Anyone Here Mentally Ill?

Axels91

I have bipolar disorder. or manic depression as they say it old school. it makes getting healthy a bit more difficult, because when Im depressed i never want to eat or exercise, and mood stabilizers can cause weight gain. During depressed episodes I feel like life is **** and not worth fixing, so I let myself slide=smoking, drinking and smoking again haha

I just wanted to know if anyone here is battling mental illness while trying to get fit and healthy? Does it pose a challenge to you?

ConcordPhil

I have bouts with depression... very minor compared to what I've seen in some people. I try to go to the gym every morning... the daily exercise seems to help. The other thing I do is I love to go hiking. Even if it's just a walk in the woods, it really seems to get me out of myself for a little while. And the fresh air doesn't hurt.

I think it's really great that you brought this up too. I think if people talked about it more, there would be less of a stigma associated with it. And getting something out in the open is probably the first step in making it better.

spade117

I don't.

spade117

Me either.

PapaverSomniferum

I have Body Dysmorphic Disorder

UponThisRock

Me either.

I was thinking of a funny reply, no way to top this.

jplord

Bipolar (Type 2). Welbutrin and Lithium. 7 years of trying to manage the symptoms.

Trouble is some of the symptoms are positive. Hypomania can get you in trouble, but you don't want to extinguish it. THat same manic energy is what gives you effervescence, creativity, wit, the ability to connect random and disparate things into coherent ideas. This is not a cold, and I won't be cured. But the negative symptoms can be managed, never eliminated. MFP member bipolaroutloud is a particularly elloquent blogger who writes for us.

EmCarroll1990

I have Body Dysmorphic Disorder

This.

SimplyShanRunning

Me either.

odusgolp

Search the groups. Many of my friends suffer from mental illness to varying degrees, and I'm sure you can find a board for more input. Good luck!

SimplyShanRunning

I have Body Dysmorphic Disorder

but this for real.....and Im also bulimic

Axels91

I have bouts with depression... very minor compared to what I've seen in some people. I try to go to the gym every morning... the daily exercise seems to help. The other thing I do is I love to go hiking. Even if it's just a walk in the woods, it really seems to get me out of myself for a little while. And the fresh air doesn't hurt.

I think it's really great that you brought this up too. I think if people talked about it more, there would be less of a stigma associated with it. And getting something out in the open is probably the first step in making it better.

i agree, and its very relevant here because we are all trying to make lifestyle choices for better health overall, not just bodily health but mental health. for me, eating certain foods can exacerbate a mood swing that takes me completely off course from my fitness schedule.

MrEmoticon

Me either.

Axels91

Bipolar (Type 2). Welbutrin and Lithium. 7 years of trying to manage the symptoms.

Trouble is some of the symptoms are positive. Hypomania can get you in trouble, but you don't want to extinguish it. THat same manic energy is what gives you effervescence, creativity, wit, the ability to connect random and disparate things into coherent ideas. This is not a cold, and I won't be cured. But the negative symptoms can be managed, never eliminated. MFP member bipolaroutloud is a particularly elloquent blogger who writes for us.

yes, mania for me starts off euphoric and pleasant, then turns to hallucinations and delusions, (once i was seeing cockroaches in my bed, and demons in my shower curtain) and then it turns into full blown rage. at those times i need to be sedated or it will get bad for anyone around me.

the creativity is amazing in hypomania, but full blown mania for me, has only been briefly pleasant before becoming out of control. i am also unmedicated, so must be VERY careful with my diet and exercise schedule and stay consistent.

kayleesays

Generalized anxiety disorder, it eats my life, woooo

Chelle_Davis

I have Bi-Polar Disorder and GAD.

So far it hasn't presented a problem, but I've had to change the times I take my meds so I can be sure and take it with food.

CoryIda

I am bipolar and have struggled with severe depression since I was probably 10.

I have to say that getting myself healthy mentally has been much harder than getting healthy physically, but it can be done. I have a long way to go still, but considering that I was in a mental hospital this time 7 1/2 years ago, I am proof that you can make progress if you really work at it.

Good luck getting the support you need.

rchambers2072

I have bipolar disorder. My 14 yr old son also has it. And my 13 yr old daughter has dissociative identity disorder (new term for multiple personalities) I am a stress eater also, and my life is nothing but stress!! A good group would be awesome!

nnapieralski

Oooh, oooh....me!!

I was diagnosed with Bi-Polar disorder and anxiety issues 13 years ago. Some days are harder than others, but over the years I've learned what medicines work the best, how to stop thinking negative thoughts, how to eat right (yes, it makes a difference), and how to relax. It's a constant struggle and can be very hard at times, but I am happy........something I thought was impossible 14 years ago.

UpEarly

Generalized anxiety disorder, it eats my life, woooo

Me too. My anxiety is often all-consuming. People tend to think I'm 'just a worrier' or tell me to 'think positive!'. I wish it was that simple and easy.

BeautyFromPain

Hey, I used to have really bad depression and anxiety, which the depression has been made completely better by exercise and helps the anixety a bit but I still get way too stressed out and anxiety attacks waaay too often.

Axels91

Is body dysmorphia like seeing an exaggeration of something you dislike about your body? like seeing your self as bigger than you really are?

thanks for the support, i am surprised how many BP people are here!

ladykaisa

I have Body Dysmorphic Disorder

but this for real.....and Im also bulimic

This, but recovering. Along with GAD and ADHD. Not on meds for any of it, though sometimes the GAD and ADHD make my days unbearable.

PapaverSomniferum

I have Body Dysmorphic Disorder

but this for real.....and Im also bulimic

yeah, it's no joke. People don't take this one seriously. I used to have a diagnosis for Anorexia, but now I have a healthy BMI and I mostly eat. I'm convinced that Bulemia Nervosa and Anorexia Nervosa are most often symptoms of BDD, rather than self-manifesting disorders. That realization helped me change the therapist I was going to and my outlook towards my behaviors. Rather than focusing on my issues with food, I started focusing on my issues with ME.

Changed my life, really, making that switch.

Is body dysmorphia like seeing an exaggeration of something you dislike about your body? like seeing your self as bigger than you really are?

It can manifest as an exaggeration. Or an obesession with a certain flaw (real or perceived). Mine is a general loathing of my every physical attribute.

lilfurson

I take 10mg Lexapro and 150mg Wellbutrin. Been a couple years and I don't know if / when i'll try to get off them. Life & work are so stressful.

scatgash

I'm diagnosed with Depression NOS and EDNOS, so I know how it feels to struggle on a daily basis with trying to keep my mind, and my body, in a healthy state.

_Timmeh_

Generalized anxiety disorder, it eats my life, woooo

Me too. My anxiety is often all-consuming. People tend to think I'm 'just a worrier' or tell me to 'think positive!'. I wish it was that simple and easy.

Same. Also extreme bouts of social anxiety.

alyssaanagram

I have PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and I am Manic Depressive - this has also caused me to have major anxiety and insomnia.

I was on medication for almost 2 years & I spent some time in a facility. But a year and a half ago I was taken off my medication very slowly. Now I used exercise to battle all of this on my own and to help be tired enough to sleep through the night. Right now I've fallen off the wagon a little bit with my diet but I'm getting back to it. I never want to slip into depression like I did before.

Sometimes my family things I take all the exercise and dieting too far but I feel like I need to focus on it to get everything else off my mind.

Also: good luck to anyone else here battling mental illness. It is such a tough battle but the sense of community (and even the jokes sometimes) really help.

BAMFMeredith

I don't know if ADHD would be included in that, but I've got that. I went a loooooong time being able to manage on my own without medication, but it got to the point where I couldn't figure out how to even do my job without being in a panic by the end of the day because I had so many unfinished projects. Going to bed at night and not being able to even focus enough on just laying down to go to sleep is beyond frustrating and exhausting. It led to a lot of depression because I just felt like I couldn't get my life together.

Now that I take adderall, I feel like my mind is finally at ease and I'm not constantly trying to remember what I was just doing. I can finally go to bed and just clear my thoughts at night. I used to have panic attacks and had been prescribed Ativan for those, but now that I take my daily adderall, I haven't had one single panic attack.

Adderall makes a lot of people lose a ton of weight, but the thing is, you just have NO appetite. So basically you're starving yourself. I struggled with that when I first started taking it, but being on MFP and having to document my food and know "ok, I need this many calories today" has really really helped me.


My best friend from high school has Bipolar disorder, and she just had a baby in December---which means she couldn't take her medication AND she was hormonal. I've been helping her get in the gym and stuff and since she's breastfeeding still, she's also still meds free. She said since starting to work out a lot she has been the most balanced (without meds) she's ever been!!

HotCuppaJo

Me either.

Lol

kayleesays

Generalized anxiety disorder, it eats my life, woooo

Me too. My anxiety is often all-consuming. People tend to think I'm 'just a worrier' or tell me to 'think positive!'. I wish it was that simple and easy.

Same. Also extreme bouts of social anxiety.

It's really comforting to see people with the same issues I have. It's rare to find someone who understands GAD and doesn't just tell me, "you worry too much". In college last year, my anxiety would get so bad in one class that I would have panic attacks while dialogues were going on in class and try to hide them. I hate how much it messed with my digestion and stomach, too