Questions bipolar version #10

Spring-December although it’s probably happened during a winter too. Oops.

Is bipolar a blessing or a curse?

Bipolar is a blessing, to me, it allows me to see things "normies" don't lol.

Does bipolar define you?

No.

Same question.

not for me either

how good are you at math. (I hate it!)

I’m not good at it at all. My youngest child is currently taking Calculus 3 at the community college and he’ll sometimes try to explain it to me but it just goes straight over my head.

Do you have a pet? (I have my kitty.)

I want a doggie so badly, but I am not allowed to have one in my building, which is just as good because I am out a lot and I would feel guilty with him all alone at home.

Have you ever read any bipolar-themed books?

Lots of non-fiction. Some fiction but I tend to not like them b/c the bipolar in fiction rarely is like mine and I get frustrated.

Same question.

I read one book that I felt that I could have written better, lol. I forget the name of it, but she was so focused on mania, I think she might have been manic when she wrote it, and they actually published that hot mess.

Do you use a mood tracker?

No. I hate them. Now that I'm more stable it probably wouldn't be so bad but when I've used them in the past it was a disaster because I tend to be mixed more than anything else and I never mastered documenting feeling up and down at the same time. Now I don't need one.

What is your favorite thing about spring?

chocolate eggs, I guess
I really hate spring weather, (summer, too!)

are you any good at first aid?

Just putting on a bandage, that's about it.

Do you know CPR?

Yes needed it in my old job. But thankfully have never needed to use it

Question: Still on medical theme, would you know what to do if someone was having an epileptic seizure be it clonic tonic (body jerking turning blue etc) or a spacer seizure (staring into space, blankly looking at you)

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My daughter had a seizure at 2 months old- staring “through” us with high-pitched screaming for what seemed like an eternity. It was from the DTaP vaccine. That reaction was under “unusual” side effects on the piece of paper her pediatrician gave us the day she got the shot. However when I called the doctors office to report her reaction the nurse I spoke to dismissed my concerns and said it couldn’t have been the vaccine. So yes I didn’t know what to do at the time. It was scary!

Do you get bad side effects from your medications- psych and non-psych?

Not really bad side effects, but I get really, really tired a lot, and I think it's because of the strong meds. I am working on getting them reduced. I was on a cholesterol medication that really stiffened up my muscles and made it unbearable to sleep, I had to just stop taking those.

Have you ever been hospitalized for a long period of time?

The longest I've ever been hospitalized was two months, at the state mental hospital. It was awful! They treated us like shyt.

Same question.

The longest was 6 months at a state hospital my release date was coming up and they took me back to court to keep me there longer. When I first got there they tried to get me to turn over my money and debt card to them. I refused. I was a vegetarian and their food was awful so I bought my own food. Then when they took me back to court they were lying and saying I couldn’t look after myself. I walked out and took the bus to the cities then took another bus out of the state on the advise of my lawyer. Then I called him and didn’t tell him where I was and he told me they re-committed me. That place was awfull and the pdoc crazy. The stories I could tell!

Same question

For mental health longest was 14 days. It wasn't great. It was a private hospital. I'd probably take private over public anyday. Private hospital was for depression. My public hospital stay was for mania (psychosis).

How long do your depressive episodes "normally" last?

A few weeks to a few months.

How long do your hypo/manic episodes last?

I haven't had one in ages, but they used to be my most dominant episodes. Mine usually lasted weeks or even months at a time. Usually, the hypomanic parts lasted the longest, then towards the end I reached full-blown manic. The latter maybe lasted a couple weeks to max a couple months, and usually ended badly. Then I'd often transition to mixed states.

What was your last severe episode?

2022 I went IP for depression after having been depressed for MONTHS and no break through with meds…..

I’m depressed now but can’t see myself going IP anytime soon.

What’s your relationship status? Single / divorced / married etc

A couple years before covid. I can’t believe it’s been so long. I cut everyone off and hibernated in my bed for over a year. But now I don’t think I’d get away with that. My daughter only lives 30 minutes away and she’d not let me hide that long. I do fear getting manic though. I’ve a bit of money now thanks to my inheritance. Wouldn’t want to blow that.

Do you fear a new episode would rock you too hard?

Yes, I've got a lot to lose. I'm completely on my own so if I am hospitalized, I'm screwed. I am weary of stopping my morning meds, but if I stay on really good sleep hygiene, and stay sober I think I should be fine- can't live your whole life in fear after all.

Does your symptoms come out more at night?

No my anxiety is worse in the morning just before work starts. It settles a bit at the end of each day, but not by much. It’s there this weekend and it’s not even a work day!

Does your psychiatrist believe in antidepressants or not for you?

Not for me, I think they would just induce mania, and everybody is scared of that.

Do you have a therapist? And do you like him/her?

Yes, and after 18 years I hope I like him . He's retiring in a little over a year and it will kill me.

How long have you seen your therapist and/or pdoc?