bipolar
Bipolar disorder; understanding the highs, the lows and the in between.
More Tips on Winning, Despite Our Bipolar Diagnosis
Before we begin this installment, let's review some of the highlights of the last one: An activity that can help us keep our diagnosis under control is to keep a written journal of how we're feeling. It doesn't matter how you write it or what words you use; just let your mind and emotions go as you write!
By Chuck Hinson7 years ago in Psyche
We're Gonna Win, Despite Our Bipolar Diagnosis!
In my last post, I listed a number of toll-free numbers that we can use in the event we need someone to talk to, and help us through a "cycle" (the word's used to describe either a manic or depressive stage). Then we covered the issue of medications (and, listen, I can't be too emphatic on this: If you've been prescribed med(s) to help you, then take them regularly! Don't skip a dose, or take too many of them! If you have bad side effects, discuss this with your psychiatrist. He or she can find a better one for you).
By Chuck Hinson7 years ago in Psyche
YOU'RE GONNA WIN, Despite Your Bipolar Diagnosis!
While it's true that bipolar disorder is incurable, there are things we can do to handle it successfully and live a happier and more stable emotional life. So, before I begin this second article, let's review what we learned from the first one:
By Chuck Hinson7 years ago in Psyche
Going Through Life with Bipolar Disorder
I recently was diagnosed with Bipolar II Disorder in April. I was in a mental hospital in the capital city. Only 45 minutes away from my home. I came in an ambulance from the emergency room in my hometown. I took the advice from my OBGYN nurse to go to the ER. I was feeling very overwhelmed, and just not me. When they told me I was going to go to a facility, I freaked out. I didn't want to go and that type of hospital scares me. I ran. I ran out of the hospital, straight to my car and went to a friend's house. My friend was watching my younger daughter, and my oldest was at school. I thought I had rights to refuse to go, but I didn't. The cops found me at the school picking up my oldest daughter. They took me back to the hospital and transferred me to the hospital 45 minutes away from home. I didn't know where I was. I just knew the name of the hospital. I spent a week there. The first day I didn't want to come out of my room. I just wanted to call my fiancee. It sucked. That same day, I talked to a nurse practitioner. He diagnosed me with bipolar disorder. How he explained it, I'm in the middle, between manic depression and very low (hardcore) depression. This was part of postpartum depression I was experiencing. Yes, you can have postpartum depression after having a baby (toddler) and being pregnant at the same time. I had a nurse tell me I couldn't and she just looked at me in disgust. She was terrible. I think she was having a bad day at the ER that day...
By Jessica Slade7 years ago in Psyche
Plagued: Living with the Voices
It was like I was in a nightmare. It started when I was first hospitalized. I accidentally overdosed on melatonin tablets, only desperately trying to go to sleep after being sleep-deprived for nearly 20 hours. I ended up unresponsive, unable to move, and my best friend was there at the time. She saw that something was wrong, and she knocked on the door next to mine to tell my aunt what was going on. I remember my aunt squeezing my hand and telling me that if she could hear me, I should squeeze her hand. I did so, just barely. Soon enough, the ambulance came and rushed me to the hospital.
By Cynthia B.7 years ago in Psyche
Life with Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder affects as many as 60 million people worldwide. Bipolar is a lifelong chronic illness for which there is no cure. Someone living with this disorder will experience revolving episodes of depressive and manic behavior, each episode lasting for a week or more at a time. Due to the nature of this illness, many who are diagnosed as bipolar also have at least one other mental disorder diagnosis such as Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Dissociative Personality Disorder, PTSD, and Schizophrenia.
By Kristin Wilson7 years ago in Psyche
The Fight of My Life
I have a dream that I've been dreaming about since junior high school. I love writing and I love music. If I were able to put them both together, that'd be amazing. But being a songwriter, you have to know that right people and I don't know people. I don't like people. People make me anxious. I don't like feeling anxious.
By Janice Page7 years ago in Psyche
Coping with Bipolar Disorder
Anyone who has bipolar disorder knows how hard it can be to oscillate between two extremes. What are the two extremes? Mania makes you feel like a superhero, while on the other hand, depression makes you feel like the worst person in the world. Going back and forth can feel like chaos.
By Paisley Hansen7 years ago in Psyche
