<img alt="Hc_logo" src="http://www.healthcentral.com/common/images/home/hc_logo.png" />

1/ 4/08 6:48pm

Most people I know love chocolate. There are a few weird ones out there who don't but for the most part, we could live on chocolate. I think some of the medications for bipolar may cause that. My son who is bipolar does tend to horde candy in his room and always has. I would find easter candy and 20 wrappers under his bed when he was small.

Anyway, chocolate won't kill you. Just enjoy it :)

HeyJude

1/ 4/08 7:26pm

Hi Alice...thanks for posting. Actually, I have to keep chocolate out of the house (most of the time). Otherwise, I will eat it until I'm sick. A small piece of dark chocolate each day is very healthy and is recommended by the experts. And I don't think bipolars have the chocolate "crazies" any more than anyone else. Chocolate just plain tastes good.

I was diagnosed with bipolar 1 at the age of 32, and like you, I knew something just wasn't right at a much earlier age, probably 20 or so.

Guess you are new to this site...welcome and I'm glad you have joined in.

Stardust

1/ 4/08 8:15pm

mmmmmmmmm, CHOCOLATE!! DARK chocolate is the best, and like Judy said one or two pieces a day are healthy for you. But I have no control, I'll eat the whole box or bag with a glass of milk. Chocolate chip cookies YUM. My aunt puts double the chips in for me. I can't tell you, Alice, if it has anything to do with bipolar or the depression cycle. Been doing it for 25+ years (can't remember when I was diagnosed). And I don't see myself quitting anytime soon. Hope this helps a little bit.

1/ 4/08 9:01pm

Alice, i think that chocolate is linked to serotonin in the brain..the 'feel-good' hormone and that craving you and I have is our attempt to get more of that chemical going on! I can and will eat chocolate until i am sick. I have eaten every single piece of a box of chocolate in one night (Godiva, no less!) and still, the next day, i was ready for more. I notice the strange fascination with chocolate is more prominent when I am a bit Under instead of Over. (Depressive more than manic). Dark chocoate is the best. My 22 year old daughter was trying out a chocolate mousse recipe and she didn't like it. I ate 6 of the 8 little cups of the stuff. She thought it was too bitter...I thought it was heaven. I think our brains try to help us out by craving things we need to help the neurotransmitter balance.

Anonymous

1/ 5/08 5:43pm

Thanks for your reply. It is so hard to tell the difference from "when I'm normal" and what is caused by my bi-polar.

1/ 5/08 6:00pm

Me, too. I constantly question myself..is this 'regular' behavior or bd behavior. I can't remember little things from before the crash and burn into depression and my subsequent diagnosis with bd, so I often worry...is this descent into depression? Is this high too high? My pdoc said not to worry about it unless my friends ask me what i am doing, but i'm not always around others when thoughts and behaviors are prominent.

1/ 5/08 8:20pm

I didn't know that but it makes sense. If I'm stressed out or upset, nothing makes me feel better than a nice chocolate bar.

My daughter is into all these herbs and natural healing and stuff and calls it the "natural pain killer" haha.

1/ 6/08 9:17am

I was wondering if you obsess over anything? And is it caused by B/P

1/ 6/08 9:21am

I obsess over lots of things and I'm not bipolar.

1/ 6/08 9:23am

HI:

I was wondering if you obsess over anything and if you think it is caused by B/P.

I love the highs. I do spend a little more money when I am "high" but nothing like buying a new car or house like I read about some B/P doing.

1/ 6/08 9:27am

I obsess about most things...I am an MD and it helped me greatly throughout my career. It also is part of what makes me sick--depressed, so i have to be careful and try to pull back if i see i am being to focused on any one thing. i love the highs, too, but DO spend too much money and do inappropriate things, so it is not so much fun when I have to deal with the fallout from the spree/hypomania and the inevitable depression that follows.

1/ 6/08 9:28am

I just can't get my "old love" out of my mind. (for thirty years) I have gotten married two times and each time I got a divorce because I can't stop thinking of him. I was thinking about going to a hypnotis to see if he could block him from my mind.

What do you think?

1/ 6/08 9:33am

I was always partying when I was young and doing things I shouldn't. (sleeping around) Do you think this is anything about being Bi-polar or am I just normal on that thing. My grown daughter if not pleased about my past. She is a very good person.

1/ 6/08 9:36am

If he was perfect for you, it would've worked out. I think maybe you've got him built up to be something he wasn't. If you saw him again, it may not work out.

Ok before I put my foot in my mouth, is he still living?

Regardless, if the "ghost" of someone is interfering with your current relationships, then I'd say you probably need some therapy to work this out.

You need to do what you have to to let him go. 30 years is really too long to be pining for someone who's no longer in your life. I guarantee he's not as perfect as you've built him up to be. Nobody is. The image of the "perfect" man can be so seductive that it can interfere with the here and now.

Could be that you're afraid to love like that again?

I'll say a prayer that you can get this all worked out. I feel bad that you're having so much difficulty with this.

1/ 6/08 9:39am

eh.. lots of people do dumb stuff when they're young. the important thing is.. your past it now.

1/ 6/08 9:47am

I've prayed my heart out. Yes he is still living.

What do you think about a hypnotist?

1/ 6/08 10:54am

That's just it..your past. No need to worry about all that stuff now. It's over and can't be changed. Just try to get through now and take care of yourself.