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.
Hi, I've been a DS member for three years but I'm new to the Bipolar board. I'm 51 years old and I was told by a psychiatrist that he thought I was bipolar, and in fact I believe him since I had suspected it for quite some time. I am currently on Zoloft for depression---brought on by a bad living/working situation and severe grief following the death of my father in 2009--- but it was prescribed by a doctor at a clinic who had only diagnosed me for depression and no other emotional/mental problems. I am trying to get some help for the bipolar, but need to change clinics since I moved, and besides which some of the doctors at the clinic don't seem very reliable.
Anyway, here's the situation: I just escaped a bad housing situation and am living with my niece until I can get the income to get a place of my own. (I have SSI still pending and since the mental evaluation I may stand a better chance of getting it this time.) For the most part, I'm pretty happy since I'm in a better area of town, close to shopping and in a cleaner, organized place---unlike the filthy hotel I lived in for two years. Also, I am with relatives, and despite some tense dynamics our family has always had, I do feel welcome in the house and feel that I'm with caring people, which is also helping me move forward from my recent bereavment.
My niece and her companion are aware that I am bipolar, but they don't act as if they have a problem with it---the companion's mother is BP herself, possibly BP I because the mood swings sound pretty dramatic. I'm BP II and have hypomania, so it's milder in the manic stage. The depressive stage is the big bear to whip, in my opinion.
The problem at this time: my niece's two kids, who are really great kids and I love them, tend to get on my nerves at times. The 13 year old boy has ADHD, and tends to get dramatic and rambunctious now and then; the girl, 17, can be pretty energetic and loud and has even woke me up sometimes calling out to someone in the hallway. (My hearing has always been sensitive and is even more so now.) When I am in one of my "irritable" periods it can really be a challenge to stay on an even keel with these situations. The two kids stay with their father part of the time, so they're not in the house 24/7; so there is some measure of peace.
Today started out pretty good, and I had planned to stay in the house to get some things done, but by early afternoon I had to get out because my grand-niece was constantly getting in my space and it was hard for me to focus on anything. I couldn't even have 5 minutes to myself to fix my lunch because she would come running in, so I finally just gave up and left the house.
I love my niece and her family, and am trying so hard not to cause any problems or inconvenience them in any way, but there are times when something will occur that causes some tension for one of us or all of us. I don't want to make any waves, especially where the children are concerned; after all, it IS their home and they have more right to be there than I do (though it's not as if I have any other options right now). My niece and her companion are angels for taking me in and have done their best to make me happy; and the kids are really great kids and certainly don't mean to get on my last nerve. So I need help dealing with this. Anybody else have this problem?
Anyway, here's the situation: I just escaped a bad housing situation and am living with my niece until I can get the income to get a place of my own. (I have SSI still pending and since the mental evaluation I may stand a better chance of getting it this time.) For the most part, I'm pretty happy since I'm in a better area of town, close to shopping and in a cleaner, organized place---unlike the filthy hotel I lived in for two years. Also, I am with relatives, and despite some tense dynamics our family has always had, I do feel welcome in the house and feel that I'm with caring people, which is also helping me move forward from my recent bereavment.
My niece and her companion are aware that I am bipolar, but they don't act as if they have a problem with it---the companion's mother is BP herself, possibly BP I because the mood swings sound pretty dramatic. I'm BP II and have hypomania, so it's milder in the manic stage. The depressive stage is the big bear to whip, in my opinion.
The problem at this time: my niece's two kids, who are really great kids and I love them, tend to get on my nerves at times. The 13 year old boy has ADHD, and tends to get dramatic and rambunctious now and then; the girl, 17, can be pretty energetic and loud and has even woke me up sometimes calling out to someone in the hallway. (My hearing has always been sensitive and is even more so now.) When I am in one of my "irritable" periods it can really be a challenge to stay on an even keel with these situations. The two kids stay with their father part of the time, so they're not in the house 24/7; so there is some measure of peace.
Today started out pretty good, and I had planned to stay in the house to get some things done, but by early afternoon I had to get out because my grand-niece was constantly getting in my space and it was hard for me to focus on anything. I couldn't even have 5 minutes to myself to fix my lunch because she would come running in, so I finally just gave up and left the house.
I love my niece and her family, and am trying so hard not to cause any problems or inconvenience them in any way, but there are times when something will occur that causes some tension for one of us or all of us. I don't want to make any waves, especially where the children are concerned; after all, it IS their home and they have more right to be there than I do (though it's not as if I have any other options right now). My niece and her companion are angels for taking me in and have done their best to make me happy; and the kids are really great kids and certainly don't mean to get on my last nerve. So I need help dealing with this. Anybody else have this problem?
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Lately I've been feeling scared and full of anxiety. I recently found a lump under my nipple. I hurt my back too. I'm in the process of moving. I'm run down. Everything is hard
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Just wanted to give a thank you to Mid, Arfie, Malibumark, Greeneyes, Mlro, Girlincalif, and Suncloudjd! You all always have such helpful tips and advice, but I always forget to write on my posts when I see you post, lol. I would lose my head if it wasn't attached to my body, lol. Thank you all so much! I'm starting to use my AI app as a sounding board again. I used to use it as that before...
My fantasy would have been elders who could offer solutions instead of adding on to the problem list. I always ended up feeling like the visiting relative was the most problematic of my kids. It sure feels funny to be negotiating between the youngers and the elders at the same time.
Of course it remained a fantasy. My birth family is highly dysfunctional. It was always just a tremendous relief to get them out and on to their next whatever.
Hope you find a better solution.
The day I posted this, I was having one of my more stressful days and feeling "crowded"; a lot of complicated stuff was happening that day (including a small refrigerator leaking freon and causing me to throw a lot of food away, etc. etc.), and so before long I had to leave the house to get some space. Things went much better later on in the week and this week as well. :)
Part of the problem is I still have a lot of emotional baggage and some trauma from the recent events in my life, and while I'm much happier and starting to feel more secure, there are times I'm not quite at that "safe place" . But I'm working on that.
I have an appt with my therapist Aug 6, and I'm going to see if I can get some help, maybe medication or whatever else would put me on a more even keel.
Anyhow, thank you for your input, and like I said, hope things get better. God bless...