[Victoria'smom]

So now I'm coming to a point that I can try to deal with my other issues with my therapist but as soon as my mood goes haywire dealing with anything else doesn't seem possible and takes a back seat to BP. I know most of us have co-occurring issues how do you continue to improve them while dealing with an episode?

[BipolaRNurse]

Hmmmmmm......let's see. My husband was diagnosed with stage IV pancreatic cancer, and I recently came to the realization that my nursing career really is over. All within the past month. I'm surprised I'm NOT having any major problems with the BP right now, unless it's this slightly depressed and yet energetic state I'm in. It doesn't feel pathological, only a normal response to severe life stressors. In fact, I'm downright grateful my BP isn't kicking up......dunno what I'd do if it were to flare up with all that's going on.

[BlueInanna]

Wish I knew sweetie. Bp seems like the strongest of my comorbid (perfect horrible word) conditions. I sense this bp depression tidal wave heading my way, I've been holding it off. Who knows maybe it won't crash and destroy me, maybe it will, maybe I'm already destroyed. Not a good feeling. Can't find the words, I'm sorry, love you.

[Trippin2.0]

I've looked at this thread atleast 4 times today, and still I have no answer... I'm really sorry things are tough, and sorry that I have no pearls of wisdom to share either, but know that I'm thinking of you and love you muchness ((((((((MM)))))))))

[ultramar]

This is a really good question and something that has bothered me a great deal. I've made a lot of progress in therapy, but when I go into an episode, I feel that everything else -in therapy/other issues- necessarily get put on hold, and it's all about dealing with the episode, medication adjustments, going up, then the awfulness of lowering it again. My therapist helps me through this whole process, but I've wondered on occasion if he gets frustrated by things being put on hold like this, though this is probably me projecting --it frustrates the heck out of me!!

Luckily I only have a couple of episodes a year, but the whole process can take so long -the episode itself, then coming down on the meds which causes huge side effects- that therapy seems to go into this holding pattern. And then once the dust has cleared, it can take a while for me to readjust to therapy and try to continue where I had left off, which can be difficult. The thing is, things *aren't* exactly the same as when we left off anymore... Every time this happens, I feel like there's this subtle shift in me that has occurred that continues, within me somehow, after the episode is over.

So I don't have any advice, but am looking forward to responses here...

[Amelie10]

Originally Posted by Miguel'smom

So now I'm coming to a point that I can try to deal with my other issues with my therapist but as soon as my mood goes haywire dealing with anything else doesn't seem possible and takes a back seat to BP. I know most of us have co-occurring issues how do you continue to improve them while dealing with an episode?

You should be congratulated because you are working with a therapist on those other issues. You have already jumped over the biggest hurdle because you are taking action. Change will happen in those areas despite the BP setbacks. Sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly, but you will get there.

Take it one day at a time and be gentle with yourself. Every time I ready your tag about you, your husband and your son's diagnosis, I am inspired. Wow, you are doing it...living with your own issues and your families. Keep it up.

[comicgeek007]

I, too, am also looking for answers on this. I appear to have made a lot of progress with my ED (I enjoy food again!!!... and I'm spending way too much on it...) but who knows? Crash into depression and I might start back at square one.

[BlackPup]

I don't have an answer but wanted to send you some hugs. Hope the bp stabilises so you can go on with dealing with the other issues.

[Phoenix_1]

I have BP2 with OCD and GAD. My pdoc says that it's common to have anxiety disorders with BP2.
I dealt with my OCD in 1981 in what may seem a strange way. All my life I tried really hard to be perfect so that people would love me. I got straight A's to please my parents. I married the man they chose. When he turned out to be emotionally abusive, I tried to be the perfect little wife and mother. My house was spotless, there were no toys on the floor when he got home from work, I cooked his favorite meals and not the food I liked, etc.
In 1981, I separated from him (for 6 months only) and went to a woman's shelter in a nearby city. After 6 weeks in the shelter, I got my own apartment. At the time my kids were 1 and 3 years old.
During the time I was in this city I went to a "TA" (Transactional Analysis - I'm OK, You're OK) weekend minithon. Remember that this was the early 80's and pop psychology was popular. During that weekend I was able to let go of being perfect and my OCD decreased dramatically. I now have mild OCD, nothing like I had when I was young. (I'm 59).
Self help books and seminars sometimes do work. I don't know why, I just know it helped me.

[Victoria'smom]

okay so this my plan, I asked my t tomorrow and then I put the answer on here. Then I go on to tell her why I asked that question because usually as soon as she answers a question she asks why sometimes before. So you guys think?

[Victoria'smom]

Okay, I talked to my therapist about dealing with co-occurring issues when bipolar. She says Yes, the co-occurring issues will be aggravated during the your highs and lows but over time you'll catch your mood faster and be able to deal with everything else more often.

This year my anxiety disorders have almost taken precedence over the bipolar, what should have been probably a mild mixed mood this spring that could have been easily managed turned into a major one because the anxiety was like pouring gas on a smoldering fire. By the time I got meds on board to help with the anxiety I was on the down swing of the episode so then we had to deal with the lingering depression. Mixed episodes are already uncomfortable, the anxiety makes it almost unbearable. You have GAD so you know what I mean. Treating that as aggressively as the BP I think is important, it is for me. As for therapy, we are doing CBT but I don't have the ongoing issues you have in your life, its more for maintenance and watchfulness. My therapist can spot my moods pretty quickly and suggests I make emergency appts with my pdoc when she sees the need. They are in the same office. But yes, having the extra letters tacked onto our BP diagnosis makes things harder to deal with everything else in our lives. Both of my sons have adhd, they're grown now, but I remember how hard it was raising them, esp my oldest who was in sp ed. I wasn't diagnosed with anything while I was raising them, I dealt with school and drs and all that as best I could so I know how hard things must be for you, I feel for you and commend you for all you do. I'm not too sure I coped all that well back in the day, basically I just did what I had to do and slept when I could. I didn't know I had something that could be treated back then. Now that I'm 'retired' I have very little stress, I take lots of meds and I see my drs regularly.

[~Christina]

Hey MM

Sorry I have been less that supportive lately I just cant seem to pile words into a sentence than can be understood .. But I am here rooting you on hun !