Jumping in - Bipolar Disorder Message Board

marshmallow · 11-10-2006, 01:53 PM

I have been reading a lot of posts by ones with bipolar supporting others with bipolar. I think it is amazing and wonderful how they jump right in to help. The support is so necessary for all of us dealing with a loved one with bipolar or those with bipolar. It really warms the heart to see others trying to help when they themselves can be having a bad day too.

kiehn · 11-10-2006, 02:32 PM

Hi Marshmellow
I agree everyone here is always so willing to help one another.
Sometimes this is the only place I can find understanding and
support. Thanks for the post. Sue

marshmallow · 11-10-2006, 04:57 PM

Your welcome. You are one of the supportive ones I think.

Happy Girl · 11-11-2006, 07:06 AM

I am a newbie to this site, and I totally agree with your post~LOTS of help & encouragement is what I have seen in the posts I have read!
I too came here for support. It's SO ENCOURAGING to read of others who not "SUFFER" from BP but rather "BATTLE" BP daily. I surely don't want to suffer (If I can help it)...I want to battle it. I think coming here will give me tools to battle BP more effectively day to day.
I guess it would be good to introduce myself. I am a 33 yof, mother of 3~2 of which are BP. I was diagnosed Jan. 2005 with BP after being treated for Major Depression for 5 years. After numerous medications and ups & downs, my pdoc (who was my 2nd pdoc in the 5 year span) diagnosed me with BP. I have since been on several meds to try to get a good balance on my moods. I am currently taking Lithium which has provided me the best balance yet!
BP runs in my family. My grandmother fought it for most of her life and was one of the very patients in our state to receive Lithium as treatment. She ended her life when I was 15 years old. The Lithium worked fairly well for her. Her problem is that she would believe she was "Healed" of this disease and discontinue taking her med...only to fall into a DEEP depression. My uncle is also BP. My family chooses to view BP in that these are the "only" cases in our family, but I see others in the family who have VERY SIMILAR symptoms. I believe in time, the diagnosis will happen for these who show similar symptoms.
BP is something that is NOT talked about in my (extended) family for it is something that is a mystery and also brings shame...even with a family FULL of folks who work in the medical profession!
In my opinion, a person with BP cannot rely totally on taking their meds~DON'T get me wrong for I BELIEVE in medication! What I mean is that you have to take ownership of this disease. You have to learn/know all you can know to empower yourself to battle the disease. I also believe that you have to take the BEST care of yourself you can...such as getting plenty of rest, recognizing stressors in your life that may begin mania/depression, eating well, having a support system, going to the pdoc for your regular visits & calling on him/her when you are running into trouble, exercising regularly, doing things to keep an active mind (work, puzzles, etc.), doing something "special" for yourself~treating yourself good (relaxing bubble baths, gardening, good cup of hot coffee, etc.)...I could go on & on!
Great post! I appreciate all of you who POUR your hearts out! To the parents of BP children, hold tight~they need your strength & stability that you will be there for them!
With Love to All, Jackie

tsohl · 11-11-2006, 08:34 AM

Couldn't agree more!! (with original post!)

I really can't imagine what it must be like to have many in the family with bipolar disorder. Our almost 25-year old son has bipolar I which was diagnosed when he was away in college. I imagine he was developing it through high school but he was a very private kind of kid and we really weren't aware that he was experiencing anything more than the usual teenage mood changes...and he'd always talked fast, just about from the time he learned to talk. We've had our share of problems, but after going through 5 pdocs and what I think must be just about every med in the book, he has found the winning combo that has stablized him.

This board has been very helpful to me in learning to understand more about the disorder and how people with it feel and cope. I've done lots of research from reading books and articles, but I've learned more from reading on this board. And I think I've been able to help some other moms with recently diagnosed teens who post here, too. We can all share what we know and learn from others' experiences.

Bless all of us as we go on this journey....tsohl