Bipolar Disorder Support Group
Bipolar disorder is not just a single disorder, but a category of mood disorders marked by periods of abnormally high energy and euphoria, often accompanied by bouts of clinical depression. This is the place to talk about your experience with bipolar disorder, learn from others' experiences, and find support.
My Pdoc, therapist even chatGPT all keep telling me "no there is not cure, but I promise it does get better"
But they don't live with the maina. Overcomitting, humiliating myself, dancing so long so hard for days on end even after injuring myself cause I'm not 20 anymore I have no business dancing like Im a kid.
They don't live with the shame, guilt and humiliation of having to apologize to everyone who had the misfortune of seeing me acting like a fool..... hear my nonstop rambling and over sharing.....the post manic crash.
Medication has helped the depressive crash feel less sharp, not nearly as dark.
But please tell me honestly. I wanna know truth from those who actually know because they live it too.
Is there really an end? Hope? Does it ever truly get better. Any hope of being "normal" ish?
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I did the dumbest thing today. I charged my earbuds, unplugged the block and put the block in my little bag instead of the earbuds. I wasn't happy about that when I got to the gym. What a dummy!
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Ever since I stopped doing therapy because of insurance, I've been feeling that old tense and irritable sense of anxiety and stress. I hate that. I was making so many strides and changes during therapy, my therapist would acknowledge all of my progress and accomplishments, and I miss that reassurance. Today I thought about it, and I made those changes! She would always tell me that I chose to...
Over decades, I tried a number of different meds to control my bipolar. I was also not compliant with taking them sometimes.
But I cycled in and out of manias, over and over.
About 9-10 years ago I was given a new med and it Worked. I got stable and became "normal".
It isn't everything I wished for, lol, but at least I'm in my right mind. I can now make rational decisions and learn from my mistakes.
Yes, it is possible. Don't give up! Sometimes it takes a long time to find the right meds.
Yes, it does get better, no doubt about that from my own perspective.
I was dx'd in 1984, 3 hosp;ital stays to get me stable. Those were the really hard days because I didn't trust ny brain, I was 30 at the time,
Today, nearing 73, I'm no longer taking any medications due to an illness, Some dark days are harder than others, but for the most part I'm Blessed to be fairly stable.
Two things which helped me the most was DBT therapy and Buddhism,...the DBT gave the the tools to check my emotions and the Buddhism brings me peace of mind body and soul,
The best medication I was on was lamotrigine...if you are on lithium, be very careful of your kidney function, and drink plenty of water,
As for the shame, guilt etc....when I was younger that did bother me,,,now, no more, I didn't ask for the illness, and in a way I'm grateful for it because I would not have met so many amazing people through DS and other places who were also dx'd.
Bp is just 'one part of you' ....you are So Much More <3
To be blunt, there is no 'cure' such as an antibiotic that gets rid of a bacteria, broken leg that gets knitted or kidney stone to flush out to be rid of pain. It is wise to look at it as a type one diabetic. We are wired in a certain way. Our biochemistry dictates moods and behaviors. There are things that aggravate the chemistry like alcohol, drugs, stress, and even herbs. There are medicines that help regulate these chemistries like lamotragine and Abilify.
The absolute worst thing you can do is not treat the condition and if on meds, stop or be irregular without an MD approving. People feel better then quit. B.A.D. The symptoms cim back worse than before and it IS a progressive disorder.
So you start to understand the nature of things. Now is there hope? Hope for what? Good quality of life? Stability, happiness? Absolutely. The same for getting better. You address the chemistry and stressors and you can improve.
Understand what mood stabilizers do. They are not happy pills. You still get lows and highs but muted. The drugs are like brakes that keep things from getting out of hand. You may well get serious lows but that's normal to a point. The right dose and mix takes time along with possible changes. We are constantly managing symptoms.
The disorder is complex, not fully understood and has numerous suspected genetic components. But medicine has come a long way and keeps progressing so new understanding and treatment are constantly possible.
The next step is to have your md on speed dial because they can't help if you don't tell them what is going on. People forget that you pay them for a service not the reverse.
Also, these disorders can come with other conditions like anxiety, ocd or something else. It's important to explore those if you detect them.
Yes there is stability to be had
Forgive yourself for having an illness
Work with your doc and get to your doc if you're starting to get hypo
If there's someone you trust ask this person to tell you if you're starting to behave in a manic way...showing signs of mania
If you're getting manic repeatedly it seems to me your meds aren't working as they should be sweetie
They"re experts in psych medication
The most serious time is the crash as that's when people have suicidal thoughts/plans
-_- but not for lack of symptoms. I just refused to acknowledge something was actually wrong and refused treatment.
I hated the therapist they would send me to Everytime I was admitted to the hospital. I didn't trust them or feel safe so I refused to talk to them.
A few years ago while in an episode I confessed my suicidal thoughts to a pastor, who from that moment forward stayed on me to get help, including introducing me to a friend (who just happened to be a therapist supervisor) This friend finally convinced me to give it try and hooked me up with a good therapist from her office.
Problem being diagnosed at 50 is that my husband blames EVERYTHING on perimedipause. He goes around telling everyone perimedipause CAUSED my bipolar/BPD/CPTSD.
And when ever I try to talk to him about anything he dismisses it as "just hormones"
Forget the fact that I've been this way since I was young. And had 3 serious attempts before I met him.
Long story short
If you're not seeing someone (Dr , therapist) it's not too late.
If one doesn't fit try again.
I'm FAR from "all better" but
Idk
It's the best hope I got? Right?
Unfortunately what works for one doesn't necessarily work for the next but you will find the right regime for you
If your husband sabatages your wellbeing with regards to bipolar I probably wouldn't continue to discuss it with him
A lot of us, me included didn't find talking to our family helpful at all
I came to DS for support and discussion and there are in person support groups
Group therapy is the best therapy that I've ever had
So it might help more to connect with people who really 'get' the disorder