I remember how it feels.
When I was finally diagnosed in 1995 (after a slightly manic trip to China!), I was very relieved to have an explanation for why I had been so odd for so long. Many questions were answered.
If you were diagnosed, you may be very scared, worried or even incredulous. What? I have a serious mental illness! No way! Then you read all of the symptoms and it makes sense.
If you love someone with the illness, you are probably scared and worried
Here are some facts about bipolar disorder:
– People with bipolar disorder can absolutely get better after a diagnosis! Most do.
– Bipolar disorder medications work. They have side effects and they can make you fat and upset, tired and cranky, but they work. They save lives in many ways. I tried 22 meds until I found the right medications. My meds changed recently as my depression increased- this is normal- and I am now on Lithium, Lamictal, Zoloft (this is safe if used with a mood stabilizer), Ritalin (safe if used with a mood stabilizer) and Ativan. I am doing the best I have done in many, many years.
I have always had a love affair with Lamictal. It’s a medication I feel that everyone with bipolar disorder should try.
Some people do fine with just a few medications. Everyone is different.
If you have bipolar disorder, keep trying until you find the right medication. It’s 100% worth it.
Medications take care of half of the illness, the other half is management.
– If you care about someone with the illness, you need to be just as educated as the person with the diagnosis. Bipolar disorder affects everyone. There are no exceptions. If you love someone with the illness, you are affected in some way. That is why you are on this blog getting information. Information is POWER and you can definitely learn to help the person with bipolar disorder. My mother and eventually my father have learned how to help me. it took time, but it happened.
– Bipolar disorder is genetic. You have done nothing wrong. Not as a person with the illness or as a parent. It’s genetic.
– There is a good chance that if you or someone you love has bipolar, someone in your family has either depression or bipolar. This is often masked as anxiety. Bipolar disorder is genetic and runs deeply in families.
– Bipolar disorder comes in two major forms: Bipolar I (one) and Bipolar II (two). This blog has a lot of information on the differences between the two. It’s estimated that 4-6% of the population has bipolar disorder. If you read a lower number, it’s not up to date research and may just reflect bipolar I diagnoses.
– It takes work to manage the illness. A lot of work for some, not as much for others. A management plan is essential. This includes medications, trigger management and a lot of lifestyle changes.
So, if you’re just diagnosed, it’s going to be OK. If you love someone who was just diagnosed, you can learn to help and to take care of yourself at the same time.
It’s an illness. It can be treated.
The category list on the menu to the right has valuable information on bipolar disorder. The first couple of months are the hardest, but it gets better. The blogs can help.
Julie
Just last week my psychiatrist changed me from Depakote because it was making my hair fall out rapidly, to Aripiprizole only 10mg to begin with, it has made me so very tired, but when reading the leaflet it says so that it is a side effect but already after only a few days of starting it, it is beginning to ware off, the tiredness I mean.
She also said it is one of the meds that doesnt increase weight, so Im hoping that is so.
Julie can you confirm anything about this med for me I’d be very delighted if you could, among all your busyiness.
Lordbless you
Maureen.
Or anyone else also, who would like to comment, I would be more than grateful Thank you
Maureen
What about menopause and Bipolar disorder?
Hello Theresa,
It’s interesting that you ask. I’m dealing with menopause now and it has been a very positive experience. So I will be writing on it once I’m through the process! As for menopause and bipolar in general, it’s not something that is specifically a bipolar disorder problem. Everyone is different. I haven’t seen patterns where women with bipolar disorder have a more difficult time with menopause. Although bipolar is affected by hormones- it’s not an estrogen based illness, so it is possible to have a completely normal menopause. This is a true positive! Julie
I have gone through the Menopause, with Bipolar, it lasted years though, the night sweats were horrendous, I wasnt even able to sit in the sunshine for years, as I couldnt bear the heat, heat of no description.
It had to be the worst thing ever to go through, I only came out of it last summer, and could once again enjoy sitting in the sun, but I took prickly heat because I had kept out of the sun for so many years, my skin had become intolerant towards it, my Doctor told me I would just have to persevere with it until I got used to it again, this summer its been okay praise God.
The menopause isnt pleasant, it lasts to many years, although not all women seem to go through it, my Mum didnt, arnt they really blessed they who dont get it?
I really cant remember all the symptoms, as it went last year, Im sure there were more than Ive remembered, but thats the best I can add.
oh yes, sleep pattern goes out the window, but then my sleep pattern is really none exsistant anyway, so whether its the menopause that begun it and its just kept like that, I really dont know, to be honest.
Thanks for the reply. The first 4 years were very easy with few symptoms(hot flashes,etc). Unfortunately, going into the 5th year of being post-menopause, lack of sleep has become a very real and life-disrupting issue. I have never experienced rapid cycling until now either. So as the sleep issue is estrogen related, I believe the bipolar changes are a direct result.