, btw!

[manic most days]

Originally Posted by Innerzone

While it may well be that you can get more relief than you are getting, the first thought that came to mind about the book was wondering if it was by one of those "I'm totally cured and you can be too if you follow my ways!" books. Because... when he claims to have absolutely no cycling, I'm sorry, but he either didn't actually have it or is in remission. Or delusional, which, well, that makes me chuckle with irony.

I won't say that there aren't measures one can employ to smooth the road a bit and improve things in general. But don't get me started on grandstanding gurus. Having all the answers, speaking in absolutes, if someone doesn't reach the top of Everest like their super-fantastic self has, then they just aren't really trying. Because if the really apply the author's magic formula, it will work. Any evidence to the contrary is met with this response, which is a ridiculously easy "out". And doesn't prove a thing. The entire super-success guru genre drives me up a wall. And though BP books are barely represented, I just couldn't help but wonder from the "no cycling" thing.

Anyway, sorry about the rant. Anyhow... if any of that sounds like what you were reading, and it makes you feel worse, you probably want to consider reading something else.

Welcome to the forums, btw!

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! I read that and was like what WHAT?! Am I not explaing myself clearly enough to the med Dr or what?!?! Because relief? I experience none other than being able to sleep now which woohoo that is some serious relief in itself but wow ya not going to move more into that book

Hmmm, ok I just want to say one thing. And I have no idea what book this is, or who this guy is.

But I do believe it is very possible for people to move from having rapid horrible bipolar ups and downs and all the in between, to a place where they no longer have any. It's not impossible. But like IZ is saying, it's not like they claim, do as I do and you will be here.

Obviously what worked for this guy is not going to work for everyone else. Some of it might help and some might not. Only way to find out what will help you is to try it out and to know when to ditch what isn't working.

I used to watch documentaries and read about this same thing, and I had the same reaction you had. Why are they getting off and out of this, and I am sitting here trying as hard as I can and still not getting better? It really felt defeating and depressing to think about. So ya, if this book is making you feel worse, put it down. I actually talked to my pdoc about this very thing, he wasn't so helpful either mind you. Actually he made it worse, by telling me what an impossible case I am. Right now I would seriously have to beg to differ with him, I am not an impossible case at all. Maybe it seemed that way, maybe he couldn't offer me an approach that I needed.

The only thing I would say, is try not to put down some of the ideas, who knows they might actually really help, but you can probably find the same ideas somewhere else, that doesn't have this "one size fits all cure" mentality going on.

Yeah, that's a good way to put it, Anika: "one size fits all"!
And when someone holds a one size fits all view they do tend to come across as a bit ... well, obnoxious/arrogant/intolerant, take your pick(!) That goes for about every subject, imo. To each his own and all that.

Anika is totally right in saying that people can make great strides. (And knows of what she speaks.) Nothing comes without hard work, but WHAT that work entails varies from person to person. And sometimes even with hard work, success proves elusive. Anyway, if the book is obnoxious and making you feel bad, choose something else to read. If it's one of those "yeah, some of this might be useful but" things, you can set it aside. Some books are meant for another time. (And some are meant for no time at all, lol.)

[manic most days]

Thanks guys!!! It is actually a book with MANY MANY points of view but for me RIGHT NOW being belittled over the mania and told to knock it off, it looks bad, seriously at the moment I read that I threw the d*mn book at the wall!!! Your right too much!!
Am I the only one that is super fascinated by learning as much as possible about this diagnosis? I'm drawn to any book my Dr suggest or I see and I am all over it, I've noticed a lot more about myself and how different this disease can present itself in people.

[MommaR]

I am trying to learn all I can about it bc I have been in some form of denial for a long time. I accepted the diagnosis pretty well on one level- it explained so much for me, but on the other hand, I had done a pretty good job of denying how much it had effected my life negatively. Im finally ready to deal with it openly and honestly and find some answers. This group has been a wealth of info and support already and I've only been here a few days.

[manic most days]

Originally Posted by MommaR

I am trying to learn all I can about it bc I have been in some form of denial for a long time. I accepted the diagnosis pretty well on one level- it explained so much for me, but on the other hand, I had done a pretty good job of denying how much it had effected my life negatively. Im finally ready to deal with it openly and honestly and find some answers. This group has been a wealth of info and support already and I've only been here a few days.

AGREED!!!! I like it here.... It really does help to have others experiences and points of view!! Many times I've thought I wish I had a BP friend that understood

Originally Posted by manic most days

AGREED!!!! I like it here.... It really does help to have others experiences and points of view!! Many times I've thought I wish I had a BP friend that understood

Now you will have lots of Bipolar friends! This site has helped me so much, I am really glad you both found it!