January 31, 2011
I am a 27 year old female bipolar who has recently been through a 4 month depression along with a break up, about two weeks ago I requested medical leave from work and during this period I sought psychiatric treatment started medication , started psychotherapy. I am both a student and work full time, I struggled to finish out the semester and after that was done I had no more energy to even get up to go to work I was also self medicating with alcohol and sleeping pills. I am now returning to work on Wednesday and am unsure how to deal with all the questions of whats wrong where have I been …etc…..I don’t want to lie and I don’t want to seem like I’m hiding something. I do work in the ER and the girls I work with gossip, gossip, gossip i don’t want to feel paranoid [...]
January 30, 2011
Oftentimes, those of us who have Bipolar Disorder feel like we are facing a giant that seems unbearable. And in all reality, you’re right! It won’t go away and we somehow have to come to grips with dealing with a disease that few people understand. It has been my experience since the diagnosis of this disease that education is power. That power can help us conquer our fears about the disease itself. When I was first diagnosed I wasn’t scared. I had a flippant attitude about it all and thought I could control it myself. Nothing could have been further from the truth. I did start taking the medications but when I felt better I stopped taking them. Oh my! How many of us have done that? It wasn’t long before I was admitted to the local psychiatric ward of a hospital because I was out of control with a [...]
January 28, 2011
My husband needs a new psychiatrist who is good with Bipolar dx. Do you have any recommendations in the Detroit Metro Area? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I am sure many people who have Bipolar Disorder have had the question, “When do I need a new psychiatrist?” I, too, have had this question and have had to take action in the past to help myself. Unfortunately, nobody takes care of us and we have to advocate for ourselves. And just because a person has M.D. behind his or her name doesn’t mean that he/she has all the answers or that he/she is for you. I believe these are some points you need to consider about your current practitioner before you make a change. *Is this Doctor or practitioner meeting your needs? *Do you feel listened to and believed? *Does he/she try and keep your medications at a level where you can function? *Can you [...]
January 26, 2011
After doing some research, I am starting to think that a family member is bipolar. One minute they will be having fun and the next they can be screaming and totally shut down. There has also been issues with cutting in the past. We have tried to get them to talk to someone, but they refuse to go. Being in their 20s, is there anyway we can get them the help they need, before it is too late, when they refuse to see a doctor? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I did a similar post about this about a month ago, Do you believe the last resort for someone in denial to realize they have bi polar disorder is to “CRASH”?, which kind of dealt with the same overall issue. Though I’m not going to say that “Oh My Great Monkey! They have bipolar. Get them help now!!!”, because I’m super not qualified to [...]
January 25, 2011
Hello, I have recently been discharged from a hospital and have severe social anxiety. Very rarely go out side by myself. The state I live in has very limited resources for things of this nature. Therapy don’t work for me and there is just a few support groups and they tend to be geared to other things. Does anyone have any suggestions? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Social anxiety is anxiety (emotional discomfort, fear, apprehension, or worry) about social situations, interactions with others, and being evaluated or scrutinized by other people. AKA … social anxiety kind of sucks. And since Bipolar Disorder happens to be the “Buy One Get Five Free Illness”, it is not uncommon for us to suffer from this disorder as well. Now as those with Social Anxiety do NOT like being in social situations, it’s quite difficult to find an actual, physical support group. Some people would argue that due [...]
January 23, 2011
Bipolar Disorder and the Stigma Crisis A stigma! What’s that you ask? stig·ma [stig-muh] –noun, plural stig·ma·ta 1. a mark of disgrace or infamy; a stain or reproach, as on one’s reputation. Bipolar Disorder, unfortunately, carries with it a stigma or a sense of shame. I have listed the definition above. I think the stigma of Bipolar Disorder and other like illnesses has changed some in the last few years for the good. Very often, we are called many things that we are not! Often we have been called crazy, illiterate, stupid, insane, and many other monikers that do not actually define us. Obviously, we wouldn’t choose the behavior that the disease induces. I say this! “People need to get a clue!” A stigma usually happens because of uneducation. I have encountered many people who are uneducated regarding this disease or others. This disorder is an organic, chemical imbalance of the brain. It [...]
January 22, 2011
I asked a question on our facebook page the other day in regards to pushing away your significant others as a result of having bipolar disorder. I even went as far as to post the question on Reddit (One of my new favorite websites). The responses were pretty similar throughout. I mean it’s no secret; Relationships are HARD to maintain when your moods are all over the place. It’s pretty much to be expected. I make it a habit to always put myself in other people’s shoes. (Not literally of course, because heaven knows I can never fit into anyone else’s shoes … well except my 9 yr old’s … but that’s neither here nor there) I like to look at things from everyone’s point of view, not just my own. And my question today does exactly that. It’s become common a common question for us, “What do I do [...]
January 19, 2011
Today’s post was written by Debbie Costello ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ First, let me say that Marybeth has done an incredible job with her website. It is professional, informative, but most importantly, it provides an open dialogue about bipolar disorder. My story is about my son, Sean Costello, and my perspective about his battle with BD. Sean was born a beautiful, inquisitive, but very shy boy who loved to perform. At age 3 he wanted a fiddle! When he was slated to play Martin Luther King in the 3rd grade, besides the fact that he was not a typecast (very blond), I was sure that he would falter and whisper. Well, in a very integrated environment, they took the play to the High School where he received a standing ovation. The disparity between being socially comfortable and being able to transform on stage was but a precursor to his future. Sean took up [...]
January 18, 2011
So *sniff sniff*, today is our 6 month anniversary!!! Can you believe it? So I’ve donned my best attire (and/or my green sweatshirt and yoga pants) and am prepared to give a speech. (Oh don’t go, I promise it will be quick!!!) Dear Super Awesomtastic Fabulous AaBFFs (Stands for Ask a Bipolar Friends Forever … came up with it myself.), You guys rock!!!! Love, Marybeth Okay okay, so maybe I have a tiny bit more to say than that. Really, though, if it weren’t for you guys this site would be nothing. You are the ones who make it awesome. I just make it look pretty. In these past six months I have made some wonderful friends and met some amazing people. I had no idea this site would become what it is today, and it makes me all warm and fuzzy inside to know that we are helping SO [...]
January 17, 2011
Why does everyone blame their weight gain on their bipolar meds? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This is a tough question to answer. Many bipolar medications (such as Lithium, Abilify, Depakote, etc.) do indeed cause weight gain. And unfortunately, it is very hard to curb these problems. Other meds (such as Adderal, Stratera, Welbutrin, etc.) have the opposite affect. This can be equally as frustrating and unhealthy. I myself am to the point where I have to have people remind me to eat because I have absolutely no appetite as a result of taking Adderal. If you have issues with keeping your weight down (or in my case up), I would discuss this with your PDoc. More than likely they will be able to either adjust your meds and/or give you advice on how to avoid an excess in weight gain/loss. Also, keep in mind, after a few months of taking these meds, you [...]
January 12, 2011
Will there be serious consequences with the law if I leave the hospital without being discharged??? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ First off, I want to tell you that it is never a good idea to leave a hospital of any kind without being discharged… But that’s just my little disclaimer… I did quite a bit of research on this subject… I know what the laws are in my area, but I wasn’t too sure if they were the same throughout the state, let alone the country… So I looked, and after visiting some different websites, e-mailing a few people, and calling some different hospitals, I got my answers-the laws are the same, as far as I can tell… So here are my findings… There is a difference between leaving a psych hospital against medical advice (AMA) and just up and leaving without being discharged or letting anyone know… Leaving AMA means signing yourself [...]
January 11, 2011
I’m currently engaged, but not without some level of anxiety. I recently read online that a whopping 90% of marriages involving a spouse with bipolar ultimately fail. What advice can you give me to minimize the risks? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~` Minimizing Risk of Divorce When Bipolar Spouse Involved Well, you’ve certainly asked one of the most challenging questions I’ve ever answered! And it’s definitely one of the great all time questions for the ages and quite possibly the Universe as well. OK, just so we’re on the same page this seems like a very complex question and it is in that it’s in regard to an extremely life changing event for you. However, in many ways you’re impending wedding and marriage isn’t really All that different from many other couples upcoming wedding and marriage. I’m sure you’re either a bit confused or thinking “okaaay maybe she doesn’t quite understand the question”. That’s ok I’m used [...]
January 10, 2011
Hi there. I entered a relationship with an amazing man 4 months ago with excitement and heart palpitations! He swept me off my feet with his strong, silent, presence. This was a blind date. We met at an online dating site. Our first date consisted of a short walk on a local trail with the dog and a chat. I found him to be a bit ‘shy’ as I would put it. After our date i didn’t hear from him for a couple of weeks…but we did connect and met again for dinner. I labeled him the slowest man on earth at that time! He was very guarded emotionally, but I felt that the fact that he’d asked me out, all was fine. As the weeks turned to months, we dated about once per week (family obligations for both of us), and I began to feel very much a love [...]
January 9, 2011
The Importance of Taking Your Medication Even if You Feel Well Medication management! What is it? Maybe you are newly diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder or maybe you have had your diagnosis for a long time. For me, personally, my diagnosis came when I was 21-years-old. That was over 20 years ago now. For me, after my diagnosis initially, I would stop taking my medication if I felt well. I didn’t understand at first that I had to continue my medication management in order to maintain any type of normalcy. And I realize that a sense of normalcy is different for each patient. So, after consulting with my psychiatrist several times he finally talked me into taking my medications every single day versus only when I wanted to. Then, only to quit taking them again. Plus, I would end up either crashing or going up into a manic high landing myself right in the psychiatric unit of our local [...]
January 8, 2011
As most of you already know, I am going through the unfortunate process of divorce. Through this journey, I’ve gathered a bit of questions. I don’t intend to burden you with them all just yet, but I am curious about a few things. Number One! If you’ve been through a divorce, do you ever get that feeling that people who find out you have BP will automatically blame the whole thing on you and your illness? I mean, I KNOW that my illness has nothing to do with the break down of my marriage, but I still can’t wonder if other people think that. Number Two! Though I’m not really sure I’m ready to enter the whole “dating scene”, I have worries about when I do. I mean coming out of the bipolar closet to someone you just met an potentially like is a frightening task. How would one even go about [...]
January 6, 2011
First of all, thank you for offering this website as it helps give a perspective to those of us who love someone with bipolar. I knew my guy professionally before we reconnected and began slowly developing a personal relationship nearly a year and a half ago. During this time I’ve seen at least two hypomanic episodes and more depressive ones, with distinct triggers. Our connection has always been tender, loving, supportive, best of friends as well as lovers, and even in moods he’s taken care to not take anything out on me (though he’s always expressing fear that he’ll inadvertently do something to hurt me). However, for two months now he’s been in a depressive state the likes of which I’ve never seen before. He said a nightmare triggered it, though I noticed the month long downward slide from a hypomanic episode to that evening of the nightmare. Six weeks [...]
January 4, 2011
I have come to a point in my diagnosis where I am rapid cycling. My pdoc seems to be OK with it because she said it’s not harmful. It isn’t, but it drives me crazy. One day I wake up on a high and the next day or even hours later I can crash. Or I crash one day and the next higher than a kite. If you have experienced this, how did your pdoc deal with it? Did she adjust meds or just let it go? She’s an awesome Dr. and this is the first of my rapid cycling ever. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If you experienced rapid cycling how did your P-Doc handle it? I’m glad you asked this question because in the process of answering it I’ll be able to provide more insight and education on this particular subtype of Bipolar Disorder. Rapid cycling can often be complex and problematic [...]
January 3, 2011
There was just a question asking whether someone has to actually ‘crash’ before they admit that they have bipolar and seek help (http://www.askabipolar.com/do-you-believe-the-last-resort-for-someone-in-denial-to-realize-they-have-bi-polar-disorder-is-to-crash/ ) So this got me thinking… Did I have to crash??? What made me seek help??? My answers got kind of confusing… I first got help because my mom forced me when I was 11-no crash… But, like Marybeth said, I wasn’t getting help for me, so it didn’t work… I went through the motions for a while, then I crashed… So I started actually working… Then I crashed again… And again… And again… (etc, etc, etc…) And what made me seek help??? So many things, so many different times… I go through my cycles where I want to help myself, and where I don’t… But that’s normal for most people still struggling with their bipolar (right??? Please say I’m right…) But it’s been more than that [...]
