Questions Bipolar Version 3

only do what you know you can handle on that day.

question:

are you good at following advice? (or do you usually just go about it your own way)

Depends on the advice and who is giving it.

Does your mental illness affect your relationship with your siblings?

I don't think my brother really understands. Also, since he is a very anxious person who probably fits criteria for at least one mental health disorder, I don't think he wants me to disclose much. He's witnessed very bad fights between my mother and I, and conversation about things being "wrong with me," growing up, so I'm sure that must of affected him. Other than that, we have a decent relationship. I can't go to him though. He goes to me. I still have the "big sister" role.

Can you think of a famous person that reminds you of yourself?

I don't know about famous, but people always say to me that I remind them of elsa from the disney film frozen

I can live with that. I can see why they'd say that

question:

if you could change 1 thing about your treatment, what would you change?

That I was able to go to a day centre for my mental health I can't as I volunteer at both centres. I have a good team behind me I think and I have access to them when ever I need them. They are always a phone call away

Question: What's the best thing about your treatment

It is keeping me closer to level than I've ever been.

Question: When you are having trouble sleeping does sleeping somewhere else (couch, spare bed) help you sleep?

Couch, although that doesn't always work. Sometimes it just winds me up more b/c I more likely to be on my phone there.

For those currently "stabilized" on meds, do you still get breakthrough symptoms?

oh I agree with you on this!

sleeping on the couch is just a recipie for disaster

couple of episodes of family guy and some cookies, anyone?

and i'm not stabilised so can't answer the ****ing question.

question:

how often do you drink?. do you drink at all?

(alcahol of course, you all drink juice or soda!)

I dont drink at all right now, pdoc just told me 1 drink once a year is allowed lol. In the summer I was drinking heavily every day. It comes and goes though so not sure how long the not drinking will last. I thought about it tonight but I feel good and husband is on nights so I made the right choice and didnt drink.

How old were you when you got your diagnosis?

25 years old

Question: Are there any foods that we should avoid that increases mood changes?

I have never believed in the whole " food changes your mood" thing.

maybe some people do notice it, but not me.

question:

for those who have now accepted their diagnoses, how long did it take you to accept it?. how long did it take you to actually feel okay about it

I took about 2-3 years from when it was first suggested to really accepting it but once I did I was fine with it because I thought I might finally get treated, which MDD treatment was not doing for me.

How do you combat weight gain from meds?

I went from being underweight to overweight on medication. Everyone assumes I'm not active or eat too much, but I prevent extra weight gain by eating <= 1000 calories a day!

If you had to choose between MD, hypomanic, or manic, and you could only have one all the time, which would you choose?

MD. I only rarely get euphoric hypomania. Most of the time I get dysphoric - angry, irritated, and ready to snap - plus buying all kinds of stuff and high psychomotor agitation. If I was only ever like that my wife would have gone a long time ago. If I could only get euphoric hypomania I'd take that, though.

How long have you stuck with a pdoc that you didn't like?

doctor brook.

she lasted a couple of weeks (if that)

she joked a lot about my family, and I wasn't standing for it.

I eventually never spoke to her again, and she wrote me a letter asking why, and I posted one back.. either do your job, or get off my case.

it's that simple. you're rude and unprofessional.

question:
what is the most insensitive thing you have ever said to someone.

I’m not sure (I usually don’t say much )

(That Dr Brook ggrrrrrrr )

What’s the dumbest thing a doctor has said to you?

I don't know about doctor, but a therapist once said to me that the reason I wanted to go to london was not to commit suicide, it was actually to go on a date

(I was involved in a pact at the time)

stupid stupid.

what would be your 1 suggestion for a happy content life?

I don’t know—I haven’t found the answer to that question.

Was there a time when you weren’t bipolar, or do you look back and think you always were but just didn’t know it?

I think I’ll make a thread out of this, actually

Since infancy. I have had sleep issues, sensory issues, and the inability to calm myself since infancy. The sleep issues were so severe I was prescribed phenobarbital as an infant to knock me out. Other symptoms developed as I grew.

Do you have an abnormally high pain tolerance? (My dentist thinks this may go with BP or with APs).

Yep. Gave natural birth to a big baby. No pain meds at all.

How many days/ yr, do you have SI?

That really depends on whether I am depressed or not. So far this year, I'd say I have spent about 3-4 months with SI. Some years more and some less.

What was the worst episode in your life like? Like what symptoms did you have?

when I starved myself and ended up in hospital over christmas, and not just christmas, but some of the next year too.

I think it was the longest hospital stay ever.

I went in like december 23rd, and came out in march.

during that time, I lost contact with all my friends (through my choosing), I actually said to them- this is the one, this is my suicide, good bye (to everyone)
I did some major SI on my legs and feet (to the point where I couldn't even walk on it)

and I just couldn't be controled when it came to suicide

the nurses tried everything to stabilise me, but they'd leave, and i'd just try again

then of course my family made it worse by telling the nurses to just let me die, which just made everything worse, I remember ringing my sister and telling her- get rid of my computer, tv, telephone, make my room just empty, because I'm not coming out.

this is also the year I lost my school position as they said they wouldn't take me back, and the year I attacked a priest (which I feel really bad for now), out of everyone in the world- why someone as holy as a priest?
when I came out, I was left with nothing, and I felt so bad, and so angry I wasn't dead, I tried again a few weeks later.

I don't know how long this lasted, a long time, but eventually things did smooth out and I got back to normal.

talking about all that's made me feel ugg

pretty triggered and stuff.
question:

have you ever thought about becoming a therapist?. do you think you could do it?

I was torn between being a behavior therapist working with kids with developmental disabilties and OT. When it was time to apply to grad school I was severely depressed and went for the easier applications, so I am an OT. I did work in mental health for years and really enjoyed it.

Do you have a family dr/GP/internist that you trust?

the one I have now is a lot better than the previous, however I still don't trust them

question:
what would be your ideal pet?