Messages By: bipolaroso

Quote From: 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 

  

Quote From: maxxy96

My 30 year old daughter is bi-polar.  I guess I do not understand her behavior.  I have seen her really get angry and mad and I have also seen her act okay.  I think she can control herself if she wanted to badly enough.  Recently, to take care of myself, I have told her that she was not going  to be allowed to scream and yell at me anymore.  She would treat me with respect or not at all.   I am prepared to have no more contact with her at all if she does not  treat me right.................bipolar or not! 

maxxy 96. 

Quote From: luz26e1

I am 30 years old and was told that I had bipolar and split personality five years ago. Took medication for a year but stop. I do have ups and downs, but I would never hurt my children.  I live for my kids people think I should go back on medication and sometimes I think I should but I can't see myself doing that, not yet I have to try and be strong..  I sometimes get angry but I breath, count sing and scream to relieve the anger.  But my doctors fear that I have lost it already cause I show no emotion to anything they say I'm numb.  What wrong with that I would rather feel that thing pain and hurt and depression all the time.

Quote From: baseball

I have 4 bipolar children. 3 surviving. All my children are different. This is such a complex illness. It has been a rollercoaster for the whole family. My daughter committed suicide in 2004. She had stopped taking her meds. She was 23 and left 3 children behind. I have a 23 yr old who is in and out of jail for not reporting or not doing what is required of him. I fear he will end up dead or in prison. He will get medication there to help him. he can't afford it when he is out of jail. I have a 18 yr old who controls his and it is still scary. I see him depressed most of the time. He excels in sports, school, and is heading off to college next year. he is the perfectionist. Classic Bipolar symtoms. That is how my daughter was too. I also have a 15 yr old son who is now in a residential treatment center. Has been since Dec. They are still trying to get him stableized. I really hope this show helps us. I am always on guard. Cindy tried to kill herself 6 times before she succeeded. Jeremy has been in the hospital 27 times since he was 16. Ronny has only went  once that was right after his sister died. Kenny this is his second time in residential. The first time they never diagnosed him as bipolar. The anti-depressant drugs didn't work. he was gone for 2 1/2 yrs. This last time he dumped gas on himself and tried to set himself on fire. I hope this show helps me to be able to help my children. I love them so much and this illness is sometimes too much to handle.       One confused and grieving mom,   Linda

Quote From: maxxy96

My daughter is in treatment.  She is  taking medication. and in therapy.  The doctor said the medicine is doing all it can do and she needs to help herself.   

  

I have helped her quite alot...........taking her to doctor appointments,  keeping her son for weeks at a time when she is down.  Paying her bills because she can not keep a job,  buying clothes and food  for the both of them.  I guess  I want to hear and see some thank yous from her  instead of  

mean and hateful comments