Topic : 08/01 Extreme Highs and Lows

If someone is constantly thinking of death, I would challenge them to think of birth and to verbalize examples that come to mind.  This may work best if one goes outdoors as one may see moms with their babies in strollers, birds, fish, puppies, new green grass, water(life giving force), and most importantly sunshine.

I make this challenge as we must consciously change our negative thinking patterns into positive ones.  It requires vigilance and effort, butwith practice we can achieve greater inner peace.

Please feed the depressed only fresh, wholesome foods, limit the sugars and fats and especially the processed fast foods.  Try to eliminate the sodas with water and maybe lemon....lets try to flush out the toxins in their system....and by all means try and get them outside each day for at least ten minutes of fresh air...start slow by walking....hopefully progress to briskly walking and or God willing a run someday.  Breathing deeply is powerful.

God bless. 

Wow!  Been there, done that.  Counseling, as well as meds saved my life, although it took years and years to find the right combo of meds.  I learned to turn the negative thoughts into positive.  I agree that Dr. Phil should have emphasized that counseling is key.  I was sexually abused as a child, as well as physically, emotionally, and yet I survived.

 I still have mood swings, but now I can recognize the moods and cope much better.  My self esteem is out of the toilet.  I would encourage all with BP, who feel unstable, to get into counseling, and get your thoughts and your lives under control.  You can live a happy life, in spite of your illness.  (Getting the public properly educated about mental illness would be a big help too.)

Staying on your meds is the most important part of phych treatment.  Mental illness is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain.  Medications help to get the balance of chemicals back to where it should be.  If you go off of your meds when you feel better, you are just asking for trouble.

I suffer from panic attacks...stemming from childhood abuse...fear of running short of money before running short of bills...fear of the death of a family member...bad dreams...many causes.  I have a box that I keep by my bed...it's my  "worry box".  When I start having racing thoughts, I write down what the worry is on a small piece of paper...just a few words about it.  Then, I slip the paper into the box and let the worry go.  When I have time to deal with the worries the next day, I pray to God for His wisdom and guidance, then I open the box and deal rationally with each worry and try to find solutions, or decide that I wasted a worry on something not that important, or that some things are out of my control, and I just have to trust in God to lead me on the right path and to be there when I need somebody to lean on. 

I also take meds at bedtime that calm anxiety and help me to sleep.  A well-rested mind is more likely to be able to deal with daily stressors.  I take a combination of meds for the bipolar disorder too.  Without the meds...I'd be off the deep end in a heartbeat.  Been there, done that.

I hope you are feeling better, as it has been awhile since you posted.  You family should be your main support when you need it.  Afterall, you've been there for them all of their lives.  Your family loves you and will not get tired of taking care of "mom". 

Unmedicated Bipolar disorder is a fast train on a short track!

If you are worried about medication side effects, discuss it with your doctor.  Ask about side effects for every medication that your doctor wants to prescribe.  But, remember that everybody experiences side effects individually.  You may not have all of the side effects that the drug lists...you might not have any.  Sometimes, it is a trade-off...a few side effects in exchange for a peaceful mind.  Yes, you will need medication for the rest of your life, but you are still alive, and the meds can get you to a new level of normal.  Counseling is sooooo important too.  Counseling will give you the tools you need to cope with every day stressors.  It will help you to recognize your mood swings before they become extreme.

I have been on Bipolar meds for 10 years...I can't say it has all been a picnic, but I'm on a good combination of meds, and I take life one day at a time.

I'll pray for you.

My husband was diagnosed with Bipolar in Feb. of this year.06. I need someone to help me figure all of this out.

We were had it all, building a new house, had nice cars, four great children a great marriage and our tenth aniversary was coming.

Well while we were building our house we lived in a rental.  He started acting really cranky and started calling the girls names and yelling.  I thought nothing of it I would just ask him to quit because I know how he gets when he gets stressed.  Don't get me wrong, he owns his own business and is under high stress all of the time.  We've moved every two years since we've been married and this was the second house we built together so nothing was out of the norm.

So anyway, there could have been a few things that brought this all about but thats not my problem.

Now we have a diagnosis.  He takes Serequel, clonazapam, and depakote.  Also recently put on a antidepressent which he has not started yet.

Well without his help, our house was completed but he decides in June not to move in with us.

In the beginning a saw some compasion in how he acted toward us but lately it is getting worse and worse.

We have legally seperated,  just so I could have some financial security. 

But if anyone who has this can please explain to me HOW does someone who has it all and loves his family more than anything just wake up one day and let it all go?

He's living in one of our rentals, he's bought new carpet, new appliances, TV,  Just set up a nice little place for his self.  That tells me he has no intentions on coming home soon.

His doctor keeps telling him that his feelings for us will come back when his meds are regulated but how does someone who has pushed his family so far away just wake up and love them again.

And how long does it usually take for someone to get somewhat normal again?

I love my husband and everytime I see him it is soooo hard to see the man I married but he's a stranger to me.  He really doesn't want much to do with us so do I have any hope for a future with him?

My whole life has fell down around me and I have no one who understands.  Please give me some insite on this.  I am trying so hard to keep this family together.