Three bipolar disorder symptoms you probably think are a personal failing:
1. Inability to sit down and work like you know you should be able to and could do if only… you could sit down and work darn it!
2. Restlessness.. Nothing feels good. From chairs to people.
3. Lack of insight as to why I struggle so much in daily life.
Here is why this list is important. I HAVE THESE SYMPTOMS WHEN I’M NOT MANIC OR DEPRESSED.
I remember when I wanted to say that bipolar disorder was more than mania and depression and my publishing company said, Nope, it’s a mania and depression illness. We can’t say that the above are actually symptoms. They are a subset of mania and or depression.
Well, I know have ten more years of experience than when I wrote my book Loving Someone with Bipolar Disorder and now know for sure that we have baseline symptoms that are present when we are not manic or degreased. They
Here is how I over come these symptoms. I wrote Get it Done When You’re Depressed for #1. I use the tips daily. I still struggle, but at least I am able to do my foundational work very well. Coaching. Writing is my challenge.
The second symptom is also discussed in Get it Done and darn it, if it’s the last thing I do, I will figure this out. Diet and caffeine play a role here as does my surroundings.
Lack if insight. How do I deal with this? I remind myself that I have lack of insight. This doesn’t always give me insight, but it does let me go easier on myself.
Be kind to yourself Julie, Be Kind.
This is a complex illness- I call it the garbage pail illness as we have symptoms of ALL mental health disorders on any given day.
I believe in your and your ability to manage this illness. If I can write this post while crying due to a panic attack and then feel better simply from writing the post, it means that you can work and get on with life even when the bipolar is messing with your brain chemicals.
I will not stop until I have come up with a better plan for my life. I am close. I have come so far. If you are newly diagnosed, Take Charge of Bipolar Disorder explains my plans. If you want a more advanced management system, especially if meds don’t give you enough relief, my Health Cards Treatment System for Bipolar Disorder is available on my website BipolarHappens.
I know, this is a long post. This is how I heal and make it through the day so that I can now do my email without crying.
You can get better! I can get better! Julie
My new book for kids has too characters named Wimple and Weejit. My illustrator, Kaytie Spellman must see inside my mind. This is exactly what they look like when they are messing with my brain chemicals. HEHE.
Julie
PS: Read the three symptoms again. Do you experience these during your daily life? What triggers them? How can you get help?
I appreciate your honesty and your perseverance.
Yes I experience those extra symptoms as well.
Yes, this is a complicated illness but I appreciated how your writing helps you, mine helps me too. On a day that I can’t accomplish much else, I can still write and enjoy it.
However, I sometimes read over what I have written and wonder ‘who wrote that?’ Truthfully what seemed like a good idea one day sounds like utter nonsense the next.
Oh dear Julie
You write some amazing words..and its good to know that all this does go on due to bipolar as at times I just think it must be me, don’t think theres anything wrong with me, but I always take my Lithium and others wouldn’t like to see who I would be if I didn’t.
I love to write also have done all my days, but not articles or books like yourself, just write down stuff, have all these journals Ive written on my Christianity, I keep lots of note books, love ones with really nice covers on them, then I always have one handy for when I need one like today I began an Essential Oil book, coping mixtures from proper books on it, what can be mixed for treating hair etc.
I have ordered a few bottles of them to give it a go myself, as I bought a Catalytic Oil Lamp its a burner to fragrance a room but it also kills bacteria, air bugs and dust mites but going to make its fuel myself with alcohol from pharmacy and these essential oils as its takes too much fuel to use it which is very costly that way if I make it I will save money.
I seem to be always at something, and just looking round this PC room of mine its just littered and I really am a tidy freak by nature, but in here you would think an explosion had taken place, I joke not.
Is that a trait of bipolar do you think? Could you enlighten me if it is please.
Keep well, lets praise God
Maureen.