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Do you think mood is just the tip of the bipolar iceberg? Are te other things more serious you have to contend with, such as problems with sleep, dealing with anger, struggling to think straight, etc?
Check out my bipolar articles and blog on HealthCentral.
The things that I tend to have to look at are sleep disturbances and anger but the control of these is essential to the managing of my mood. If the lack of sleep wasn't likely to send me high then I wouldn't worry about it - it tends to sort itself out over a couple of weeks anyway. If the anger wasn't likely to ruin my relationship I wouldn't bother to keep it in check so much but in itself it indicates a mood disturbance - in either direction unfortunately. I guess what I'm saying here is that anger is the worst problem because it may spoil a beautiful relationship but I am very aware that it is a result of a brewing episode and try to treat the root cause (the episode) rather than just the anger.
Posts: 7 | Location: Yorkshire, England | Registered: 04-27-2006
It's the tip of the iceberg now, but before I had knowledge of my condition it was only mood. While understanding my condition makes life easier in many respects, do we make it too difficult in others?
This message has been edited. Last edited by: GJ Gregory,
I guess I know what you mean about it only being mood before we knew about our condition. It is all too easy to be hypervigilant and to medicalise everything; not allowing ourselves any normality. After all "normal" people get bad moods too! I do try to be calm about my mood changes/anger etc but it can be difficult not to dread the worst when swings seem to be in progress. Having said that I've managed to stay out of hospital for the last 5 years having been in and out on a revolving door system for the previous 11 so I guess I'm not doing too badly on the whole.
Posts: 7 | Location: Yorkshire, England | Registered: 04-27-2006
I've been so desperate to connect with people who have bipolar disorder like me. In my community, and from the advice I get from my friends, doctor and family, they say it's best to keep it all a secret. But I feel like I struggle to hide a major part of who I am. I'm in school studing massage therapy, and part of the training is in human relations. I find that the group has no interest in delving deep into the reality of many people's human experiences. I spent many months in hospital and then day hospital. In order for me to recover, I have had to be very much in touch with what I really feel and believe. but the public at large seems to be uncomfortable with reality. And currently I am in the middle of a manic raging cycle managng it only by more lithium and sedatives.... in fact I almost beat the crap out of my father-in-law in the street in front of my house yesterday. I want to say that isn't the real me; but really I think that it is the real me, finally coming out after suppressing my realness to keep the status quo and everyone "comfortable."
I am raging inside so much that I feel like I want to be violent toward my husband, and anyone else who stands in my way (except hopefully my 2 year old son.
I hope that there is someone out there who can make sense of what I am saying and maybe relate to this uncontrolable rage. I am furious because the world is so mean, so cruel, so ready to put you down, and a person can only take so much until she breaks down and all hell breaks loose. I wonder if part of it is because I am so diligent about hiding who I am, that I am a person suffering daily with bipolar disorder, trying to make something of my life just like everone else.
Originally posted by GJ Eckstrom: It's the tip of the iceberg now, but before I had knowledge of my condition it was only mood. While understanding my condition makes life easier in many respects, do we make it too difficult in others?
I think that once you start worring so much about others, you begin to build up resentment. You are not responsible for taking care of how other people react. It is not your fault, and there are resources out there for family and friends to find out how they can support you. You have enough on your hands just learning about how to manage whith all the ups and downs, how to piece together a life with what you have left after the manic and depressive wane and ebb. You need to surround yourself by people who are going to commit to helping you, provided you are commited to taking the actions to recognize when you need intervetion and help. There are people out there, but you have to speak very quietly to find out who they are because UH-OH! You might ruffle some feathers out there. I hope you can find a supportive group in your community, or have a doctor who can help you work through these issues.
Final word, it's not your responsibility to make your illness okay and acceptable to those around you.
Hi, Screaming Banshee. There's an article somewhere on this website about disclosure. Basically, you need to think very carefully before disclosing to friends or family or particularly people at work, but this illness is way too big a load for you to carry alone. If you have no one you can trust to talk to please seek out a support group.
Check out my bipolar articles and blog on HealthCentral.
I think that once you start worring so much about others, you begin to build up resentment. You are not responsible for taking care of how other people react. It is not your fault, and there are resources out there for family and friends to find out how they can support you. You have enough on your hands just learning about how to manage whith all the ups and downs, how to piece together a life with what you have left after the manic and depressive wane and ebb. You need to surround yourself by people who are going to commit to helping you, provided you are commited to taking the actions to recognize when you need intervetion and help. There are people out there, but you have to speak very quietly to find out who they are because UH-OH! You might ruffle some feathers out there. I hope you can find a supportive group in your community, or have a doctor who can help you work through these issues.
Final word, it's not your responsibility to make your illness okay and acceptable to those around you.
