Please note I am very active working with people as the letters I get indicate there are still many issues about bipolarism not addressed. One issue I run across is a bipolar that refuses to seek professional help and is out of control. Sometimes it becomes necessary to commit them to a hospital for treatment, which is difficult. I also see alcohol and drugs being used in lieu of proper medications. In both cases hard decisions must be made. There maybe a case of a wife that has to commit her husband or husband that commits his wife, or a child that must be as well. Here I can only say there is hardship for everyone. The one factor we must see is how we can help someone and change them to live better and be an integral member of our families. The bottom line is, one day we have to do an intervention and not look back. Nothing must change your mind to help.
For those of you that have not sought professional help, guess what ....it's not as bad you think. If you know and accept you need help the rest is easy. The testing can be done and meducations are not difficult as in other diseases. I suggest having a friend or family member to go with you, and go through the process with you. It's not difficult if you accept you need help and nothing to be ashamed of. You are worth so much!
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Something you may never see anywhere else but still is so important to people with bipolarism , their families, family members, and their loved ones!
Bipolar people naturally suffer from both a manic side and depressive side, however inside that person is someone we used to love. Also a monster that changes that person to do dumb, wild, crazy and perhaps insane things. I have been there and I know the pain, suffering depression, agony, loneliness, and plain hopelessness, each of these folks have endured. Even after proper help many people will not forgive their behaviors. I challenge families to share as I do the hardship of each of these people. When they try to cry, most are unable to because there isn't a bowl big enough or small enough to the contain those painful tears. Cries without tears is the lonely mind distraught without hope or a shred of light. I still pray and think of all of my friends that have gone down this road. I will never forget any of them or most of all you. Families must pursue to nourish that person they once loved, instead of remembering the monster, as will find him or her better to face the world and they will be able to go forward.
I get a lot of mail from either wives or husbands that got along great two years ago but now their spouse is irrational and doing foolish things. You can recover your loved ones, I have seen it time and time again over many years. One woman was so off the wall she wanted a divorce from her wonderful husband and kids because she was out of control. She figured let them live and cast herself off as she was dying inside. After good treatment the last time I checked on them, they were loving each other and holding hands after many years of marriage. Don't any of you dare or even think of giving up, don't fail what I do by putting up this site. I believe in each of you and have faith that if you or your spouse, or a family member is in harms way , you will get help. All I ask to heal these people is your love, understanding, and faith things will be ok. And so will you!
Opinions
Issue #1
I keep getting emails from folks that complain of mania, and others depression. While it is impossible to know all the details involved, some facts do seem to surface. I suspect that all to often non specific bipolar meds are being indicated (including anti-psychotics meds). These meds are short term and do not address the bottom issue of mania manifestation. I constantly have argued that where mania is present, longer term depression also prevails. Depression for example in my case was long standing, which meant that mania was not under proper control. Another effect is that while this continues the client gets more and more depressed, and is unable to face life properly, gets shut in, and removes our ability to function. You may note in even my own case (when I first started getting better), I found that taking an extra lithium every other day made me less depressive and more aggressive. I also noticed the depression was leaving me, and I was better able to concentrate on getting better. Please note serum levels still need to be checked here. My main point here is that sometimes adding a little more medication (could be every other day or every few days), changes your serum levels, and can change the way you feel. Under all circumstances check with your doctor, and use there counsel in these matters. The smallest changes in the amount of bipolar meds you use, can change the way you feel!
Issue #2
Presently I have gotten some information from many readers that are complaining of massive increases of mania type behavior from Prozac and Zoloft. These are anti type depressants in a class of themselves that I have monitored for some time. My best guess is at this time that these meds conflict with cycle changes that are always present even under proper medication for bipolarism. Please use care and caution with these types of medications! Doctors need to monitor people very closely with these meds., the dangers include suicide.
Issue #3
Bipolars look at yourself constantly! Keep a journal of how you feel and what meds you are taking with dosages. Learn to read yourself, are you getting sad.....check your notes. Did you change medications? When you felt good, did you suffer minor side effects? These are all keys to help you understand yourself. Notice when you feel positive and more outgoing with meds. Also note changes in daily medication values. This little journal can help you understand yourself. Do you ever feel manic? depressive? Know when you feel lousy. I always get a little worse around the fall for some reason, and have learned to cope with it, by making small adjustments. When you write little notes remember to be honest with just the facts. When you are going through tough times you can go back and see where you have been. What works and what doesn't, and suggest these changes to your doctor (they need your input here, so what better way than a journal).
Issue #3
Many readers complain about getting help for a loved one. Families and peer pressure is usually the best route....but so is love and understanding. You must tell them as much as possible about the disease so they will get help. If they understand what they are going through, and how the treatment isn't really all that bad, they will not be combative or afraid. Tell them and show them you will be with them all the way! Another way is to get some of their close friends and explain your problem. Let them know what you know, as they can help.
Issue #4
I need to know more input from readers on side effects from bipolar meds, for example I use depakote and lithium together as it seems to remove or lessen the gastric problems associated with using lithium. I want to start collecting side effects from readers and also any remedies or solutions to these side effects. Let me know when you write in. This I will use as a support database for the different bipolar meds, when readers write in we will have some other alternatives not listed anywhere to suggest.