I need to talk to someone who's been successful with Bipolar

The general answer is take your meds and talk to your therapist about coping skills. That's what I do, and I've been pretty balanced lately. Feel free to ask me more specific questions, though.

Man I wish there was something that would shut my brain up! It sucks =(

I don't have Bipolar Disorder, but I'd still like to say some things, if you don't mind. I'm training to be a psychologist, but I am by no means a professional at all. I also struggled with unipolar clinical depression and a dual, comorbid anxiety disorders (GAD and panic disorder NOS--which, for me, means I have intermittent agoraphobia and that's all the NOS is for, since PD is usually classified "with" or "without" agoraphobia). And I have a few friends with Bipolar Disorder and I learn a lot by watching them.

Were you diagnosed with type one or two? Knowing which one is key for managing your symptoms.

First of all, you're still you with the diagnosis. It literally does not change you or define you. You've likely always had BD, it's just that the diagnosis is finally coming to you, however many years later. The label is for clinical and treatment purposes. You are still responsible for your actions, life, and behavior, including compliance with treatment that will help you get a handle on your disorder. That does not mean you chose BD and it does not mean you're responsible for the sick parts of your brain chemistry--it simply means you are still in the driver's seat in your life, but you have a passenger you cannot get rid of. Compliance with whatever treatment your doctor recommends is what makes sure that passenger does not become the backseat driver.

Get a mood chart (they are free online & you can print them out or find one that you can log into and use strictly online). You can track your symptoms on that, list your medications, doctors & their numbers, emergency numbers in case of a suicide emergency or in case of an accidental overdose, etc. I think PsychCentral has a pretty good one. Just look for "mood chart" or "bipolar disorder mood tracker." You can then show this to your doctor to se how responsive you are to treatment.

Remember that your doctor may have to try several medications before one fits for you. Medications take time to become effective, too. There won't be an instant change. You can still diet and exercise on medications, unless your doctor tells you otherwise. When you see "weight gain" listed as a side effect, remember that medication trial scientists and doctors must list every potential side effect from what they've observed & what trial patients have reported from the study after it ends & then they must list it as a SE once the drug goes onto the market. Don't panic. Psychotropic medications generally do not affect your metabolism, so unless your doctor tells you otherwise, any and all weight-related side effects are from a deficit, maintenance, or surplus of calories. Of all the medications I've tried, I never gained an ounce "from" the medications. I gained the weight from no longer being too depressed to eat. Whenever I said I gained weight "from taking medications," I wanted an excuse for having gained 40-80 pounds in about four years. We need to own our actions--owning mine in this instance helped me kickstart a successful weight loss journey. When I had nothing to blame but myself, I had nothing to help me but myself--how refreshing & empowering!

Keep a journal. Call someone or just go straight to an ER if you think you're going to harm yourself or someone else. If you're cutting or otherwise self-harming like I was, get help immediately. It's a horrible problem to have. Stay on your treatment plan--medication, therapy, everything. Mental illness is an illness like diabetes. My dad is a type one diabetic & he can't go off his medications anymore than I can stop treatment for my depression & anxiety disorders. Keep supportive friends and family in your network--you need a support system; I would suggest revealing your diagnosis to only a few close loved ones (only people you could call in an emergency & who are not judgmental) because some people honestly can't be trusted with stigmatized disorders like mental illness.

If you're in college, choose whether or not you want to go to disability services. Maybe you need extra exam time because your medication makes you sluggish for a little while. Maybe you need some leniency for extensions on projects or for missed classes. Don't abuse this system, though. If you don't need it, don't use it just because it's there--DS might have a limited number of people who can help students by proctoring secluded or extended exams or tutoring. If you do need it, use it. Remember, your enrollment and utilization of DS is not on your school record and cannot be used for or against you in the future (graduation, employment, etc).

Don't isolate yourself. Get involved. Become or stay employed (and in a place that does not aggravate your symptoms--for me, I had to get out of hectic customer service because my anxiety went through the roof and mean customers didn't help with my depression or self-esteem, so I ended up quitting after a few weeks or months). Keep your living space clean. Have a hobby you love. Find a passion, or even a second/third/fourth one! Don't burn bridges with employers or friends/relatives. Remember you didn't ask to be sick and it isn't your fault that you are sick--but do remember that you are still responsible for your actions. These things are tremendously important to your wellbeing and ability to stay balanced.

If you seek out online support on a message board strictly related to mental illnesses, choose wisely. Some of those groups are filled with people who could just bring you down. I was a member of a forum where people made their illnesses their identity, they competed to be the "sickest," and wallowed in their misery with no intention of seeking treatment. It was a place to be attention-seeking and competitively ill (like, I cut more/deeper or I've been hospitalized more times than anyone else, I've tried more medications than anyone else, my illness is more severe because I've decided it's medication-resistant after going on only two meds, I've been sick longer than anyone else, I have more comorbid illnesses than anyone, etc) and not to heal. I got out right away because I was looking for real support. I also highly recommend staying away from places that romanticize mental illness and suicide and cutting/SI, like some parts of this website called "tumblr," which I've never been a member of but I have seen a lot of their stuff come up in image searches for projects I've done on depression awareness and it's SO triggering and romanticized. So tread carefully in that area. Maybe look on NAMI for in-person support groups in your area. If they don't have one for strictly BD, they will have one for general mood disorders.

You CAN do this. You are not worthless or helpless. You can shop around until you find the right therapist (it took me 3-5 until I found Deb). You may have to try several medications before one works--give any and all medications a few weeks to kick in, take them on schedule, and do NOT go off of them cold-turkey. If you go on a high enough mg of lithium, make sure you get your blood drawn as often as your doctor tells you to. Find a support network and use your resources. Protect yourself in any way you can if you ever experience the common BD symptom of hypersexuality--my cousin has BD and was severely hypersexual when she was a teenager, she had three pregnancy scares (that I'm aware of) from 14-16 after sleeping with random guys in a park by her dad's house; my friend and my client's cousin, both of whom are a little older than me and have BD, binge drink and sleep with guys they meet at the parties/bars they go to every weekend when they aren't on their meds, and my friend thinks she was raped once but can't prove anything at all because she never went to the hospital and was too drunk to know for sure what happened that night (and so was everyone around her--she doesn't remember getting home and only remembers waking up in her own bed later the next day, with vague memories of having sex with this guy we used to go to HS with). Another friend of mine with BD went out for drinks on her 21st birthday last year and couldn't stop drinking (she would go to work drunk) and is now in a treatment program for alcoholism. These are just stories and in no way do I mean to suggest anything (about you or anyone reading this) by sharing them.

I have to leave for work now or I'd keep going.

Everything will be alright. Best of luck to you, sweetheart.

:flowerforyou:

talk to your therapist and take your medication if that is what you are supposed to do. HOWEVER I know that I feel SHOCKINGLY HAPPY when I eat close to vegan and Dr Joel Fuhrman's anti cancer GOMBS diet (bitter greens, collards, kale, turnip tops, watercress; onions, mushrooms, beans, berries and seeds). I wonder if people aren't depressed and just starving for nutrients so their synapses don't fire right or something like that? Regardless, diet changes are pretty simple to make. I also am very physically active 24 miles and 80 stairs weekly and 4 hours play non retirieving fetch so I have to chase the ball with my husky dog. Why not try both? Best wishes.

I'm glad that you have found what works for you, but that is absolutely not how depression works (well, as far as research indicates). Inadequate nutrition can contribute to depression, but to blame diet on depression completely underestimates the complexities of brain chemistry. Seeds aren't going to cure the sadz.