Monday, December 01, 2008
We all can help one another if we share the things that make our lives better and talk about the things that don't work. I mean anything that helps us grow in a happier, safer and calmer way!
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recovering from bipolar episodes and moving forward
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How much do you know about bipolar disorder?
By bipolar3— Last Modified: 12/15/11, First Published: 12/01/08
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I totally agree with you bipolar3...I spent a lot of time trying to do it all "My Way" and got absolutely nowhere fast!!! Once I started accepting outside help, taking advice from those who were more advanced in recovery than myself & really looking at ME, my own life started to turn around too.
This doesnt mean I dont still have my share of "down" days, cos I do...but I am now able to recognise them & I reach out to those I know will support me thru it, but who will not let me wallow in either.
As a result, I put myself back out into the world, started looking strangers in the eye and smiling at them as they passed by...and most of them actually smiled back! For each smile I received, a notch of self esteem was added to the 'inner-me' and eventually I had enough self confidence to start looking for work again.
In the last 3-4 weeks, I had 14 knock-backs, and they sometimes lowered my self-confidence until I spoke to someone about it & they pointed out that there were usually 100 or more people going for the same job & only one was going to get it, so I shouldnt take it personally. I realised that this made sense and found a new approach which gave me the resolve to not give up.
So I continued in my quest to get a job and applied for everything on offer and guess what????
Yesterday evening I got the phone call Ive been waiting for and I start a new job next week in a really flash guest house called "The White House" and as well as being a room attendant I am going to be trained to be Relief Manager so the owners can have more free time to go on holidays and spend quality time with their kids!
The moral of this story is that..."We alone can do it...but we can't do it alone." At some point we need to accept the help & wisdom of our peers who have already walked the road we are walking, but we should never assume or expect that someone else can "fix" us....we are the only one who can do that, and its an inside job that ultimately will be reflected on the outside to others we encounter on a daily basis.
I just found out im bi-polar and have had depression for years. I feel like weight has been lifted lifted from my shoulders but then again I feel like whats wrong with me, why cant i just be "normal". I start treatment in about 10 days and I don't really know what to xpect. The rug has kinda been pulled from under me and my family is kind of in shock even though I suspected I was bi-polar for a while. For people who have this, have gone through this, what advice do you have?
Help...?
There is so much to say, but what is important is that we keep heading forward and get help from those who suffer with this disorder. I agree that staying on the RIGHT meds and getting help from a professional (psyciatrist) is the only place to START, but remember that no one can help us if we don't help ourselves. Someday for the younger victims of this illness there may be a cure, but for most of us WE ARE THE CURE for ourselves and others who suffer. We can't "fix" ourselves to be just like normal people, but we do have a lot to offer the world and others who are just comming to grips with the desease. By getting on the path that works for us we can move upward and forward to a more wonderful place. I spent more of my life wondering why I wasn't like everyone else and not moving on than you can imagine. It wasn't until I was forty one that I found a place to start getting help and twenty years later I still have to work at recovery every day, but one small step at a time I feel better about myself and what I have done and it is a great place to be for today. One day at a time we can all understand and get better. We will nver be "CURED", but it does not have to control and run our lives!
I feel so lucky that I was able to do what I have done which for many doesn't seem like much, but for me it has been a wonderful experience. With a few very bad times I was able to teach fourth grade for 30 years and it kept me somewhat in the world. But the last five years have been really rewardin for me because I am able to help others who suffer begin to find there way to a better more peaceful life. The 12 step program of suggested recovery from AA helps me to move forward and while I still fall down I don't have to stay there as long as I work my "PROGRAM". I don't look for perfection, but I do hope to find progress "ONE DAY AT A TIME". I hope you have found that too. If I can help you by telling you about my ongoing program of recovery please let me know. I can't fix it for you but I can offer sugestions of things that helped me. Keep on trying and in the end we all can find a happier place to live. Thanks for the letter I always like to hear from others who suffer and are trying to move forward. Keep me informed I am always interested.
Bipolar3
Thank you so much for your replies! Having other people who have been through it I think will help!
It's so hard when you first find out that you are different, but don't feel alone there are lot's of us out there. My one pice of advise to any who suffer with this disorder is DON'T ISOLATE YOURSELF. If you need to talk I'm around and so are others. If we get traped in our own heads we are lost so please try to ask others who know your pain what they do and what youmight be able to do for yourself. It's hard at first, but it gets easier if you work at it and try to find a balance that you can live with. I was always an isolationist and for anyone with bipolar disorder that's a really abd place to be and to stay. My diorder has been labeled as BIPOLAR2 which won't help you right now, but it means that I don't go into a super- mania state. It does not mean that I don't have problems just living evry day but that has to do with a very busy mind that just won't shut down or go to a quite place on it's own. With help from others and taking the steps to understan whats going on in my head and can live a happy, pleasant, and peacful life ONE DAY AT A TIME! So can you, but you have to work at it everyday or it can go SOUTH on you. I'm hear to listen and tell you what I do to keep things as normal (for me) as I can and help you find your own way as best I can so don't hesitate to ask. You can reach me on my personal e-mail @ bipolar3@msn.com hope this is of some help to you. Please know that I will be there for you as long as you want my help. Keep me informed and we can talk about all the excietment that can be yours too. Good Luck! bipolar3
Princess 5,
You got one message from me just wanted to add that it my be hard to get started dealing with the disorder, but you can do it if you want bad enough. Remember there is no "NORMAL" for us, but it can be a really fun place to grow and find uorselves if we work for growth. Keep that in mind and you are started to a recovery of sorts. It can be fine if you work for it. bipolar3
Stephie,
Stephie,
Stephie, Just keep moving forward it works. In 1965 I was in college and knew somwthing just wasn't right so I went to the Chairman of the psycology department and asked him. I was told it was a "kid" thing and I would outgrow it. That didn't happen and things got stranger and stranger for me, but it was a kid thing! Well now I'm 61 and I know this was never a kid problem but I couldn't get any help and I swear that in so far as it is within my possiblity I don't want to leave anyone out there thinking there is no hope or that they can treat this with medication alone. We can help each other and understand in a better way what is going on. I too am new to this site and Hope that there will be new insights from others that can help me and others. Your story sounds a lot like mine, but don't give up we can make it and our lives can be better if we work for it. Thanks for your note and keep in touch we can help each other and I would be pleased to have a new friend who understands what goes on in this exciting life we have. Hope to hear from you soon, bipolar 3. PS: You can reach me at my personal e-mail if you want at (bipolar3@msn.com)
Marg x
I am new to this site and have been recently diagnosed with Bi-polar Affective Disorder. I was a bit taken back when after a severe manic episode recently. I had a experienced a deep depression about 14 years ago mixed with manic episodes which lasted almost 2 years as I was prescribed anti depressants. However, once I engaged in therapy with a psychologist I became well very quickly. I had a very low self esteem and was in an abusive marriage at the time.
Once I became well I came off the medication and have been very well since. I have also divorced and remarried (8 years) I began studing to become a counsellor 10 years ago and have now a dilploma in counselling and studying my final unit towards my B.Sc degree in psychology. I have read and sutdied many books, encluding self help books with I would suggest to all those suffering for bi polar. When you become well enough to educatate yourself about mental health and physical health and stay well.
I am currently off work but my psychitrist has ok'd my return to work in January. I am on my med for at least 1 year. I have went back to swimming and pilates which I used to do more often. I find physical exercise helps just find something that you enjoy and do it. I am positive about my future and look forward to completing my degree next year. Hope this gives hope to anyone experiencing this disorder.