Messages By: kbrown24

    My husband is bipolar ll and I thought that I would share a few ways that we have found helpful in dealing with this illness. He is currently taking Lamictal which he has found to be a wonderful lifesaver drug. I haven't hear about any one on the message boards taking this drug. Its doesn't make him feel like a zombie and controls his mood swings. He also makes time to work out once sometimes twice a day. We have found that working out is a very important part of making him feel better. Working out also gets rid of that extra energy bipolar people seem to have when they feel good. The third thing is a  A calender  that we have posted in our bathroom were everyday he writes in the small box about how he feels. Just simple words like "great day" or whatever applies. We own a very successful construction company and we also limit the number of jobs he has going on at one time to keep his stress level at a minimum. He also sees his Dr. once a month to evaluate how he is feeling. At times when I feel so upset that he has to go through this horrible disease and so discouraged because we feel like we do all we can to fight this I am reminded that this is not a curable disease it is a relapseable disease and we only have so much control. Also finding the patterns to look for when someone goes "down". For my husband its is extra stress negative talk, wanting to sleep more, loss of energy, slowly becomes anti-social..... We are very sensitive to look for these signs and patterns. I can notice these patterns much sooner then he can and its our responsibility to do something as soon as we see these signs. DONT WAIT! 

    I am no expert, and know that every person is different but with medication, determination, communication, therapy, and God we have seen his "downs" to a almost 1 or 2 a year.  We have had a very hard road but you just have to keep searching for the certain things that work. No one knows what it feels like to go though unless you've been there. Don't think people with bipolar are weird or don't try to feel better. One of the things I have really had to get over is even in the Dr office or hospital I feel like people look at us weird and are thinking "wow that couple has some issues." No we don't ! My husband has a chemical imbalance! We live a very normal life other then once or twice a year! I have often thought about wanting to speak to people who live with someone with bipolar. Just to make people know that they aren't alone! Ive been looked at weird, talked about, and made to feel like we have to keep his disease a secret. But for my husband I have to keep a positive attitude, keep encouraging him, and love him. I hope this all has made sense because I am not the best writer in the world! I would love to talk to anyone. Best luck to all and you will be in my prayers, 

Kristen