Wow, I’ve had some great blog comments lately. They are so appreciated. I read them all.  There is a small icon above each post- if there is a comment, a number appears beside the icon.

 Of course, I want to answer all of the comments, but this is pretty impossible. I’m finding it hard to work these days, but I will keep going! And I will respond to comments when possible.

I saw a great movie tonight called In the Shadow of the Moon. I mention it because it was hopeful and uplifting. We need that! Julie

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Ok! I keep saying I’m going to reply to comments when I can. I just have to do it instead of thinking about doing it!
Here is a comment about school:

Hi Julie,
 
I was going to school full time for three terms but this summer my doctor and I decided to change my meds.  YUCK…I have been feeling horrible and really had two steps backwards as far as treatment goes.  I am thinking of taking fall term off so that I can get medical help, read your cards and books and get well again.  It is sometimes discouraging to try medications and have them mess you up more than help.  To make matters worse my family and friends seem to think I can think my way out of this without medications or help…I am still hopeful for the future but I am struggling but I guess with bipolar WE are always struggling.  smile

** end comment**

I managed to pick a comment that doesn’t have a question- ?- but here are my comments:

I too was having lovely medication problems last night. My Lamictal makes my legs hurt if I don’t have a high enough dose. It’s frustrating.  I know that finding the right drug and then finding the right dose takes time. It’s worth it though. I’m so impressed that you have so much AWARENESS! of what is going on with you. So many people are confused or unsure of why something is happening. I can tell that you know it’s bipolar disorder.

School is the same as work. We can all do it- but we often have to do it on our terms. The fact that you were able to go three sessions in a row is fantastic.

Can you just take one class instead of not going at all? I had to do that. If you have to take time off, that is smart as well. All that matters is the degree- how long it takes to get it is of no consequence in the long run.

It took me eight years and four colleges to get a degree! I am glad I kept going.

As for family and friends who don’t understand- it’s up to you to educate them. They are not being cruel- they are being ignorant in the true sense of the word:

1. lacking in knowledge or training; unlearned: an ignorant man.
2. lacking knowledge or information as to a particular subject or fact: ignorant of quantum physics.
3. uninformed; unaware.

All of my books have ideas on how to tell people about bipolar so that they can understand what WE go through and then how they can help us.

I wrote this out on the blog below.

You are AMAZING. I mean that.

Julie
 

Hi, I’m having a tough day depression wise- then I read this comment from Gerry in Australia. It was so positive I wanted to put it here:

Comment:

G’Day all I am new to the blog, but would like to say something positive on this issue which I hope will encourage everyone else with bipolar. I’m lucky because I don’t suffer from some of the worst symptoms of bipolar & also was rather old when I had my first psychotic episode. So before that I managed to get a BA with Honours & a Phd. Now I am a full time academic in Politics. It was only after working full time for 7 years that I discovered that I had bipolar. It does impact on my work sometimes, but my Dept. has been very good about making some allowances. I have published 2 books and many articles. I have learnt Spanish and travelled to Latin America on my own to do field research on numerous occasions. You too can succeed! As a teacher who has studied all I can say on “college” as you call it in the States is go do it!

Dr Gerry

hi! I’ve received so many great comments on this page- and I am making a promise to answer as many of them as I can! I will repost the comment as a blog entry and then answer the questions:

 coming up….

Omega 3 Fatty Acids and bipolar disorder treatment

Medication changes and their consequences

Relationship issues due to bipolar disorder

 Travel and bipolar disorder

 Can I get into college? How do I stay in college?

 and so many more…. I’ve had focus issues the past few days. It’s hard to have bipolar disorder and work on your own. Do you experience this? Darn, it’s hard to have bipolar and work anywhere with ease!

 but we can do it….

Bipolarhappens.com Reader Comment

I received such a great email from a reader named Daphne Stevens that I’m posting parts of it on the blog. I think it helps so much for us to see that we all go through the same challenges with this illness. Daphne and I discussed Lamictal and other meds. Here are her comments:
Lamictal, by the way, is my “miracle drug,” too.  After two years of trial and error (and a lot of nasty side effects) my doctor and I finally settled on a combination of Lamictal and Seroquel. which levels out both the hypomania and  depression.  And my depression, while less frequent than hypomania, can be deadly, as you know.  Over a lifetime of struggling, I’ve finally learned not to be too afraid of it.  I know it will pass, no matter how permanent it feels at the time.  Riding it out, being kind to myself, doing what I can, occasionally letting myself collapse into being downright pitiful–it’s part of fighting those nasty lies Depression whispers in our ears.

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She is so right! You can visit daphnestevens.com to read more about her work!

Julie