One day in March this year I was invited to WIREC - Washington International Renewable Energy Conference held in Washington DC. A huge affair, thousands of people. Head-spinning stuff. Everyone buzzing about how we can reduce our Greenhouse Gas Emissions quickly. Having been in presentations and round the exhibition, I enjoyed a largish meal and a stiff drink before retiring.
In the morning I awoke with a 'buzzing' head. To anyone who has learned to understand the onset of a high they would understand what I mean by the 'buzz'. Despite being free of drugs, the feelings had me reaching for low dose Haloperidol to drop the mood. However, it also had me puzzled .. why ? My analytical mind cut in ... I realised the day before I had been too busy to drink much water. The heavy meal followed by a stiff gin and tonic I decided had played havoc with my hydration level.
There was an important speech at WIREC from George Bush. However, I had to look after me - so I drank water .. glass after glass sipping it down and resting in between.
Guess what, the clear head returned and the 'buzz' disappeared. Has anyone tried similar? I believe it was a combination of relaxation and water.
I will fully agree that one needs to be hydrated, try and keep a low stress level, excercise and eat right. But I also don't think that you can discount bipolar disorders symptoms, which very often lead people to hear voices, (which not even the stiffest of Gin will do, even if George W. has been the speaker of the day), go on wild mania sprees or attempt (or achieve) suicide can be cured by a round of golf, a salad and a bottle of evian.
That's the same as saying your cancer, diabetes, ms, or some other God awful disease will ease off and go away, as long as you follow the 4 food groups....
Just in case you need a dose of reality on the subject, (as I am not sure how severe your diagnosis is) I suggest you read some of the replies from some people who have posted comments on my last posting.
These people have been through some serious and horrible times, that a salad and a 7 am tee off will not make better.
Even if they fall in the water feature.
Water is just one component and in the circumstances I found myself it was no doubt the trigger.
Bipolar problems are related to many factors - human relationships are the biggest. Mix with the wrong people and you are doomed. Read "Finding Your North Star". Mix with no one and become isolated and you will naturally become lower in mood - depressed. We are a SOCIAL ANIMAL.
Physiology is not just water but what you eat and what you drink on an ongoing basis is very important.
I had to realise that my Bipolar nature was down to a wife who provided inordinate stress. Now divorced and away, life is very different. However, I also had to get off the drugs. Lithium once you are taking it perpetuates the problem. It might stop mania but it contributes hugely to depression as it drains salt and water.
The Mind
A fascinating subject .. the mind is a chemical reaction vessel where our food and fluids influence our thinking but our thinking influences the chemistry.
i agree with keeping hydrated too ,but disagree with blaming people for as you described your bipolar nature,im not judging im just disagreeing.personally i feel that that having bp is a hard road and relationships are difficult at the best of times with or without bp .even in my own relationship when i have become well again i take responsibility,and try to understand how difficult it is for me to be managed by my partner.i have been in an abusive situation years ago and i removed myself as this life is too short and the bp has enough energy draining properties to it . as for lithium it has saved my life from this episode.
Lithium nearly took my life on more than one occasion .. waking every 2 hours aching horribly .. tried Gatorade .. worked in 10 minutes .. salt water worked in one minute. As a chemist I was able to deduce that Diabetes Insipidus induced by lithium (do your own web search) was not ONLY draining water but also draining sodium .. lethal when also isolated. Suicide looms and it did - I survived a 60 hour self-induced coma.
Try mixing with supportive bright people .. it makes a world of difference I do assure you.
The "arseholes" of this world will otherwise jealously try to bring you down - when they are not trying to STEAL your ideas.
Lithium doesn't work for everyone. Not everyone's system can tolerate the same levels as someone else. It is unfortunate that you had such a bad reaction to Lithium. Lithium, by the way, is a salt compound naturally found within the body but you already know that being a chemical engineer.
There is a very fine line between safe and unsafe Lithium levels and anything can tilt the balance, including other meds you take with it, and even types of food you eat (especially those with a lot of salt). Again, it is unfortunate that you had such a bad reaction and I am taking it that you chose not to attempt another medication after having a bad reaction to Lithium. That is your choice.
While it is highly recommended for those with Bipolar to keep a regimented sleep routine, get exercise, watch what is consumed, etc... to minimize potential triggers for episode shifts... it doesn't prevent them from happening. It also doesn't prevent the psychosis many suffer with as well.
As far as avoiding those who may create a negative environment, if you can do so then bravo. Most are not able to do so due to those creating the negativity being family, such as spouses, parents, siblings, or worse - children. While you can minimize your exposure, you can't totally and completely avoid.
I'm glad you were able to get away from your wife if she was the one creating the negative triggering environment. My husband was 70% of my triggering mechanisms and I'm much better for him being gone as well. However, that leaves 30% being myself and other things for which I still have to work through and on and there are times that 30% feels like 100%.
It would be nice to think we could all hang out with the super bright, charismatic, wealthy smiling people, play a couple rounds of golf, attend seminars, drink gin and tonics and enjoy the "high life" while having been supposedly "recovered" from Bipolar. It's a nice form of self-denial and I do sincerely hope you thoroughly enjoy it. I also pray for you when all that crashes around you because if you truly have Bipolar my dear... you are in for one heck of a down turn.
Course you may be one of the lucky ones and was just diagnosed cause it's the local flavor of the month... time will eventually tell. It would be wonderful if you were.
Please bear in mind I was 'labelled' as Manic Depressive/Bipolar for THIRTY SIX years with the INTERNAL and EXTERNAL STIGMA that caused and had been on Lithium for 25+ years AND been through a failed suicide INDUCED BY LITHIUM - low salt and dehydration induced by Lithium does that.
By the way Lithium is NOT naturally found in the body and is actually excreted very quickly AS A POISON !!!!!!!!!
AND you call me a LUCKY ONE. My life until I stepped out of it was made a HELL.
I speak from immense experience .. not a NEWBY.
Since dropping Lithium my life has shifted by leaps and bounds. Yes it has been like learning to RIDE A STALLION BAREBACK. BUT that is what Bipolar-Minded people need - to learn the Life Skills needed to handle their capabilities.
See: www.bipolartrust.org
However, what accolades the last 12 months have seen. I am now invited to be a Fellow of several learned societies, potentially Chartered Scientist and Engineer .. together suddenly with an invitation to do a top top job at an income to match. I do not share my accolades publically.
We share 99+ % of our genes. We all work the same physiologically. The difference is our upbringing and our experience and the 'chemical state' of our bodies .. particularly in terms of the stress chemicals.
We find it easy to blame ourselves for being unable to cope with the awful things people do to US. Because we are usually soft-hearted caring individuals, people find it EASY to ABUSE US. Learn to STAND UP and stop being ABUSED. Fight your own corner - it can have remarkable success and the other party soon learns to respect you. People do not respect people who are an easy touch or a push over. Harden some attitudes. Get ANGRY when ANGER ia an appropriate emotion.