Topic : 08/01 Extreme Highs and Lows

I have two children ages 10 and 9 and I removed them from my bipolar exhusband when they were 6 and 5 for all of the reasons you listed above.  I am deeply sorry he is bipolar and he is n denial and won't get help, but my children are not going to be exposed to any of what you mentioned above and I know it exists because I saw it all.....he continues to get worse, but the kids don't know it......they love their Dad and tell him that and still he won't get help....he just cycles through lifwe getting himself in and out of trouble....I feel sorry for his Mom and Dad, who are also in denial, but they have him living in their home and it must be getting hard for them....too bad when they can get him help......

I think we need to remember that everyone and their families experiences the illness differently. As with any group of people, generalizations are really unfair.

My sister was diagnosed as Manic-Depressed after 20 years of a roller-coaster lifestyle that took her  family and friends with her.  Truth be told.....it was harder on her family than it was on her.  When she was on the straight and narrow, she held a job, lived on her own, and then decided that she was cured and stopped taking her medicine.  Then the high..........debts, job loss, weight gain.  Then soon after, the inevitable "crash".  Regrets, tears, pit of despair.  My parents would rush in, clean up her mess and ready the world for her next appearance.  She would emerge from the hospital....hopeful, confident and ready to start all over.  They would be worn down with worry and financial woes.  Then it would start all over!   

  

The major reason for all all this?  She would self diagnose and decide on her own that she didn't need the medications.  You could ask her if she was taking her medicine and she would look you in the eye and lie every time.  As soon as she started laughing too loud, everyone would brace themselves.   

  

From my experience, the family and friends of the "bi-polar" person suffers much more than they ever do. 

Has anyone experienced the brain scanning mentioned in the show?  Please email me with info on this as we are desperate to convince my bipolar ex he has this illness (he has been professionally diagnosed) before he hurts himself...Thanks for your help/  debclark412@cox.net

Hi, I heard a couple of years ago that scientists have located a gene for bipolar disorder  And that it can be passed down.  I believe my grandmother was bipolar and I have the disorder as well. 

Take it from someone who knows.....she will be as bad as everyone around her allows her to be.  If limits are not set and held, she will test them (like a small child will) constantly.  We all have highs and lows, but a few have no breaks to control them. 

I wrote about my son-in-laws having electric shock therapy, and noone responded.  I just want to know if this is a legitimate treatment.  I have my doubts.  Please give me some answers. 

  

Apologize for the poor spelling.  I am dyslexsic.

  

 

 

  

 

I was diagnosed with Bi-polar when I was hospitalized several years ago.  I went to my internist and told him that I was severely depressed, could not sleep, and was concerned about my drinking as well.  A broken engagement, 2 parents (divorced), who had died after 4 1/2 years of suffering.  I was the only one to take care of them.

  

 

 

  

 

 My doctor, sent my to a shrink, who admitted me to the mental unit in the hospital.  My excessive talking and unclear thinking, led him to believe that I am bi-polar.  After release from the hospital, I saw him for about 2 1/2 years.  I have been on various medications, over the years.  In the beginning they helped with sleep.  Then, they no longer helped for sleep.

  

 

 

  

 

Having always worried about my weight (yet I am of normal weight), I landed up in 1 month on the last medication going from 102 lbs. to 139 lbs. Being 5'2" and petite, this was not acceptable to me.  Weight gain, made me totally miserable and depressed.  Ironically, my shrink, said I seemed well.  I in formed him that I was in misery, and depressed.

  

 

 

  

 

I am not even sure the type of bi-polar I am.  I wish I had the 'happies' supposedly associated with the manic state.  Sadly, my mania manifests in various upsetting ways.  Difficulty in concentrating, racing mind, coupled with the need to 'catch' up on the things I have ignored and neglected.  Back in 'reality', I feel the need to take care of neglected matters immediately.  I start one thing, and then remember other things that require attention as well.   I often can rush around to the point of forgetting what I was about to do.  Starting and stopping too many things at once, and feeling overwhelmed.

  

 

 

  

 

I found that the shrink did not help. 

  

 

  

 

I had a great therapist.  She helped me with my OCD (obsessive compulsive).   I have a fear of fire.  My OCD manifested itself in my repeatedly checking the stove top. My therapist helped me get a control of the OCD.  She had me learn to calm myself down, by stopping everything, and breathing and clearing my mind. 

  

 

 

  

 

Primarily, it is the constant feeling of anxiety that really does me in.  I feel anxious, nervous, and fearful most days, and almost in all endeavors.  After 9/11 (I worked by the World Trade Center ), I felt constant fear.  I still suffer from it to a lesser degree.  For several years, I was terrified to travel anywhere.   Frankly, I did not want to leave the house.   I still suffer from it to a lesser degree.

  

 

 

  

 

My therapist, made me force myself to leave the house, in ‘baby steps’, going further away from home, taking the subway, as I always had.  Eventually, I took a distant trip via Amtrak.  I am doing pretty well with the traveling now.  I would even take a trip via an airplane now.  I am sure with anxiety.  But, I would be OK.  The belief that I will be OK traveling makes a huge difference.  I accept that I will always have more anxiety that other people, without my mental health issues.  And, that is OK.  As long as I feel in control, rather than the disease controlling me, I feel OK with accepting my mental illness.   

  

 

  

 

 I could no longer afford the therapist.  I lost my job, and am still unemployed.  I feel I do need therapy.  I wish that there was a place for free, or minimal cost therapy.  I do not know of any such options available.   

  

 

 

  

 

Currently, my sleep is OK.  I use the over the counter unisom or sominex.   That seems to do the trick.

  

 

 

  

 

I stopped taking the bi-polar medications, as I felt they ultimately did not help me.

  

 

 

  

 

I would consider, reluctantly being on meds again.... if there was one that did not add on weight.

  

 

 

  

 

Any suggestions on how I can find out what type of bi-polar I have?  Should I contact the hospital? 

  

 

 

  

 

Suggestions are welcomed. 

  

 

  

 

P.S. My nephew (7 years) has Asberger syndrome.  I wonder, if this is related to my bi-polar problems. 

  

 

  

  

  

  I can see why doctors use to think people with mental issues were possesed and put into asylums.  I feel like such a dumb ass. Am I really this stupid that I cannot control my thoughts and actions.  I know I dont want to yell  and scream, but I cant stop myself anymore. Im tired of fighting it and I think now Im definitley losing this battle.  Luckily Im going to see a doctor in a few days.  Again why does it take sooo long to diagnose Bi polar disorder?   I just want control over my actions and thoughts. At times I feel "normal" and at other times I feel like someone else. 

  

   

Alot of people are questioning whether they or someone they know has bipolar disorder. I know for me that I had questioned being bipolar to my ex-psychiatrist and she said that I didn't have the "highs".  Therefore, I was not accurately diagnosed until some years later. I had been treated for depressions and that's what all the professionals thought I had, but the depression would never get better for long.  Sometimes I would be "fine", able to perform well at my job and school, Take an interest in things.  Feel like my brain was working.  I wouldn't report any of this to my doctors because I felt that I was "normal" or "cured" and I would only report the depression and the crashes.  Therefore, no one was getting an accurate picture of my moods.   

It wasn't until a short while ago that my therapist had me chart my moods.  Basically, you write about how you are feeling, what your mood is like day to day.  What you have been doing and so on, and then bring it with you to your doctors and therapist.  I found from my mood journal that I had alot of ups and downs and it was able for me to see a pattern to my mood swings. 

You can also write up a chart for feelings---sadness, anxious, angry, happy, etc. and score them with 1 being a little to 5 being alot of how you feel with each emotion.  You can also chart if you had felt suicidal or wanted to abuse substances.  Anyways, it's worth a shot to bring up to your treatment team or to have a loved one try to track their moods. This way, it gives a pretty accurate description of peoples' moods.......I know that for me being accurately diagnosed finally, I've been able to have a more stable life because I'm on the "right" meds. (mood stabilizers) Good luck.........