i've been diagnosed with bipolar disorder?

Question

I feel very lost with all of this ... The test i have to go through and the medicine they're talking to put me on doesn't encourage me very much ... I would like to talk to someone with bi polar disorder please i need advice and tips ... if anyone knows about natural medicine possibly...

Answer 1

Speak with your Dr about joining a support group. Talking to those with the condition helps very much.

Answer 2

I have bipolar disorder. I know what you are going through. I was diagnosed about three years ago. I have found one of the best natural medicines there is, is having someone to talk to about what you are feeling.
I also recommend that if you are put on meds, take them religiously. The medicine will help. It takes a while, but it works. I wish I had a better answer for you.

Answer 3

My wife has 2 family members with severe bi polar disorder (rapid cyclers). When they refuse to take their medicine it is nothing short of sheer chaos for themselves and everyone around them. They're lives being completely out of control and they cannot seem to pull themselves together in many ways. However when they take the proper medicine, on time, they are much better off, leading far more enjoyable lives.

Point is be sure to take your meds. You may want to seek a nutritionist who has experience in dealing with bi polar disorder. There is no doubt a healthy diet helps any condition as compared to a junk food or alcohol diet. Your body needs the proper nutrients in order to function properly. Do your research the Internet is a fantastic place for finding information.

Listen to your doctors and remember not all doctors are created equal so be sure to find a good one. There are also many support groups for people with bi polar disorder on the Internet and possibly in your town. Look them up and stay strong

Answer 4

I just posted a question on this as well. I was diagnosed some years ago, and I am still struggling with the diagnosis. Currently, I am not taking my meds because they were making me a walking zombie and they also made me gain weight. I know I am taking a big risk, but right now I need to come to grips with some things before I make some decisions...

All I can say is, definitely try the meds. They are the easiest option, IF they work for you.

Answer 5

I totally see what you mean. I am bipolar, but its a fairly mild form of it. So I am not on medications but I find that talking to people really helps. If you could find a close friend or family member to talk to would really help you I think. I also got into journaling. Journaling can calm you down and help you sort out your thoughts. That is what I suggest. To be completely honest with you I wouldnt want to take all the medication and tests either. It does not sound very encouraging but I wish you luck in controling your life and everything you want to do. ~God Bless

Answer 6

No natural medicines. You need to take what the doctors prescribe for you. When your bipolar is not treated--you can't see how bad it is and you are not a good judge of what is best for you. Do what the doctor's tell you and your symptoms can be completely manageable. You can lead a very normal life.

Answer 7

I am bi-polar, my mother is bi-polar and my daughter is bi-polar. Mine is not as severe as my mother and daughters, but the depression is awful. Try to talk to your doctor about some meds that can help you from day to day. Join a support group for bi-polar which usually you can check the hospitals for those or your doctors office. Just breath in and out everyday and remember to take it one day at a time. It is hard sometimes, but you are one of millions that suffer this everyday.

Answer 8

You might want to try keeping a journal. That way, you may see a pattern of "triggers" for mania and depression. If you can find the triggers, you will be more in control of the disease. For example, I know that when I start craving/desiring mood altering substances, I am headed for a manic episode. That's when I speak to my doctor about a possible need for a change in medication dosage. I have learned not to wait for the depression or mania to just happen. I try to do something about it as soon as I see it coming. This works for me more often than not. And, in my opinion, that is an improvement. Peace.

Answer 9

First of all and most likely, your depression and dysfunction has a source. You can try every drug in the book to mask the symptoms but you'll probably just develop some other psychosis. Your depression comes from your early childhood history. Something happened when you were very young. You received unempathic care from your mother or caregiver.This type of lack of care has an affect on all of us. To what extent is directly proportionate to your level of dysfunction. Some people drink, some take illegal drugs to mask their painful ingrained memories. We are electrochemical beings and these things are burned within the synopsizes of our brain. Therapy and introspection is your only answer or you will suffer a lifetime of dependency on one drug or another.

Answer 10

First of all, treatment for mental illness _only_ works if you part of the team. Call it colaborative care ... choice is really important, and it sounds like right now a lot of other people are making the decisions for you.

Are you really in such bad shape that you need people to make the decisions for you.

What evidence do you see that you have a problem? Does the Bipolar diagnosis make sense to you? Important questions for you to ask and answer are: what do you see in your life that is a probelm? What would you consider a successfull resolution?

My big problem with the people who want to make decisions for me is they would be happy for me to be unemployed sitting infront of the T.V. eating what ever they feed me and not a bother for them, they just want me quiet in a corner like a piece of furniture. These people are a big problem and having them influnce my diagnosis has been very destructive for me.

I want to have a job and be successful, make contributions to my community, and be recognized for the skills and abilities I do have.

In the mental health businnes 98% of the people out there will tell you "You have to do it this way" and they do more harm than good, about 0.5% (one half a percent) of the people out there can acctually do you some good. Sometimes thats by leaving you alone to let you figure it out your self.

Pay very close attention to whether you feel you can trust the doctors and caregives and if you can't change doctors ... you have the right to refuse treatment, don't forget that ... Don't do it if it doesn't make sense to you and don't obey a doctor you don't feel you can trust.

That said, medication for bipolar works well for a lot of people. Reality is the medication works for about 2/3 of the people on it and the only way to tell if it works for someone it to put them on it and have them stay on it ... so the mental health people always tell you stay on your meds. On the other hand once you are on the meds a lot of them don't give a damn about you any more.

I've had good luck with Accupuncture for managing symptoms. If you find a good accupuncturist they can help alot. Unfortunately there are some very bad ones out there, and if you have a bad accupuncturist you are better off getting needles stuck in you by a 3 year old ....

I've had good luck with treatment for anxiety and panic attacks, sleep problems and anger. In addtion to needles accupuncturists can treat you with herbal medicines and with what they call "ear seeds" that the put on the ear with little bits of tape instead of a needle.

Some of the accupuncturists out there are very good and some of them are not so that is hard.

Reality is for the treatment to be effective you need to be making choices and you need to believe that the care you are getting is right for you. If the people you are wokring with can not support your right to refuse treatment and your right to informed consent they are the wrong people to work with.

Good Luck finding the options that are right for you