Bipolar Disorder Medications: Lithium

lithium chemistryLithium is the only true mood stabilizer used in bipolar disorder treatment. It’s usually used as an anti- mania drug and works miracles for many people. Unfortunately, lithium comes with a myriad of side effects including a risk of kidney problems.

I know people with bipolar disorder who have been on Lithium for 20 years without any adverse side effects. For this reason, Lithium is usually the first drug of choice when a person has a first manic episode. Lithium is a naturally existing salt, which is why drug companies can’t make any profit from Lithium! It’s one of the cheapest drugs on the market.

If you’re lucky enough to respond well to the drug, it’s a good way to prevent mania.

 

Caveat: It’s not uncommon for those doing well on lithium to think that all is well because they feel so good and haven’t been manic for years. They decide to go off the lithium and the mania shows up very quickly.

Lithium is also used for bipolar disorder depression. My side effects were beyond terrible when I started lithium for my suicidal depression- excessive and terrible! But I was depression free for the first time in over 15 years. I stuck it out and the side effects are much better.

I wouldn’t take lithium if I didn’t have to- but if a person doesn’t want to take big pharma manufactured drugs, lithium is a good choice.

Julie

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Posted on May 22nd, 2013 | Category: Bipolar Treatment Tips, Depression, Mania, Medications

What is manic pressured speech? Why can’t I stop talking!!!

 

I recently wrote a blog post for BP Magazine on the topic of talking too darn much when you’re manic.  I know what it feels like from both sides. I’ve talked so much I’ve worn myself out and I recently went through a friend’s manic episode where she was talking so fast- and her flight of ideas were out of control-  I couldn’t keep up!

“Julie, I’m not manic. Am I manic? ‘I’m going to walk it off. I just got up this morning- well I didn’t really sleep- but I got up and took an hour power walk and then I went to the gym and swam for two hours. Do  you think that exercise will cure this mania? I do! I think it can. I’m just going to keep walking and walking and get better that way.”

You can’t get a word in. When you’re manic, you try to hard not to talk! But sometimes you can’t help it. Here is my post from BP Magazine.

Talking Over People When You’re Manic

Please leave comments on the post.  I know that people get so much out of reading about other people’s experiences!

Julie

I highly recommend BP Magazine.  The information is educational, interesting,  has my column! and the price is right.

 

 

 

 





Posted on May 19th, 2013 | Category: Mania

Is it bipolar behavior or is is conscious behavior?

The Bipolar Disorder Denial Dichotomy

This picture really shows what it’s like to deal with a person who has poorly managed bipolar disorder. One day they will talk- the next day they will yell. It’s no fun for the person on the receiving end. I have been there.

You try to help and they yell at you.   It’s like tip toeing around a mean animal on some days and then they are fine like a teddy bear on others. It’s part of the illness in many ways- but the person often has a lot of control in these situations and chooses not to make the steps to get better.

Bipolar is tricky.

There is definitely a form where people can’t see they are ill. Research says this is up to 50%. That’s a very high number.  These are people who honestly can’t see that their behavior is causing great harm to self and others. Medications can work wonders in these situations.

Then there is the concept of denial: such as being aware of something and yet refusing to see it as a problem.

Denial – My friend Janea says, “There is no such thing as denial, Julie. There is ignoring, lying to yourself and stubbornness, but there is no denial.”  I’m not even sure how to wrap my brain around this!

She means that when a person gets hopping mad when you mention their behavior and yet are able to hear what you have to say on other days- they are either sick or they know exactly what you’re talking about and just don’t want to deal with it. It’s much easier to make you the problem.

Also, there are many, many situations where the person is only mad and rude and abusive towards  you and then turns around and talks normally with a friend. That’s not denial. That is a choice.

So, if you love someone who is hot and cold, they can often control it much better than you think.  It may be time to hold them accountable.

Julie

PS:  Never forget that aggressive behaviors that happen only during a mood swing are usually a sign that a person is ill and not that they are in denial.

 





Posted on May 16th, 2013 | Category: Children/teens, Family and Friends, Family and Partner Coaching

You CAN Get Well Enough to Work

artworkAfter 15 years of daily bipolar disorder management- I’m really seeing the results. I never thought I would get better. I’m going to sound like a broken record on this, but it’s true. You can get better. I can’t give you a time frame, but it can happen.

By better I mean that I can work part time. It’s interesting that I would measure my success on this level,but I do. I have worked for years on my friendships and they are going well. They are always challenging,but I feel I have the skills to deal with what comes up- especially in terms of my jealousy and paranoia when I get depressed. I have a good relationship with my family. I can see a lot of good things in my life. It’s not perfect of course.  People leave me – get upset with me- maybe even grown tired of me! But I can handle it.  The big change is that I can sit and work.

Being able to work without getting sick has eluded me for many years. It happened because I found medications that work well with my management plan.  It took a long time to adjust to the side effects- and my life is not perfect- which I very naively thought it would be! But I’m better.

Believe me, if I’m 49 and am working more efficiently than in many years.

Julie





Posted on May 15th, 2013 | Category: Uncategorized

PT 2 What are the symptoms of dysphoric mania?

Dysphoric mania checklist: Do any of these sound familiar?

  • You feel agitated and uncomfortable in the body and mind- this is different than anxiety!
  • The depression feels active- it’s not catatonic or sedating.
  • The mind feels jumbled- but energized in a negative way. You may have thoughts such as, “I hate my life. I hate my work. I’ve got to get out of here.”
  • You’re very easily irritated.  This can lead to punching things, yelling and picking fights with those you normally treat with love.
  • Sleep is completely disturbed due to the mania.

Take Charge of Bipolar Disorder and the Health Cards Treatment System for Bipolar Disorder have a treatment plan for all kinds of mania. I also discuss dysphoric mania in my free Bipolar Disorder 101 coaching call. Info on how to listen to the call is on the menu bar.

Let’s learn about dysphoric mania so that it doesn’t ruin relationships and lives.

Julie

PS:  I once had a 6 week dysphoric manic episode that caught me 100% by surprise. My obsessions were buying a Dodge Charger and moving to Barcelona. Thank heavens I had a management plan in place or I would be driving a gas guzzling car in Spain! ;)





Posted on May 13th, 2013 | Category: Bipolar Symptoms, Mania

Pt 1 What are the Symptoms of Dysphoric Mania?

What is Dysphoric Mania?

Dysphoric mania, also known as agitated or mixed mania is a bipolar disorder mood swing that is often missed due to confusing symptoms.

Dysphoric mania is the opposite of euphoric mania- it’s still a chemically elevated (in terms of energy) mood- but it has none of the good feelings associated with euphoric mania.  Dysphoric mania is very confusing for the person in the mood swing.  The anger can be so quick and so real.

I am angry at you for many things! I’m just angry! Leave me alone. Stop bugging me!

I don’t have a problem. Why don’t you look at yourself! You are the one with the  problem! It can’t always be me. You’ve been getting on my case about this for years. In fact, just last month on the 21st I remember that you said something about my behavior.

I’ve changed. My eyes are open and what I thought I wanted isn’t good enough. I want out. I couldn’t tell you this before because I didn’t know I was so unhappy.

Why do you always want to change me? Can’t you just see that this is who I am and your snooping into my life is just making me want out more than ever.

The blog below has a dysphoric mania checklist.

Julie

 

 





Posted on May 12th, 2013 | Category: Bipolar Symptoms, Mania
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