Bipolar 101 -- Answers to basic questions

What is the best way to help my husband understand what I am going through and how he can help? He feels so helpless and when he asks what he can do I am not sure what to tell him.

it's not just you!

Is it really possible for people with bipolar to be okay without medication? I've gone without it for many years as I was totally against it. Sometimes I thought it was okay but that I just did not need it. But my life was total hell without medications. I've tried everything under the sun that was suggested to survive bipolar without it. But I was always a wreck. None of it ever worked. But then I hear people go on about how they don't need it, and they're fine without it, blah, blah, blah. I don't get it.

I think it depends on where you are in life, if you can afford to swing somewhat back and forth (aka you have managable amounts of stress and space to deal with it), if you have people who help you to deal... and other things.

Note, I am not fine. But I don't think meds would help that not-fine parts of me.... or that they wouldn't add more non-finery to my life. Long story.

Glory to heroes!

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All I know is that both my hospitalizations occurred when I had serious anxiety/stress/sleep loss and wasnt on bipolar medication. After being relatively stable for years on meds and then encouraged by my PCP to try to attempt to not take bipolar meds, my life was upended after wigging out and being hospitalized the second time. Nobody likes meds but the risks of going without them are far too great for me. Many others on this forum seem to have the same experience and advice- taking your bipolar meds really helps. I wish you all the best.

Thanks doc im new to this and need all the help I can get.

Hi, I'm new to this, but not new to bi polar.. My fiancé has been diagnosed 2 years ago & she is pushing me away constantly, she won't talk to me , I feel as if iv done somthing wrong bit iv constantly supported her throughout the whole thing.. She's been in so many clinics over theist 2 years it's all I'm used to now. I feel so powerless, we were madly in love, going to get married but now I'm lucky if she acknowledges my existence.. What can I do? In know she loves me bit I'm powerless,if I could I would swap places with her in an instant. I want her to be happy, like we were, she can't get an even balance and I'm so worried about her I'm getting I'll myself. She is my life & I would die for her.. Even though she is I'll, I'm not EVER going to abandon her, even though she's "trying" to push me away.. I need help, or someone who understands the situation.. She can't accept she is I'll.. She went from being a model & having a perfect life, to loosing everything in 2 years and it's as if she is on self destruct. Please help me.

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How do I put somthing up for people to reply to please? I'm new on Here ?
Thank you

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Please advise if there is a forum here for loved ones of bipolars, for support in living with a bipolar

Not sure if it's exactly heraditory or not, but you are more likely to have it if someone else in your family has it. At the same time, it is possible to have it even if no one else in your family has it; I guess it's a "yes" AND "no." I think sometimes when someone is raised by someone with a mental illness, it is possible to pick up some of the parents' traits, even if the child doesn't have the MI. Of course, I have no proof or research to back that up, but I think it is possible.

As far as the ADHD, I have heard that many people with Bipolar are often misdiagnosed as having ADHD, and/or schizophrenia. But outside of that, I'm not sure.

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No. Never. And I certainly don't plan to either.

As you can see from the last response, people either hate or love ECT. I have been on maintenance for 3 years. I have minimal memory loss and usually no loss. Let me clear up a few things for you. It is not a surgical procedure as you are not cut open, it is called a treatment. Some people have more memory impairment than others. Most of the time, the strength of the charge and placement of the electrodes have a lot to do with whether you will have much short term memory loss. With an IV, you are put under a short acting anesthesia and muscle relaxant. Your psychiatrist may also order a pain med that will help with the headache that you are likely to feel without it. The thing that takes the most time in the treatment is placing monitors and electrodes. Your heart beat, oxygen level and heart rate, and brain waves will be monitored by the sensors. After you are completely under anesthesia, the psychiatrist will cause an electrical pulse to go into your head/brain. It will stimulate a brief seizure of about 60 seconds. The only indicators of the presence of the seizure will be the readout of your brain wave pattern and a slight twitching of your toes. The anesthesia will wear off in a few minutes. The anesthesiologist will continue to ventilate your lungs throughout the time you are under the effects of the anesthesia and muscle relaxant. After you respond to questions you will be moved to the recovery room, receive monitoring of your heart and oxygen level in your blood. When you are completely awake you will be able to go home. They usually want you to be accompanied by another person who will drive you to and from the treatment. You definitely can not drive yourself after the treatment. Since I have no one to drive me, and I have no problems with the treatments, my psychiatrist has agreed to let me come to and from treatments in a taxi. My initial treatments were done when I was inpatient. All maintenance treatments have been outpatient. ECT has been very helpful for me.

When I was diagnosed they just asked random daily questions and depending how you answer them they will let you know if you are or aren't.

Thanks for posting about ECT so clearly. Your story is a ditto here. I had my last round almost 10 years ago so I'm past due. But the procedures (after a few) were miracles for me. I suppose that this may sound ironic but I'm not aware of any memory loss. As you say, the issue can depend somewhat on electrode placement. I had the good fortune at that time to be near Bethesda, MD and was treated by a top NIMH researcher in ECT. His method was one electrode on the temple and one on the forehead. I don't know anything about all of that. It just worked for me.

Hello, I am here to help myself and my husband. He has been diagnose with Bipolar depressive. And already suffer with aniexty and depression. I just want to understand what I should expect and how to help and how not to help.

Geekinthepink- you should definitely seek help. Unfortunately, it doesn't sound like the emotions you are experiencing fall within a normal spectrum. When I'm hypomanic- what helped me was playing online games that would temporarily slow my mind down- like Words with Friends, Rush Hour, bejeweled. Or- you may want to try running- pick a route that you want to try and stick to it with either running or walking. It may help get the excessive energy out of your body. Lastly, you may want to look at your diet. When I was hypomanic- I refused to eat. You definitely want to make sure you're getting enough nourishment, even if you don't feel like eating.

If you make those changes and still don't see an improvement- I'd at a minimum- set up an appointment with your general practitioner and get referrals. You could also go directly to a psych doctor- but keep in mind- you will have to make a lot of calls since many don't have an open appointment for new patients for a couple of weeks.

Feel better!

Tinker- I really admire you for your efforts in supporting your husband. The best thing (in my opinion) is to really help your husband learn how to recognize his mood cycles. It's a skill that takes a while. Sometimes just saying, "I know you say you are feeling good- but you've been pacing which makes me think you have something on your mind. If you can't talk about it now- I understand- lets try to talk about it when you're ready."

I decided recently to stop on zoloft and quetapine (seroquel) since I'm only 18 and didn't like the idea of being dependent on happy pills and anti-psychotics. And after doing my research I realized there is a lot my therapists decided to leave out about the effects of long term use of mood stabilizers and anti-psychotics. Honestly I couldn't be happier I stopped and I finally feel like I'm living real life again, being able to socialize and be genuinely interested in conversation. I feel calm and much more able to rationalize and understand my mood swings and what triggers them. Obviously it's different for everyone but for me it's definitely easier to live without the meds.

I know at age 64 I have some confusion about things, but what is a ALBUM here on psych central.