how do people get through the day? - Bipolar Disorder Message Board

badkittybad · 11-14-2002, 06:01 AM

i am just wondering how everybody else out there who has been branded with the title of "bi-polar" manage to cope? I am a 24 year old girl and have been told for many many years by many people that i suffer from bi-polar. many people have wanted to put me on medication, however, i am firmly against this idea. However, the highs are starting to get too high, where i cant calm down and will undertake stupid things because i believe i am invincable, and then the flip side is when i get sad, the lows are getting worse and worse. I dont know how long this is going to be able to be kept up, because all in my life are starting to get too sick of never knowing how to act around me, and when i can change moods from such extreams in very small amounts of time. sorry about the rambal of my writing, i do have a point and a question. I am just wondering if there is anyone out there who understands this and is not on any medication and if they could just share some of the ways they cope with it. thanks.

mamacatt · 11-15-2002, 01:02 PM

Welcome Kitty, I was treated for BiPolar a year after my last child was born. True it seems like my moods changed very rapidly and the older I got the more intense. I have tried alot of different meds some made me stay manic and others put me out of it. The doctors have changed my diagnosis several times and some people think I'm a hypochondriac because I'm always trying to find out whats wrong with me and fix it. I have started having blurred vision with floaters in front of my eyes. The eye doctor could not find any reason for this so ordered me glasses, only for distance. Since then I have read about aspartane the artifical sweetner in diet coke causing a list of my symptoms. {Mood Swings is one of them.} I went with a diet coke in my hands all day. After 3 days my vision is a little better. Do you use artifical sweetners? Aspartane is in some vitamins and meds. Sorry if I'm off track with you but if this artifical sweetner didn't make me bipolar it sure made me rapid cycle. Mamacatt

badkittybad · 11-15-2002, 10:51 PM

thanks for the reply. sadly i already pretty much avoid artifical sweetner along with highly processed foods, so i dont think that could be contributing to the problem. as i am lactose intolerant and a vegetarian i really have to watch what i eat. but thank you for the suggestion, hope everything goes well for you in your day today and tomorrow.

zionspegasus · 12-05-2002, 09:29 PM

When bipolar disorder goes untreated or undertreated or poorly treated, the cycles tend to get worse. That said, perimenopause or menopause can also be a time during which mood cycles can worsen.

I use music therapy often to calm or rev up my mood. I tend to react emotionally and very strongly to music, so I have to watch for this sometimes too. If Ive tried everything, and nothing seems to help my mood, then I just stop fighting it and go with the mood Im in, I try to find something funny or ironic about the situation, or celebrate my mood. This sounds simplistic, but you will be surprised how much accepting a mood helps you cope with it better. I go on "shopping sprees", in which I put everything in my cart that I want and go all over town to all the stores, but I LEAVE MY MONEY AND CREDIT CARDS AT HOME. I get all the benefits and none of the troubles. Exercise or house cleaning, a project that just seemed overwhelming before, these are good for burning up all the manic energy, especially when mixed moods rear their ugly heads. I do something to make myself angry at me when I cant feel, because once I feel angry then I can feel other stuff, more pleasant emotions. It is surprising how much easier it is to get angry instead of trying to feel happy or better, or more stable. I get outside every day, even during cold or hot weather, it helps. I get a number of benefits: sunshine, usually the company of someone else, or at least less focus on my own problems, marvel at nature, maybe take a walk. It does not have to be for long, but even a few minutes a day helps. I even do this when I have trouble getting up, combing my hair, or putting my clothes on-- I just go outside with the attitude that Im all up anyway so why care what some not understanding person will think. I need to feel better, so I take care of myself and get out. Everybodys different, make it your mission to discover what sorts of things help you to feel better, get well, or have a stabilizing influence on you, then do them more often. And things that produce harmful emotions, try to do them less, or make a plan for dealing with the unavoidable.

zionsP

[This message has been edited by minerva (edited 12-06-2002).]

pinkcat · 12-09-2002, 11:39 PM

hi kitty, if you don't want to take prescription medication at this time can you try a holistic approach and see if that helps at all? omega fatty acids found in fish oil capsules and eating salmon or tuna fish 3x a week help with the depression. the B vitamins also help. if you don't feel better you should get to a psychiatrist. i was 'labeled' with this years ago and saw 3 different shrinks all with different 'labels' and tons of pills. today i am not on any medication and living a normal life. i am sure you will find what works for you. it took me a long time to feel better. best wishes.