Bipolar, Bipolar, Bipolar....?!
Question: Bipolar, Bipolar, Bipolar!.!.!.!.!?
Do you suffer from Bipolar!? I do!. I was diagnosed at the age of 17!. I'm now 30!. I get my good and bad days and days when I just can't describe how I feel and days when I go from good to bad in an instant!. I don't take any mood stablizers but I'm on two different types of antidepressents since depression is what I suffer from most!. I love the high days though but they're not healthy either!. What do you do to treat your Bipolar!? And do you function!? I function very well with it!. I hold down a full-time job and run a home w/ my partner!. We haven't got any children at the moment but definitely want them in time!. I know Bipolar can be passed down in genes since my Grandmother and Mother suffer with it too!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Answers:
I'm 26 now and I've been diagnosed with bipolar since mid 2004 (however I was diagnosed at 14 with clinical/major depression but probably was cyclothymic or bipolar the entire time in hindsight)!. I've been on many different medications since I was 16, currently my regime is lamictal, tegretol and cipramil with regular counselling (NOT CBT) when needed!.
I take my condition pretty seriously and try to sleep, eat and exercise as to ensure maximum physical health and well being so I have the best chance of staying stable!. I also try to avoid unnecessary stress!.!.!.this is hard to do as I'm a post grad student writing an honours thesis at the moment!.
I have ultra rapid cycling type 2 with mixed episode symptoms when I'm hypomanic rather than 'feel good highs' of other people I get irritable, unpredictable and impatient, (everything also seems to move faster)!. This is probably why I wanted to get well so bad because I don't have the seductive ecstatic highs like other people!. The manic phases they don't feel good at all and leave me exhausted, mentally and physically!.
I actually hate the highs more than the lows, where I suffer psycho-motor symptoms, lethargy and get more easily stressed out than usual!. On top of these, I suffer social anxiety disorder, agoraphobia and have some SADS symptoms, especially when autumn becomes winter (may in the s!. hemisphere) and then again at the turn of spring into summer (Sept-Oct)!.
I am described as 'high functioning' by my old shrink because most of the time most people can't see when I am crashing or having an episode, most of the time I can't, though those I'm close to can usually tell if I'm having an 'on' or 'off' day!. I know what you mean about having good and bad days, but its really hard to detect in me as I'm naturally moody without the disorder (personality tests suggest this anyway)!.
I'm not having kids, which is mostly prompted by a lifestyle choice though I do take the bipolar into consideration, but again, mostly for my sake rather than any potential offspring!.
Bipolar Disorder is often inherited, with genetic factors accounting for approximately 80% of the cause of the condition!.
If one parent has Bipolar Disorder, there is a 10 per cent chance that his or her child will develop the illness!. If both parents have Bipolar Disorder the likelihood of their child developing the illness rises to 40 per cent!. However, just because one family member has the illness, it is not necessarily the case that other family members will also develop the illness!. Lots of other factors also come into play!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
I take my condition pretty seriously and try to sleep, eat and exercise as to ensure maximum physical health and well being so I have the best chance of staying stable!. I also try to avoid unnecessary stress!.!.!.this is hard to do as I'm a post grad student writing an honours thesis at the moment!.
I have ultra rapid cycling type 2 with mixed episode symptoms when I'm hypomanic rather than 'feel good highs' of other people I get irritable, unpredictable and impatient, (everything also seems to move faster)!. This is probably why I wanted to get well so bad because I don't have the seductive ecstatic highs like other people!. The manic phases they don't feel good at all and leave me exhausted, mentally and physically!.
I actually hate the highs more than the lows, where I suffer psycho-motor symptoms, lethargy and get more easily stressed out than usual!. On top of these, I suffer social anxiety disorder, agoraphobia and have some SADS symptoms, especially when autumn becomes winter (may in the s!. hemisphere) and then again at the turn of spring into summer (Sept-Oct)!.
I am described as 'high functioning' by my old shrink because most of the time most people can't see when I am crashing or having an episode, most of the time I can't, though those I'm close to can usually tell if I'm having an 'on' or 'off' day!. I know what you mean about having good and bad days, but its really hard to detect in me as I'm naturally moody without the disorder (personality tests suggest this anyway)!.
I'm not having kids, which is mostly prompted by a lifestyle choice though I do take the bipolar into consideration, but again, mostly for my sake rather than any potential offspring!.
Bipolar Disorder is often inherited, with genetic factors accounting for approximately 80% of the cause of the condition!.
If one parent has Bipolar Disorder, there is a 10 per cent chance that his or her child will develop the illness!. If both parents have Bipolar Disorder the likelihood of their child developing the illness rises to 40 per cent!. However, just because one family member has the illness, it is not necessarily the case that other family members will also develop the illness!. Lots of other factors also come into play!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
I take Abilify and about to go onto Lamictal as well!. Diagnosed aged 20!. Hypomania can be fun but full blown mania not so much, just out of control!. I'm currently looking for a job so it remains to be seen how well I'll cope with it!. You're doing well to manage without mood stabilizers, anti-d's do nothing for me and risk inducing mania!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
I was diagnosed with it a couple of years ago!. Unfortunately I let it get the better of me!. I have more down days than highs and also suffer from mood swings!. I take anti depressants for it and intend on complimenting that with counselling too!. It's a burden in a lot of ways!. I know it can't be cured but it can be controlled so Im working towards that!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
they think i have bipolar and im not doing will at the moment councilling is rubbish for me and im self harming more than ever its helpful to know that peope can live "normal" lives just wish i could!. my pills aint working and everything keeps changing and i cant handle it at the mo xWww@Answer-Health@Com
Bipolar is a type of transistor!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
manging out with bipolars are coool!. never a dull moment!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
mine isnt a severe case!. my cycles are fairly mild compared to some, and i function very well with the help of a mood stabilizer lamictal and an antidepressant lexapro!. my manic phases werent really happy, up events for me!. my mania was more racing thoughts, unable to sit still, anxiety, irratible, bursts of anger, insomnia!. in my manic phases i didnt feel all happy and good, it was more on edge, ready to come out of my skin!.
then there are the depressions!. before therapy i spent more time down than up!. that has changed and i am a lot more even, but i still feel the cycles!. i can always feel them coming!. i know when i'm going up or down, and when i am about to shift!. i guess i've learned to coach myself!. i am aware of what's happening, and remind myself of my condition and it helps me maintain control to an extent!. i still cycle, but i am aware that its the bipolar, not the real me, if that makes sense!?Www@Answer-Health@Com
then there are the depressions!. before therapy i spent more time down than up!. that has changed and i am a lot more even, but i still feel the cycles!. i can always feel them coming!. i know when i'm going up or down, and when i am about to shift!. i guess i've learned to coach myself!. i am aware of what's happening, and remind myself of my condition and it helps me maintain control to an extent!. i still cycle, but i am aware that its the bipolar, not the real me, if that makes sense!?Www@Answer-Health@Com
Hi there, I've been suffering from bipolar for a long time, maybe years, but I only got a diagnosis about a week ago! Nobody else in my family has it, they all have recurrent depression instead!. It's a relief to get the diagnosis in a way, because I know that it's the Bipolar causing my mood swings and not just ''me being crazy''!.
I've been started on a low dose of Zyprexa, I think my psychiatrist intends to add more medication in a couple of week's time!. I think at the time he thought I was manic, because when he asked how I would rate my mood I said 'low side of normal' and then his eyebrows raised and he looked shocked and said 'you mean you get a lot higher than this!?' and I went 'hell yeah!' and laughed, and that's when he put me on the Zyprexa!.
I'm a bit depressed at the minute though, and I can't manage to make myself leave the house, get dressed or get something to eat!.!.!.
Anyway, at the moment I'm not functioning well at all, but it's kind of a relief to know there are other bipolar people out there that are coping and living a normal life!. I hope that will be me soon too!. Maybe once I'm on the right medication!.
All the best!.
<3 xWww@Answer-Health@Com
I've been started on a low dose of Zyprexa, I think my psychiatrist intends to add more medication in a couple of week's time!. I think at the time he thought I was manic, because when he asked how I would rate my mood I said 'low side of normal' and then his eyebrows raised and he looked shocked and said 'you mean you get a lot higher than this!?' and I went 'hell yeah!' and laughed, and that's when he put me on the Zyprexa!.
I'm a bit depressed at the minute though, and I can't manage to make myself leave the house, get dressed or get something to eat!.!.!.
Anyway, at the moment I'm not functioning well at all, but it's kind of a relief to know there are other bipolar people out there that are coping and living a normal life!. I hope that will be me soon too!. Maybe once I'm on the right medication!.
All the best!.
<3 xWww@Answer-Health@Com