[Moose72]

So its that time of year. Fall. That means mania may be around the corner. My pdoc suggested I get a light box. I have heard they are very expensive. The last time I saw her, she was pretty dismissive of what I thought I needed. She seemed to list off things and not take my feelings into consideration. She ticked off things onto her notepad and it wasn't so much of a conversation as a pat-answer back-and-forth. I did ask her about disability for a letter for my lawyer and she just gave me the run-around and said there is a committee for that and that she cannot write a letter as its against what is good for me: i.e. to get me better. What a bunch of hoooie! I understand wanting to not write me off as sick forever, but if I have issues with working I have issues with working. That doesn't mean that I'm a dead-beat.

Meanwhile, I am down to my last two or so appointments left for the year and I'd really like to see my therapist, but who knows what October and November will bring. Last year, I was hospitalized in November for a week. My pdoc said that was from the Saphris and I agree that that didn't help, but I think it was the last straw- a big last straw. The year before, I had had hallucinations and some other odd sensations at work in October or November, too. Simply telling me to sit under a light feels like writing me off.

I will be bipolar forever. Why can't my pdoc see this?

[venusss]

Simply telling me to sit under a light feels like writing me off.

so what you want from her exactly? What solution?

And I don't know. Maybe you are writting off potentially helpful solutions. Many find lightboxes helpful.

[Moose72]

I need a letter saying I can't work because of my bipolar. I have had numerous jobs that I couldn't keep for very long because of bipolar issues. Lightboxes might help but they are very expensive.

[venusss]

Can't you loan them? I know psych magazines here have ads that offer that.

and what were your "bipolar issues" on jobs? Could that be handled somewhat by accomodations or finding a job that is part time/from home?

[Moose72]

My lawyer thinks I have a case for not being able to work because of my bipolar. I just need this committee to agree. I always start a job and can't keep it. I hallucinated at a job and felt really odd and out of it and got stared at and told I couldn't leave and then fired. That kind of thing.

[Trippin2.0]

There's talk of Light boxes that are helping members in the "Can ppl with BP1 have SAD" thread. I'm sure I saw some info on cheap ones. Maybe check it out, ask how others find them helpful?

[Anika.]

Is she suggesting a light box to help with mania...that is confusing. Light boxes help with depression, mania is the opposite and too much light can make it worse. How many people you see here have a trend to get more manic in spring and summer or end of summer and depressed in winter. It's like the sleep issue, too much depressed , not enough manic. If you look up light boxes and bipolar you will see that mentioned often. If she is suggesting it for depression..fair enough. My pdoc once wanting to pay for indoor tanning sessions for me to help with depression.

I actually had success with limiting my light exposure in spring and summer, resulting in less mania.

Moose you said mania may be around the corner. Which leaves room for may not be. Try to focus on the idea that it may not be.

What is the committee she is reffering to?

[Moose72]

My mania has shown up in the Fall. Go figure. What you said makes sense that more light may make it worse if its helpful with depression.

There is a committee that deals with whether or not you can be considered disabled from mental illness at my pdoc's office, apparently. She can't just say I am without going through them first. I don't know much about them other than that. That they have to see me and decide?

[Moose72]

Amazon.com: sad light box

found these. called happy boxes

[Moose72]

Light therapy may trigger mania in some people with bipolar disorder.


http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...52164340,d.aWc

and....

Typically, patients must sit in front of a special light box for about 30 minutes a ... In addition, light therapy has been reported to lead to mania in some patients ..

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...52164340,d.aWc

[venusss]

*may*

many things *may* trigger mania, including psyching yourself out over fall. Why not try and be observant about your symptoms, or not enlighten yourself as much? Depending where you live... you may take extra light with no trouble.

[Moose72]

Does the light deal with extra serotonin levels? Is that how antidepressants work?

[venusss]

Light is stimulating. Not sure how it works on which part of brain, but it's logical. All species more or less hybernate through the winter times.

I want to get this thing when I have the funds Dawn simulation - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Moose72]

I've been exercising the last few weeks and it seems to be helping. I thinking I'm doing pretty well lately. It doesn't hurt that I've found a soulmate of sorts and we talk every night and its so nice.

[Muppy]

Not to be the voice of doom and gloom, but it does not matter if your pdoc thinks you are disabled because of bipolar. You must meet Social Security standards for approval and that is very tough. I applied, after 3 suicide attempts and 3 failed jobs. I have a master's degree. Social Security agreed that I had to have limited social interaction because of PTSD and that I could not perform at my previous level, but......I could pack boxes. They agreed with the difficulty of all my symptoms...but I could pack boxes. I couldn't even do that if there was a productivity expectation, but I could pack boxes. Perhaps I'm cynical about Social Security Disability, but it seems to me that they try their very best NOT to approve you.
My pdoc has recommended a light box for my depression. In addition to Bipolar I had SAD and the short days have me wanting to sleep, sleep, sleep.
Hope I didn't sound too negative.