[260Rogers]

How does one come to terms with and accept Bipolar? I cannot shut my mind off at night. It’s all I think about and it’s causing me insomnia. How does one come to terms with having to be on meds for the rest of their life? I’ve felt suicidal over this. It’s really consuming me. Please any comments or suggestions are appreciated.

[MadHatter0416]

Originally Posted by 260Rogers

How does one come to terms with and accept Bipolar? I cannot shut my mind off at night. It’s all I think about and it’s causing me insomnia. How does one come to terms with having to be on meds for the rest of their life? I’ve felt suicidal over this. It’s really consuming me. Please any comments or suggestions are appreciated.

I have struggled for a very long time and have only recently been diagnosed and begun treatment after being hospitalized. I can relate to what you are going through. I am trying very hard not to obsess on being bipolar as a life sentence, rather I am working very hard to see this as an opportunity. A chance to live a life that had previously been completely out of reach without help. In my situation the meds are not enough by themselves. I am trying different therapists looking for a good fit, I am going to support groups and I am trying to apply the experience and success others share with me with in my own world. It's not been easy, I know I have a great deal to learn but I actually have hope today that I can live a better future than anything I've known in the past. I don't know if any of this will be of any use to you but I think it always helps to know that we are not alone, in most of our struggles there are others who have experienced, are experiencing and will experience times very similar to our own. Best wishes in all of your endeavors, hold onto hope, you are worth it!

[Victoria'smom]

I take my meds one day at a time. Thinking about long term meds for a person that doesn't even take Tylenol makes me cry and flush them. I use weekly T to help me with this. T doesn't remind me / ask me to take my meds forever but just try to take them until the next time we see each other. T reminds me we're working on better coping skills and they're working on better drugs for us. (T's also on BP meds). He reminds me of the hicups and close calls I've had on meds and reminds me of some of the close calls with my old T. As long as I'm part of their company it's meds or quickly back to IP. They both (t, pdoc) give me days not weeks to deteriorate back down to hospital quality if I'm off meds. I'm considered Heavily medicated.

As far as accepting BP. I haven't but this is the way I see it. My uniqueness has always and will always be a part of me they just call it BP. I refuse to hate any part of who I am so it justs sits there, useless information right now until There's a reason for it.

When I first learned I had BP I cried and cried, thought I was just like my mom and my sisters. I cried as I dropped school once again because stress was to much. I downsized my life, accepted help financially, but need meds, therapy ha, not me. slowly I'm calming down and realizing meds can help without stealing who you are and therapy can be a lifesaver.

[TryingToMoveForward]

It isn't easy, and its something you grow more comfortable with over time. These medications can help save your life and keep you from IP care. That's how I think of it. I'm out in the world, function, with a job, because of my meds. That doesn't mean I don't have episodes anymore, but with meds and therapy, I weather episodes a lot better than I use to. Learn what you can about being bipolar. Talk to people on here too, we've been there or are going through the same thing. So you're not alone.

Try not to obsess. Think about other things too, like what makes you happy, what you enjoy. Focus time and energy on a hobby. Something I've picked up recently is an adult coloring book that also acts as a therapy book. While you color it asks you questions. I got it for like $8 at Walmart and use Crayola crayons. It's inexpensive and very calming. So if you're sitting up unable to sleep, find an activity to occupy your time so you're not getting stressed out and anxious. I often find doing something, as simple as coloring or cleaning up my room a bit, helps tremendously.

For me...I was diagnosed with a mild form of schizophrenia. When I found out it was a misdiagnosis, that I was only bipolar...I almost cried for joy. Not because its an easy disorder to have, but schizophrenia...that's a really hard one to swallow. And feel ashamed of. For me dealing with a bipolar diagnosis is easier than the schizoaffective one. What I always told myself, when symptoms were acting up, is that I have a beautiful mind, and now I add that I'm a beautiful person. Watch the movie A Beautiful Mind if you haven't already. And Benny and Joon. Whenever I need a pick me up about my multiple diagnoses, I watch those movies and they make me feel better.

Being bipolar is definitely not the end of the world. It just means you have a condition that needs to be managed. And its possible to manage it and live a mostly normal life. Take heart my friend. It's going to be okay.

[pirilin]

I wrote so much my browser crashed.

Rest assured your situation is not unique. And not the worst.
There are many of us in jail or institutions. For life.
Millions take meds every day. Worse meds and injections.
I know you care about yourself, not the rest.
But thankfully your condition was caught in time.
All you need to do is follow the protocol
and the condition will be controlled.
Best of lucks.

I looked back over my life and in the hindsite realized that my diagnosis was the reason for much of what I experienced. I suddenly had an understanding. Also, I grew up knowing I was somehow different and alone for most of my life - until the diagnosis. For the first time I realized I wasn't - that there actually existed a group to which I belonged and as such actually felt a sense of normalcy.

Acceptance was the easy part; not so much the idea of medication. When I was diagnosed I was manic. I was loving life. Why would I want to change that? How dare someone else make me change? But I couldn't maintain the high and several months without the meds and I crashed - and burned badly. It took a real rough and hard look at myself before I realized that maybe I did need the help of medication before I truly made a complete mess of things.

Consider for yourself the advantages and disadvantages of taking your medication. Look closely at the disadvantages; are they legitimate or what you wish to believe to be true. Now look at those disadvantages that are left; what are you truly prepared to do to solve them if you chose to go without the meds.

You may in fact come up with a alternative plan after doing this. If that is the case I wish you luck. You may also however come up with a realisation that perhaps a medication plan is what will work best.

What I am really getting at is you need to give this careful thought.

Remember though, YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

[seoultous]

You are the same person you were before being diagnosed bipolar as you are today. What did the diagnosis change? You now have a label attached to a constellation of symptoms that psychiatrist know how to treat. Develop a trusting relationship with both your pdoc and therapist. If you don't have either one, my advice is to start shopping around.

What scares you about having bipolar because you sound frightened to me? While there are some aspects of the disease that are troublesome, by and large once you get meds that work and a therapist to help you, it becomes just like any other chronic illness. Yes, you will likely need medication for the rest of your life but so do diabetics and others with some types of physical illnesses. A mental illness is really no different.

I'm not going to lie, there are acute phases of bipolar which can really be painful, but again there are painful acute physical injuries as well. Hopefully you will be able to find a mix of meds, therapy, and lifestyle choices that minimize these acute episodes so you can have long stretches of stability.

[RomanJames2014]

I'm the same way. I was diagnosed back in late July and it consumes a big part of my life. There's moments where I don't believe it and right now I don't get any support from friends or family for it.
I also can't stop obsessing over it. I get nervous every time I think about people somehow finding out at work and school.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Nammu]

It's not a judgement
It's not a character flaw
It's not who you are, it's what you have.
There's a huge stigma against mental illness but you don't need to be part of the stigma against yourself'

It's much easier to say these things than to accept them

Try going to a support group like DBSA or NAMI, it will help you see there's all kinds of people from many different walks of life with this illness. Do get a good therapist who can help you learn ways to cope and accept the BP