Which are the adjustments (besides the meds) that one has to make when you are dx as bipolar?

[Junerain]

One might look at the things that led to the diagnosis.....it might mean working harder at your job, relating better to others, putting YOU first, if one has to ponder what adjustments to make they are doing better than I was, I was homeless and needed to adjust by finding a place to live, a job that would not fire me at the time, and boundaries from unhealthy relations. I guess smaller struggles are just as hard though, I have conquered all those things and now my battles are small ones, which i thank the **** God for everyday!

[Berries]

one needs to get into long-term therapy for support and reality testing. a support group would not be a bad idea.
And manage your stress level--not too much, but still have meaningful, productive activities, work or volunteer work included.

And family support and education is important, if possible.

[madisgram]

i find that stress can really trigger my bpd. so i try to maintain as much calmness in my day as realistically possible.. another thing is too much going on at the same time can be a bit much for me sometimes. like big family gatherings..i have an exit plan if i feel i'm getting overwhlemed by too much stimuli . also having a daily routine helps me not have disrupts with the bpd...like not a rigid schedule but a sequence of events that occur throughout my day. and also going to bed about the same time. these things keep my life more balanced creating a less likely turn of events with my bpd. also if i'm too tired it triggers the bpd.
hope this helps.

Learn how to decrease stress as much as possible & learn new coping techniques for the unavoidable stress (mindfulness & other stuff learned in dialectical behavioral therapy group classes--highly recommend them).

Retrain my thinking patterns (from negative & habitual ruminating on past mistakes & sad occurrences or looking at the future with fear & anxiety--not living in the present).

Increasing my feelings of self-competency through therapy & doing those things I was afraid to do. Discard my perfectionist tendencies that were paralyzing me.

Get rid of friends & avoid family members who were detrimental to my mental health & recovery.

Learning how to communicate with my spouse more effectively & how to de-escalate my emotions & over-reactions to things (DBT again).

Find ways to get meaning in my life. Give to others. I volunteer in the women's jail, co-leading a support group there with the therapist that leads the support group I go to at the local library. She has provided me with many options to get involved with helping others in speaking at hospitals, half-way homes, psych classes at the univ., local Kiwaniis club, etc.

Take up knitting!! Or some other meditative, relaxing hobby.

Exercise--my meds provider wrote me a prescription on her scripts pad with the rest of my meds for 30 min. of aerobic exercise 5 days a week. She says it is just as important as my medication. Also, I find the stretching, yoga & other "slow" types of DVD's are good to do to combat anxiety.

Educate yourself on your diagnosis. Try to educate your family, but don't make your illness the focus of the family. You are you--not your illness.

Keep a close eye on your triggers & symptoms. If troublesome symptoms pop up, call your provider. Make sure you have a good relationship with your provider so that it is a collaborative relationship--one where she/he listens to your insight (you know yourself best) & needs & concerns & takes all this into consideration.

Have a sense of humor. Don't take it so seriously. I laugh when my husband calls me "Lucy" as in Lucy Ricardo when I do some interesting ways of coming to a totally off-the-wall conclusion or explanation or way of doing something. He just cannot believe how my mind goes sometimes. But he is very appreciative of the creative side when I help him write his speeches. He can get a little dry!!

Look for a WRAP class (Wellness Recovery Action Plan)--free of charge usually offered by NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) or DBSA (Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance). They also offer support groups.

Eat a healthy diet. Limit alcohol (if you drink). Quit smoking. Don't isolate yourself.

Keep a journal & keep notes for your appts. with your meds provider & therapist (highly recomend therapy, too; it is shown to be very helpful). That way you can talk about issues you need to address & won't get flusterd during the limited time you have.

Get a life!! Having a mental illness is just a part of your life. Learn how to manage it & get on with your life. You deserve to have a full, high quality life. All my best to you.--Suzy

[DaveyJones]

A psychiatrist once told me "get 8 hours of sleep a night, at night". That's good advice, I think. There are a zillion great suggestions above, take them to heart.

The biggest thing I have learned is that this disease changes over time. You think you've got it all figured out and then comes an episode that presents in a different way from the last one.

[Berries]

The biggest thing I have learned is that this disease changes over time. You think you've got it all figured out and then comes an episode that presents in a different way from the last one.[/quote]

Thank you for that DaveyJones. That is the way it is for me, each episode is so different (and yet the same) from the one before.

I've never heard anyone else say that.

Thanks!

[gravyyy]

This is a great thread! So much great insight!!!!

For me the biggest adjustment I had to make was getting myself into a routine. This included changing jobs so I could work one full time day job instead of working rotating days, evenings, nights in one job and trying to keep another job as well. I had to work more exercise into my life so I joined a few different recreation leagues to restart my college days of playing softball! I commited to taking my meds every day, at the same time, and going to bed and getting up at the same time each day.

Overall I think I'm doing better. I think on it and feel kinda sad that I have had to make such changes... from being care-free, do-as-I-please to being regimented and controlled, but we all have to make changes in our lives and for the most part I think it's been a good change in my life.

Good luck to everyone in making changes and being committed to them and I hope everyone feels well as much as possible.

[DaveyJones]

Yes, I was working swing shifts, they put me in the hospital twice!

One of the hardest things for me is to maintain any sort of discipline. I'm going to school mainly online, but I find my mind getting hijacked, particularly under stress. I wind up just staring at the screen, my mind going in circles. Most frustrating.

[gravyyy]

Indeed DJ.... I find the same difficulty with my online classes. Very fruatrating... don't know if it's meds or illness or ADD... I'm sorry you're having trouble with it but I'm glad I'm not the only one.

[DaveyJones]

Gravyyy,

I'm pretty certain it's the disease itself. I first started to notice it before I taking any bp meds. There are fMRI studies that indicate bp episodes can impair function in the prefrontal cortex of the brain, inhibiting higher brain function. The bp meds, particularly Seroquel, have helped me quite a bit, but it's still more or less debilitating, but at least it doesn't hurt as bad.

[bestillandknow]

Originally Posted by madisgram

i find that stress can really trigger my bpd. so i try to maintain as much calmness in my day as realistically possible.. another thing is too much going on at the same time can be a bit much for me sometimes. like big family gatherings..i have an exit plan if i feel i'm getting overwhlemed by too much stimuli . also having a daily routine helps me not have disrupts with the bpd...like not a rigid schedule but a sequence of events that occur throughout my day. and also going to bed about the same time. these things keep my life more balanced creating a less likely turn of events with my bpd. also if i'm too tired it triggers the bpd.
hope this helps.

God gave you the body your in, and the head that drives it; that means you and only you are responsible for its upkeep, thinking patterns, and how this 'package' inter-relates in your society. What feelings and situations that create those feelings make you 'freak'? Always think in terms of the end result. I love this post above here, because it is usually family members that know how to hurt us most-and they might catch us off guard. Nine times out of ten, the ones who are trying to rob you of your balance are the ones who are still sick themselves. They may resent the way you have remodeled your clan's reality-scape. The BPD recipient (I say this because of the genetic propensity) is actually being
presented with a wisdom opportunity that involves their whole being. You must address the whole body/being, or you are running up a wall of expensive, futile, fruitless...flips.
We are not helpless victims, here-apathetic confrontation magnets, doomed to appease.
No-you are now an enlightened being, empowered to cultivate healthy living habits that in truth, are good for everyone/anyone.
Ok? Think 'lead by example', and you will always hold that inner peace.

[DaveyJones]

I have finally begun to get used to my major episodes. First in the fall around my birthday in September. That one's always bad. That's when I seem to spend a lot of time in pdocs waiting rooms, sometimes even the ER!

Then there is the one in the springtime ... like right about now!

I can't read for any length of time, I can't organize my work, I can't see a way through this...

I keep running the same maze over and over... poor little rat never learns because his learning pathways don't work anymore.

Now what?

Originally Posted by DaveyJones

I have finally begun to get used to my major episodes. First in the fall around my birthday in September. That one's always bad. That's when I seem to spend a lot of time in pdocs waiting rooms, sometimes even the ER!

Then there is the one in the springtime ... like right about now!

I can't read for any length of time, I can't organize my work, I can't see a way through this...

I keep running the same maze over and over... poor little rat never learns because his learning pathways don't work anymore.

Now what?

Wow, I have not found such a regularity with my "crisis". Now I am passing through a major one that has made me a useless person for about a year and 8 months. This has been a huge one. I wonder if every crisis is bigger than the previous one? Of course, at the beginning of the crisis I am unable to read, work or anything at all.

I agree that an organized life can lead to a better management of the illness. Although it is difficult to have such an organized life when you are for example at school and there are so many factors that can change your daily routine. But I think we must do the effort to try to have this routines as much as we can.

I wish to thank to everyone who has answered to this post. I have learned a lot of you guys .

[DaveyJones]

The thing about bp is that it's not really predictable, it's different for everyone every time.

I spent about 8 years in a chronic , worsening depression punctated by rare episodes of hypomania before I finally started to be properly treated for bp. I was totally useless for years.

You may want to talk to your pdoc about your drug regimen. Some meds, like lithium and Depakote are for keeping your moods on an even keel. They can lessen mania, but not so much depression. Seroquel and Lamictal are known to help with bipolar depression. Drugs like Abilify and Geodon are becoming popular for bp tratment. It's usually not a good idea to take antidepressants without a mood stabilizer, they can trigger a manic episode. Also, don't forget exercise and sleep (those are the hard ones for me)!

Above all, keep hanging in there... we're on your side!

[gravyyy]

I guess I don't know how you tell what an episode or "cycle" is. It's confusing if the "normal" times in between the depressed or agitated episodes are part of the cycle or if they're really normal times... I agree with DJ that it's not predictable at all. I never really know from one day to the next how I'm going to feel. It's frustrating. I also agree with cat_eyes that routine is difficult but important. I guess it's all part of the process, I just need to figure out what the heck the process is.....

[Zen888]

Cat Eyes.......

You may want to ask you doctor about the medication called Zeldox. It is a fairly new medication. Works well for mixed mania.

Originally Posted by DaveyJones

The thing about bp is that it's not really predictable, it's different for everyone every time.

I spent about 8 years in a chronic , worsening depression punctated by rare episodes of hypomania before I finally started to be properly treated for bp. I was totally useless for years.

You may want to talk to your pdoc about your drug regimen. Some meds, like lithium and Depakote are for keeping your moods on an even keel. They can lessen mania, but not so much depression. Seroquel and Lamictal are known to help with bipolar depression. Drugs like Abilify and Geodon are becoming popular for bp tratment. It's usually not a good idea to take antidepressants without a mood stabilizer, they can trigger a manic episode. Also, don't forget exercise and sleep (those are the hard ones for me)!

Above all, keep hanging in there... we're on your side!

I spent 11 yrs without having the bp dx. Before that I was only treated for depression and anxiety and nothing ever worked. About my meds, I am taking Depakote, Abilify and Trileptal, I know it sounds like a lot of meds but they seem to be working, and if this is what I have to take, I'll take it. Nowadays I am not taking any antidepressant cause the last time I did, I got in the crisis I'm still trying to recover from. Exercise and sleep are also the hard ones for me, especially exercise. Lately I have been sleeping really bad and I am afraid I will have another episode if I continue this way. Today I saw my pdoc and she adjusted my meds to try to correct my sleep.

Thank you for being on my side!... I'll try to keep hanging in there... promise

Originally Posted by Zen888

Cat Eyes.......

You may want to ask you doctor about the medication called Zeldox. It is a fairly new medication. Works well for mixed mania.

I will ask her about it. Thank you Zen

Originally Posted by paddym22

Cat eyes

In my situation I am Dx 17 years with BP and it has been a long slow process to get to where I am right now. For me I have found that there are many factors that affect my mood regulation. I live by some golden rules now for instance, a routine which took years of practice and experience to manage one that I am comfortable with and can manage my daily life; exercise, I am fairly lazy but there is nothing like a yoga session or even a simple stretching session daily to banish that dangerous trigger - stress; Diet, in my case when I am depressed I do not eat and lose a lot of weight so rather than trying to cook massive meals I take short quick energy snacks and comfort food and use vitamin supplements....I bought a juicer and juice 6 carrots and 2 apples daily and drink it in one go. It is a great source of goodness when you cannot be bothered to eat whole foods. Like everyone else - sleep. Always try to go to bed at the same time everyday. If you are having difficulty sleeping still go to bed at the same time, but if unable to sleep dont dwell on it and toss and turn in the bed, get up and do some light distraction like reading some posts or posting here. Dont beat yourself up over your sleep. Socialising is good but I sometimes do need to withdraw considerably either to protect myself because I am hypomanic and may say things or do things that are inappropriate or if I am depressed I simply lack the energy to be with people and I dont want to think anymore negatively about myself ie. thinking falsely that I am bringing others down with my low mood. Know my triggers is essential and have a plan and structure in place to deal with them, for instance long haul flights make me manic, death of a close loved one makes me manic, any substance that artifically alters the mind makes me hypomanic.

Over time I realised that because of Bi Polar disorder I have limitations, I fought against them for quite some time and that was a mistake. By fighting them I was in a battle and in any battle there are two outcomes - a winner and a loser and I usually came out being the loser so now I embrace my limitations, have acccepted them and have moved on, as a result I have less conflict in my mind and it helps with dealing with a depressive mood swing.

Education is key, read what you can, get a good healthcare team behind you and always remember they work for you not you them and never be intimidated by them. If you are you must speak out otherwise you will not be treated effectively.

Do not beat yourself up, you cannot help this it is an illness, an unpredictable condition. But like a phsyical illness to feel well one needs to take care of oneself and if you are beating yourself up for things that happened in a hypo or manic or depressive state you are not being fair to yourself. It happened, its over, its in the past and I have learnt by it. We all make mistakes at some point.

Medication is vital, but what works for one may not work for the other and it is trial and error. NEVER self medicate and if prescribed benzos use them appropriately and with respect. Also be aware that some meds used to treat physical ailments can destabilse your mood for instance certain pain relief medication ie some opiate based painkillers. Always discuss your options with your healthcare provider.

Finally I have found therapy excellent, I have done Transactional Analysis which is great to understand how we think about ourselves and our interaction with others and games that people play, Psychodynamic is also great and CBT.. I have recently got into mindfulness and so far it is very interesting and helpful to regulate those racing thoughts that we get.

Anyway thats my twopence worth, hope there is even one thing there that may help

kind regards

Paddy

All things you tell here are of much help. Thank you Paddy. I can notice that, what one must do, is to live a much healthier (physically speaking) life in order to be leveled out. It takes a lot of effort but we must do it if we want to live better. I am already trying some of your suggestions, like the one of trying to get to sleep every night at the same time. It's just sometimes so many things one has to do that it overwhelms one's brain. I have a question: even following such a healthy routine you still have manic/depressive episodes? Does this routine takes them away or just delays them?

Thanks Paddy!

-Cat

Originally Posted by gravyyy

I guess I don't know how you tell what an episode or "cycle" is. It's confusing if the "normal" times in between the depressed or agitated episodes are part of the cycle or if they're really normal times... I agree with DJ that it's not predictable at all. I never really know from one day to the next how I'm going to feel. It's frustrating. I also agree with cat_eyes that routine is difficult but important. I guess it's all part of the process, I just need to figure out what the heck the process is.....

My only advise is to read about the disease and try to match the symptoms of every episode to the ones you experience. I did that using the book "Bipolar Disorder for Dummies" (you know the series for dummies), which explains bd in a way you can recognize your own symptoms in there. I liked it very much. And when I showed my pdoc the episodes I could identify she told me they were correctly identified. That gave me an insight of the nature of the disease.

[Hope]

[Excellent Reply Suzy. This is so helpful. Many, many thanks to you.=)



quote=Suzy5654;983365]Learn how to decrease stress as much as possible & learn new coping techniques for the unavoidable stress (mindfulness & other stuff learned in dialectical behavioral therapy group classes--highly recommend them).

Retrain my thinking patterns (from negative & habitual ruminating on past mistakes & sad occurrences or looking at the future with fear & anxiety--not living in the present).

Increasing my feelings of self-competency through therapy & doing those things I was afraid to do. Discard my perfectionist tendencies that were paralyzing me.

Get rid of friends & avoid family members who were detrimental to my mental health & recovery.

Learning how to communicate with my spouse more effectively & how to de-escalate my emotions & over-reactions to things (DBT again).

Find ways to get meaning in my life. Give to others. I volunteer in the women's jail, co-leading a support group there with the therapist that leads the support group I go to at the local library. She has provided me with many options to get involved with helping others in speaking at hospitals, half-way homes, psych classes at the univ., local Kiwaniis club, etc.

Take up knitting!! Or some other meditative, relaxing hobby.

Exercise--my meds provider wrote me a prescription on her scripts pad with the rest of my meds for 30 min. of aerobic exercise 5 days a week. She says it is just as important as my medication. Also, I find the stretching, yoga & other "slow" types of DVD's are good to do to combat anxiety.

Educate yourself on your diagnosis. Try to educate your family, but don't make your illness the focus of the family. You are you--not your illness.

Keep a close eye on your triggers & symptoms. If troublesome symptoms pop up, call your provider. Make sure you have a good relationship with your provider so that it is a collaborative relationship--one where she/he listens to your insight (you know yourself best) & needs & concerns & takes all this into consideration.

Have a sense of humor. Don't take it so seriously. I laugh when my husband calls me "Lucy" as in Lucy Ricardo when I do some interesting ways of coming to a totally off-the-wall conclusion or explanation or way of doing something. He just cannot believe how my mind goes sometimes. But he is very appreciative of the creative side when I help him write his speeches. He can get a little dry!!

Look for a WRAP class (Wellness Recovery Action Plan)--free of charge usually offered by NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) or DBSA (Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance). They also offer support groups.

Eat a healthy diet. Limit alcohol (if you drink). Quit smoking. Don't isolate yourself.

Keep a journal & keep notes for your appts. with your meds provider & therapist (highly recomend therapy, too; it is shown to be very helpful). That way you can talk about issues you need to address & won't get flusterd during the limited time you have.

Get a life!! Having a mental illness is just a part of your life. Learn how to manage it & get on with your life. You deserve to have a full, high quality life. All my best to you.--Suzy[/quote]

[Hope]

All Great replies on this thread. Many thanks to everyone. =)

Originally Posted by gravyyy

This is a great thread! So much great insight!!!!

For me the biggest adjustment I had to make was getting myself into a routine. This included changing jobs so I could work one full time day job instead of working rotating days, evenings, nights in one job and trying to keep another job as well. I had to work more exercise into my life so I joined a few different recreation leagues to restart my college days of playing softball! I commited to taking my meds every day, at the same time, and going to bed and getting up at the same time each day.

Overall I think I'm doing better. I think on it and feel kinda sad that I have had to make such changes... from being care-free, do-as-I-please to being regimented and controlled, but we all have to make changes in our lives and for the most part I think it's been a good change in my life.

Good luck to everyone in making changes and being committed to them and I hope everyone feels well as much as possible.

[Hope]

Thank you so much cat eyes for asking this question, it has been very helpful to me. While many I do, I needed to be reminded on many as well.
Many Thanks, Be well

Kibo

Originally Posted by cat_eyes

Which are the adjustments (besides the meds) that one has to make when you are dx as bipolar?

Originally Posted by Kibo

Thank you so much cat eyes for asking this question, it has been very helpful to me. While many I do, I needed to be reminded on many as well.
Many Thanks, Be well

Kibo

Yes Kibo, I had to ask this because I'm a newbie and still don't have the feeling of what should and should not be done to control the disorder. I have learned a lot with this and all the posts teach me something new. I also am very grateful for all your answers!
You too be well Kibo ,

- Cat