Topic : 08/01 Extreme Highs and Lows

My husband used to say this to me ALL THE TIME.  You could just snap out of it if you wanted to.  I wanted to knock his teeth down his throat.  (yes, I'm manic right now)  2 hospital stays and him coming to my therapist appointments with me, he realizes exactly what I deal with.  My brother in law suggested diet, exercize and yoga.  What is he smoking???  I am homocidal and suicidal without my meds and believe me, even with them they have to be adjusted when I am like I am now...and yes, I just came back from my dr and he adjusted my meds for me.  Oh, happy day.    

  

Now, please consider my state of mind..and I know many of you are thinking the same thing I am right now, I'm just going to say it for you...some of these posts I've read talking about..oh..I think she's just mean...oh, she can control that by taking suchandsuch out of her diet...blah blah blah.  You are freaking clueless.  Not a good idea to piss off a bunch of bi-polars, so shut up.  And I know some of you would love to get into the computer and strangle those people. 

  

Meds.  I've tried probably 90% of them til I found some that worked well for me...again, they still have to be adjusted depending on my cycling.  All I have to say is thank GOD I have medical insurance.  If I were to pay out of pocket, we're probably talking about $2,000. a month just for the meds.  It's outrageous.  If I couldn't take them I can assure you I'd be either dead or in jail for some violent action. 

  

Stigma.  Nope, sorry.  I refuse to joyfully tell the world I'm bi-polar.  Not for myself, but for my kids.  They go to a catholic school and the last time I was hospitalized, things got out about what was going on with me..hmm...gee...I sure got ignored a lot..like I had leprecy or something.  I will NOT put my kids through that.  They will NOT be teased and talked about behind their backs because they have a crazy mother.  For myself, I couldn't care less what anyone thinks of me, but I won't be more of a burden on my kids than I already am. 

  

  

That is one of my challenges right now.  I am bipolar and so is my mother.  My youngest child, which is 8, was diagnosed when she was 5 as being ADHD and ODD, oppositional defient disorder.  Once she was on meds for ADHD, things seemed to be getting under control as if she had a little control over her mind racing and therefore she didn't get as upset as easily.  In the past couple of years she seems to be showing more and more signs of bipolar though.  I fought hard with the idea that she was ADHD and find it harder to believe that she inherited the bipolar genes from me.  

  

The show hasn't aired yet and I can't wait to see it.  I'll check back later.   

I just don't know how to help my daughter who is now thirty and such a bright beautiful woman and her life is such a waste. We have had custody of her two children now for four years and hoped that this year we would be able to give them back and she would be able to be a mom and have a life with them but it didn't turn out that way.When she was thirteen she took an overdose and we started counseling with her. Things went from bad to worse with skipping school, being boy crazy that we eventually put her in a adolescent facility where they diagnosed her with bipolar manic depression and personality disorder. She had our first grandchild at fifteen and we have had her on and off most of her life with permanent custody four years ago.Our daughter can be violent,loving,verbal,funny,smart, and her own worst enemy. She is back in prison again for the third time. She self medicates with crack, pills,and alcohol. One psychologist told us that bipolar used to be called nymphomania and that is why she was promiscuous.She hates the medications that they all put her on and now she has hepatitis C and seizures to the point that she spent a month in a drug rehab facility after leaving prison which was part of her sentence and they released her months earlier because of them. So it makes sense that without the treatment she went right back into self medicating and is back there again.Her crime was writing prescriptions to get xanex and pain pills.Now she will be gone for twenty more months with no treatment and I am so angry because without help I am so afraid it will start all over again when she gets home.I wish they could have put her in a psychiatric hospital and gave her counseling,treatment for her hepatitis and found out why the seizures. She never had them as a child.Are they from the drugs?We worry so much about her and feel so helpless.If she ever gets well what will she do with her history.Who will hire her and trust her. We won't always be here to pick up the pieces of her life and try to keep them in order so she can try and put them back together again. Her four siblings are so mad at her that they will not do it.We are angry with her,the law,doctors,judges,probation,prosecutors,the whole mess. Will mental illness ever be understood and will there ever be a cure?????What a loss!!!!!!!!!

I work with someone who has been diagnosed as bi-polar. 

She drinks alot of alcohol. 

I've heard this is not advisable as it affects medications effectiveness - anyone out there have any experiences or advise for me?   

I'm a bit scared of how to best work with this person. 

Hi, I have a 4 1/2 year old son,  that is ADHD, ODD and IED.  They have said that if he was older, that he would be diagnosed with Bi Polar but they can not accuratley make that call with him being so young.  I divorced his father 4 years ago, because of the disorder.  I never dreamed it would come to this with our son.  Dealing with his dad about this is a joke!  I have since remarried and my husband now does not understand it at all nor does he want to.  He more or less thinks I need to fix the child or we divorce.  I have read till I am blue in the face, I have been to all sorts of doctors.  All they do is try different medicines, and lots of paperwork.  He is going to start kindergarten in August and I am really concerned what is going to happen then, I am afraid for my 2 year old little girl.  I am most concerned about my son.  Does anyone have any suggestions about what tests I should have them do, or what therapies to push.  He takes pills at 9am, 12noon, 3pm and 5pm.  We have not had much success with the pills.  Now this medicine he is on control him so much, he doesn't eat or urinate, but does not control the anger, moods, etc.  At this point I can not do anything with him.  I am lost, my marriage is loosing, my other 2 kids are resenting me, I have no time for anyone but this child.  It is controlling my life.  This one child is a full time job.  His dad is a deadbeat and does not help at all emotionally, financially anything.  I have quit my job to stay home, because no one wants to watch him because he is so bad!  I have so many problems that all point back  to him.  It is hard to love him, because he will not let anyone get close enough to him to love him.  My world revolves around him and he can not see it.  He is so smart, sometimes too smart!  Any advise you will give I would greatly appreciate it.  I have written to Dr Phil numerous times and no nothing.  I really want his advise and expertise on this, because I feel like I have hit a brick wall over and over again. 

Desperatley in need of help! 

Tiffany 

Mattoon, Illinois 

My husband is bi-polar, we have been married for 17 years.  Within the last year he has bought , sold, traded cars nine times.  He kept one car  for two weeks, these are brand new, fully loaded 

vehicles,  most people think we are millionaires,  what a joke!!! 

  

My sister is also bi-polar, she is 47, tried to committ suicide at least 3 times, been in treatment centers and hospitals on a yearly basis.   

  

Don't you think I would have seen this coming??  How could I not see the signs?? 

  

                                                       Feeling tired and foolish. 

I pray that your husband gets to see the Dr.  I truly believe that he really cares and he takes the time to find out everything about the patient.  Tori it sounds like you need some support also.  You need to take care of yourself.  This is a disease that affects the whole family, and your husband is lucky to have your support.  I will keep you and your husband in my prayers.  I would like to keep in touch, so if you would like to send me your e-mail and you want to talk, just let me know.  Keep your chin up, there is light at the end of the tunnel.  Debbie

I am so glad that Dr. Phil is willing to adress mental health issues.  I know someone with Bi-Polar and I don't know much about it.  But I do know about Multiple Personality Disorder as I have that.  And through having that I know that  it makes life no fun.   I also know that the treatment is not cheap.  So  I am thamkful for people with insurance which helps them as I don't have any.   I am so sorry that anyone who has to go through any mental health issues.  I know that God takes care of them. And I am glad for that.  But I do know this.  Don't let anyone tell you that mental health issues are not real.  As they are and you have to deal with them everyday and it can be real hard.   

 

  

I used alcohol to "self medicate" when my meds weren't working correctly. 

Can you help your friend get to a doctor and have some lab work done to see if her meds need to be adjusted?