Adjustments for bipolar

Apr 08, 2009, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paddym22

Hey Cat

It is difficult to say whether the routine delays my manic/episodes because I cannot control outside stressors such as life events that may destabilise me but I can say that being in control of my environment, taking exercise and avoiding any substance that alters artifically my mindset that I am being, in my opinion, proactive from that respect in lessening the BP cycle and gaining more stability. I certainly feel more responsible and that I am making an effort to control myself and avoid trigerring situations whatever they may be. I do know that if Bi Polar is not monitored and controlled that it worsens in severity as we get older. I am more aware now and not frightened by my illness, I can explain it and I can withdraw when necessary from situations that would otherwise set me off. In other words I do not take risks anymore, I know my limitations which I embrace and accept, making me a less angry person and more acccepting. This in particular has helped me greatly in a depressive mood when my mindset is very morbid, I now know I am being morbid and can now deal with such thoughts and feel more safe.

This is really my personal experience and we are all different, but I did talk to a lot of people with BP and mental health professionals and I tried to take on board their viewpoint on how to live a healthier life and I adapted myself where necessary.

All the best

Paddy

Hey Paddy,

All these answers are yelling to me that one must make a complete change in the way one tackles everyday's life. I think now we must do a diet, exercise, and job/studies change in order to handle in a better way the stress and the stressors. Routine and stability are the big words in this game, I think.

I didn't know that if bp is not monitored and controlled, it worsens in severity as we get older. That's a little bit scary and tells me that I will have to be under treatment for my whole life. That's a pill a little bit hard to swallow. For some reason, my pdoc hasn't told me what the future will bring to me. She always tells me I must concentrate on the present and there will be time to talk about the future later.

All this information all of you have given in this thread is really interesting and eductative. I also am of the idea that one must educate oneself when concerning about a disease one is supposed to have, as someone remarked in a previous post. Sorry if I don't say who, but my pills are shutting me down and it is a little bit difficult to search for that post right now.

I wish all the best for all the bipolars over there, with a special thank you for all of those who answered to this thread.

Take care all of you,

- Cat

PS. Paddy, how do you handle the morbid part you get when you are depressed. Acceptance of the disease marks it all?

Amazonmom · Apr 09, 2009, 08:43 AM

I guess I really do have to sleep better, eat better, exercise. The same stuff everyone else needs to do. I think bipolar just means it's even more important for us in particular.

I am realizing that low stress for me is high stress for someone else. I LOVE working in the neonatal ICU. I get great personal satisfaction from it, even with the bad times mixed in. I have tried less active, demanding jobs and I was SO BORED that I got actual depression!

Apr 10, 2009, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paddym22

Cat

I didnt mean to scare you there about BP getting worse if not taken care of, that is just my personal experience and those with whom I have spoken to along the years. I know if I had kept on going the way I was i.e. not taking my pills as prescribed or stopping them when I supposedly feel "well" or abusing my body self medicating or using stimulants and generally not managing the illness it would have most definitely have become rampant.

With regards to morbid thinking and how do I deal with it....Gosh, well nobody has asked me this before. I think what I am aware of is now even when I am at my worst and lowest is that this is a phase or my mind is not programmed correctly at the moment and I am not thinking correctly. It is a transient state and I WILL come out of it and I WILL enjoy stability soon. Personally I cannot take anti-depressants as they tend to put me into a hypo-manic mood, now this is not the same for everybody this is JUST ME speaking and my Bi Polar illness. Consequently I am more prone to longer depressive moods. I keep a journal and I have posters in strategic places in my apartment that remind me and speak to me, if you like, that I am depressed and I am not well but I will get better and I will feel differently soon. It is hard at the time and sometimes I want to scream THIS IS HELL ON EARTH but my journal, the posters and my loved ones that I trust are also aware that I get these thoughts and reassure me that my mind is off key.

Education is essential, yes and that is what I did. This is an illness and it is not going away, there is no cure, it is cyclical and it is my responsibilty to myself and to those who love me to manage and control the illness so that I can live as normal a life as possible.......and it is possible.

Ok enough of me rambling along, look forward to our chat at the weekend, see you in chat.

Paddy

Hey Paddy!

You didn't scare me about the bp getting worse, although it seemed that way, lol. You just confirmed me something I was already thinking about. So please don't worry, I am still learning to communicate effectively in English so maybe sometimes I get too dramatic. I apologize for that.

About the morbid thing, it is really important what you just tell me in here. I get really bad about this subject and lose all perspective and don't know how to stop. What you say about the "It is a transient state and I WILL come out of it and I WILL enjoy stability soon." thinking is really important. I also tend to get more depressed than anything so I need coping strategies for the bad mood and the morbid thinking. You just have provided me with one: thank you

I'm also looking forward for our weekend chat! It will be really nice!!

- Cat

Apr 10, 2009, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amazonmom

I guess I really do have to sleep better, eat better, exercise. The same stuff everyone else needs to do. I think bipolar just means it's even more important for us in particular.

I am realizing that low stress for me is high stress for someone else. I LOVE working in the neonatal ICU. I get great personal satisfaction from it, even with the bad times mixed in. I have tried less active, demanding jobs and I was SO BORED that I got actual depression!

Hi Amazonmom!

You are right: it seems we have to do what every person in this planet should: we should take good care of ourselves. Although it seems like a death sentence sometimes 'cause if we don't do it, we get really bad.

Hey, if high stress places/jobs help you feel ok, then go for it! I suppose there is no written rule about what are the universal stressors for all ppl. So keep taking care of those little newly born babies

- Cat

Apr 11, 2009, 02:46 AM

I just wanted to say from my personal experience as far as the bipolar getting worse as you get older (I'm 55--bipolar 1--had my first suicide attempt at 15--mother bipolar as well and did commit suicide after many attempts when I was 15, but they didn't have the many treatments available that they do today) I have been on 7 medications for the last 12 yrs. to maintain stability.

I was a mess. Mixed state with strong suicidal thoughts. Was stable for a long period of time & then went through a hypo mania for 5 mos. that I didn't report to my provider as it felt wonderful & I don't know it was dangerous. suddenly I crashed. I had been sleeping only 2-3 hrs. a night for the 5 mos. & my husband made a critical remark & I plunged into the suicidal thoughts & acted on them & he found me comatose & I ended up in the ER.

So for 2 yrs. after that I was in a mixed state--meds being readjusted.

The biggest help for me was the Dialectical Behavioral Therapy. I have the dx i starting that about a yr. ago I have not had to take the sedating meds

However, I took Xanax or Klonokin for well or 20 yrs.without increasint he dosage or demand & I think most people who are on it are the same./ We are not addicts or drug dealers & should not be treated with suspiciosn.

Apr 11, 2009, 05:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Suzy5654

I just wanted to say from my personal experience as far as the bipolar getting worse as you get older (I'm 55--bipolar 1--had my first suicide attempt at 15--mother bipolar as well and did commit suicide after many attempts when I was 15, but they didn't have the many treatments available that they do today) I have been on 7 medications for the last 12 yrs. to maintain stability.

I was a mess. Mixed state with strong suicidal thoughts. Was stable for a long period of time & then went through a hypo mania for 5 mos. that I didn't report to my provider as it felt wonderful & I don't know it was dangerous. suddenly I crashed. I had been sleeping only 2-3 hrs. a night for the 5 mos. & my husband made a critical remark & I plunged into the suicidal thoughts & acted on them & he found me comatose & I ended up in the ER.

So for 2 yrs. after that I was in a mixed state--meds being readjusted.

The biggest help for me was the Dialectical Behavioral Therapy. I have the dx i starting that about a yr. ago I have not had to take the sedating meds

However, I took Xanax or Klonokin for well or 20 yrs.without increasint he dosage or demand & I think most people who are on it are the same./ We are not addicts or drug dealers & should not be treated with suspiciosn.

I've had a similar development of my bipolar II, 11 yrs. ago, I had my first huge episode, where I wasn't clear if I wanted to kill myself or just hurt myself. After that I've had some major mixed episodes where the su ideation and actually trying were clear in my mind. This seems to me like a worsening of the bipolar as getting older. But all that time I wasn't on the correct medication until a few months ago. So lets see what the future has prepared for us.

I am currently having no therapy, well at least not with a T. My pdoc gives me therapy and it seems to be working. At least I already left all the black clothes and started using more light color clothes. I am starting to get outside my pink bubble where I have been for the last year and 8 months.

I have been taking benzodiazepines for all these 11 yrs., Klonopin being the latest one (1 yr and 8 months). I don't think I have ever been treated with suspicion and in fact I have known several ppl, who seem pretty normal to me, who take these kind of meds. The only thing I am worried about is that they are meant to be taken only for a short period of time, so I am for sure addicted to them, but that is a problem I don't have to deal for now.

Apr 11, 2009, 06:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paddym22

You are right Cat it is not a problem you have to deal with now as it is not interfering with your life. It did eventually interfere with my life as I am not as strong as others regreatably. I think though these meds can be prescribed long term for most people as they dont abuse them but for those of us that have abused them they are bad news.

I'm sorry that you were one of the statistics that abuse benzos. I have abused them in another way: I have ODed on them, so they are now securely placed where no one but my husband can have access to. In fact all my meds are in the same security box and my husband gives me the meds I need for the day everyday. I'm not ashamed to say that because it was a measure taken at a time where I wasn't thinking clearly and needed to be done. Someday (I hope soon) I will be able to take care of that on my own as it should be. Meanwhile I remain securely happy in my pink bubble.

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