[Creative1onder]

Hi there.
I just feel like writing on here as I'm currently going through a really difficult time. I am not working cos I'm not well enough to work and I have been trying to focus on dealing with mental health issues. But, i am having trouble getting people to take me seriously and to feel supported. A lot of ppl tend to judge me and criticise me instead of trying to listen, understand what going through and respond well to my needs.

I have been troubled by a mental illness for some years which I have really struggled to cope with. I know that I have suffered from severe debilitating depression a lot of the time but I also recognise manic episodes too and mixed states, meaning that I feel i have Bipolar Disorder and I took a few tests that showed high possibility of this but It is really difficult getting an actual thorough clear diagnosis by a mental health professional and feel im mainly the only one who has a good ideas of what kind of illness i have and ppl ignore /play down/twist things i say.

If i have a strong awareness of my circumstances and if ppl are making me feel worse than better by not treating me well and not taking me seriously, Is it possible for me to learn to manage Bipolar Disorder without professional medical help and support from others? Or is it a case of seeking private help, seeing a private psychiatrist and psycotherapist if nhs isnt working for me?The issue with going private is Im currently really low on money, Im in bank overdraft.

[hamster-bamster]

Originally Posted by Creative1onder

Hi there.
I just feel like writing on here as I'm currently going through a really difficult time. I am not working cos I'm not well enough to work and I have been trying to focus on dealing with mental health issues. But, i am having trouble getting people to take me seriously and to feel supported. A lot of ppl tend to judge me and criticise me instead of trying to listen, understand what going through and respond well to my needs.

I have been troubled by a mental illness for some years which I have really struggled to cope with. I know that I have suffered from severe debilitating depression a lot of the time but I also recognise manic episodes too and mixed states, meaning that I feel i have Bipolar Disorder and I took a few tests that showed high possibility of this but It is really difficult getting an actual thorough clear diagnosis by a mental health professional and feel im mainly the only one who has a good ideas of what kind of illness i have and ppl ignore /play down/twist things i say.

If i have a strong awareness of my circumstances and if ppl are making me feel worse than better by not treating me well and not taking me seriously, Is it possible for me to learn to manage Bipolar Disorder without professional medical help and support from others? Or is it a case of seeking private help, seeing a private psychiatrist and psycotherapist if nhs isnt working for me?The issue with going private is Im currently really low on money, Im in bank overdraft.

But you have not tried going through nhs, have you?

For me personally, I thought that what I was going through was just a phase (a really long one) and if I tried to just stay strong, it would pass but I eventually realized that without help, things were just getting worse and worse. A couple really scary things happened that were in essence that straw that broke the camels back so I decided to seek help instead of just trying to hold it all in and keep it together by myself. Good luck.

[faerie_moon_x]

Even if you have no support of friends and family, try to get in to see a psychiatrist or psychologist as soon as you are able. Don't expect people to change their tune after diagnosis, though. Sometimes even having proof means nothing.

It is an unfortunate truth that many people don't believe in mental illness or don't want to deal with it. Or they will label you with things that are false or misleading from the media. The thing I have learned is you have to take care of you. If you are lucky enough to find one person who supports you, then you are a truly blessed person. Otherwise, we're all on our own in this and it's terrible.

The forum may only be anonymous internet people, but it is a good support.

[Moose72]

Yes. This board is good.

[LucyG]

Originally Posted by Creative1onder

Hi there.
I just feel like writing on here as I'm currently going through a really difficult time. I am not working cos I'm not well enough to work and I have been trying to focus on dealing with mental health issues. But, i am having trouble getting people to take me seriously and to feel supported. A lot of ppl tend to judge me and criticise me instead of trying to listen, understand what going through and respond well to my needs.

I have been troubled by a mental illness for some years which I have really struggled to cope with. I know that I have suffered from severe debilitating depression a lot of the time but I also recognise manic episodes too and mixed states, meaning that I feel i have Bipolar Disorder and I took a few tests that showed high possibility of this but It is really difficult getting an actual thorough clear diagnosis by a mental health professional and feel im mainly the only one who has a good ideas of what kind of illness i have and ppl ignore /play down/twist things i say.

If i have a strong awareness of my circumstances and if ppl are making me feel worse than better by not treating me well and not taking me seriously, Is it possible for me to learn to manage Bipolar Disorder without professional medical help and support from others? Or is it a case of seeking private help, seeing a private psychiatrist and psycotherapist if nhs isnt working for me?The issue with going private is Im currently really low on money, Im in bank overdraft.

Fortunately, there are natural supplements such as amino acids and lithium orotate [a natural mineral supplement sold in health food stores] that are extremely effective in controlling bipolar apart from having to see a Pdoc and the like. Amino acids are the building blocks of neurotransmitters which is what most BP meds work on, so instead of taking a med to do what my body isn't, I give it the nutrients it needs to do the job, and I've had remarkable success. I've had BP2 for over 40 years, was diagnosed 19 years ago, went on meds for the next 13+ years, had horrific side-effects, went off them and started treating myself using amino acids. My naturopath just added the lithium orotate 2 months ago.

I use the following:

For hypomania I the amino acid GABA and lithium orotate, and for depression I use the amino acids 5-htp that puts serotonin in the brain, and DL-phenylalanine [DLPA]that puts dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain. DLPA will raise your blood pressure, and is stimulating so it needs to be taken in the morning. By putting dopamine and norepinepinephrine in the brain, it makes you feel like life is worth living. I'm to the point I only take it when I'm extremely depressed, and the 5-htp has helped for more than a day or so. I worked out a standard dose of each thing, and then if my mood shifts, I take more of whichever one is needed, and my mood generally returns to normal within 18 hours unlike the 6 days it used to take when I had to call the Pdoc, wait for med adjustments and the like. The only side-effect I've had is some tingling in my hands if I take a high dose of GABA, but that goes away within an hour or so.

My supplements cost me around $50 a month depending on how stable my mood is.

Here are some links to help you see what's out there:

This is an alternative mental health site that actress Nicole Kidman is associated with:

http://www.alternativementalhealth.c...ut/default.htm

This is a book on treating depression naturally using vitamins, minerals, amino acids and the like:

http://www.amazon.com/What-Your-Doct...r+*+depression

This is a book on amino acids and how they help various disorders, especially mental ones.

http://www.painstresscenter.com/Heal...oductinfo/AA4/

[Cocosurviving]

Welcome to PC. I encourage you to consider seeking a professional to be officially diagnosed. Check with your local depart of mental health and/or NAMI (www.nami.org) abt mental health treatment based on income. I was diagnosed not long ago and it was the best thing for me. I was misdiagnosed w/ depression and PTSD. My condition worsened and I sought a second opinion. I see a med provider, a therapist and I'm stable. I do have a small support system.

[hamster-bamster]

Cocosurviving, OP is in Britain, hence the reference to nhs.

[Creative1onder]

But I have been trying to seek professional help and support through GPs, and mental health professionals on NHS but i have had a lot of negative experiences. I have not managed to get a thorough assessment by a professional, a psychiatrist. I ahve been told I need to be assessed over a longer period to determine if i have bipolar disorder not in jst one assessment alone. But has this been possibel for others to be assessed properly and diagnosed with Bipolar in a one assessment or did it take longer, was it also difficult process? I am struggling to get ppl incl health professionals to take me seriously and offer me approp and sufficient help. I have so far been judged as having mild to moderate depression and not an illness, when was in A&E staff said I dont have a medical problem and I was kicked out of hospital in the middle of the night when in crisis so when I get suicidal I feel I can go somewhere safe where can be looked after, receive urgent help. And at other times I feel I am suffering alone with this illness but i live with my parents and they are affected by it too, for ex the irritability/anger associated with it.

[hamster-bamster]

Who exactly knows that you are at times suicidal?

Mild to moderate depression is still an illness.

[canacrip]

St. John's Wort is also helpful in fighting depression for some.

[canacrip]

The problem with diagnosing bi-polar is that the doc usually only sees the patient in crisis. Usually, that means really depressed. They rarely get to see the manic side because we don't feel a need for docs of any stripe when we are feeling that good. Dr.'s just bring you down. For a psychiatrist to correctly diagnose bp, there has to be evidence of ongoing behaviors and consequences that go with being manic. For instance, the use of really poor judgment when you are an otherwise intelligent person, going on spending sprees you can't afford, affairs, etc. We tend to be erratic when manic. Tell your t about any times you might have had issues as a result of manic behavior. Good luck!

[Creative1onder]

Its not mild -moderate depression. I suffer mainly from clinical depression and high anxiety but I do get manic episodes and mixed states too.

[Creative1onder]

I also get suicidal thoughts and behaviour when severely depressed and get really irritable and psychotic at times.

[likewater]

((((creative1onder))))) i totally get it. don't listen to ignorant people. as long as you are alive, you are beating this. not everyone will be supportive, but the longer you live, the more you will find understanding people. i've found the hardest thing is to be kind and forgiving to myself. so treat yourself gently. may angels surround you.

[Broken Angel]

For me I am just depending on myself. I don't take medicines nor go to a Pdoc nor get any support from anyone. The only support I get is over here.
It's kind of hard at times but overall helping myself and being strong isn't a really hard thing when you get used to it.

[Creative1onder]

In my experience struggling, battling this illness alone is really tough, exhausting and frigtening. Trying to cope with it requires help and support from others esp professionals and ppl who are close.

[faerie_moon_x]

It is hard by myself sometimes, but I know if I don't then no one will. The main thing I've learned is that I have to be my primary support person. I have to be my advocate. I have to be the one who takes responsability. You can't always rely on other people to be there, to care, to notice, and you can't always have a professional where I live due to money.

[Creative1onder]

I dont think its possible to deal with a mental illness like Bipolar alone, with little or no help and support from others. I have learnt through experience that battling alone is exhausting and destructive. Ive suffered a great deal in silence and reached very low points. I am aware of how difficult things get for me that I get severe mood swings, the really dark and high periods, there is a lot of regular instability.
We dont have capacity to cope with everything by ourselves. Helping myself, taking responsibility for my life involves understanding my illness, circumstances, accepting I need help and taking the necessary steps to get what I need so that things can be more manageable and positive for me.
This yr I made a real effort to admit that I am ill and to seek professional help, I realised that Im not coping very well on my own so I have been brave and determined to do so but I have been met with a lot of negative experiences which made me feel worse and close to giving up, I felt in real danger of ending my life. but im still trying.