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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"Lithium?
I thought that was traditional... I'm sure they've invented new drugs to keep you in a stupor now tho.
Progress, eh?"
I mean non drug ways.
I've sorted the depression side for the most part now and am not on any med.
I've got some coping stratagies for the manic phases,
I plan and research projects about all sorts of random things, from making smokers,to a furnace for melting and pouring cast iron or alumjnium, designing sculptures or art prices, electronics projects such as an automated environment for hydroponic plants (not that kind), tools such as making a lathe or metal shaper from scratch, and most recently plasma physics and small scale fusion reactors.
I've learnt by doing the research and the planning I can burn off enough manic energy I can function as normal but I don't have the risk of trying something and then hitting a minor stumbling block/manic phase ending and going into depression and saying ahh fuck it and chucking out whatever I made.
I've got a bunch of half finished cap from before I realised i was best off just stopping at planning.
But I need a healthier solution tbh as this way stops me doing a lot of things because if I'm focused on them when hypomanic I invest far to much in their success and I know failing will lead to depression .
Where as when I'm normal or depressed I can do things spur of the moment and not care if they succeed or fail |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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I have bipolar II. I have no advice to offer unfortunately as I've chosen not to worry about the mania's, it's the depression that causes me the bigger problem.
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Manic depression? My diagnosis changed from manic depression to bi polar almost 30 years ago, didn't realise anyone called it that anymore.
@_iamondjoe I was very surprised they still prescribe lithium but in certain cases they do, I know someone whose not long started it.
Eight years I was on it, let's just say that's eight years I won't get back.
To the op.
Understand your illness, find out your triggers use your close friends to tell you when your starting to get high.
People don't realise the dangers of manic episodes, everyone always talks about the depression side off things but I've actually been hospitalised more times through mania than depression
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"I have bipolar II. I have no advice to offer unfortunately as I've chosen not to worry about the mania's, it's the depression that causes me the bigger problem.
"
Same here mainly hypomanic phases rather than true mania.
I've found its when I get carried away with the manic times that it leads to me getting depressed again.
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"Manic depression? My diagnosis changed from manic depression to bi polar almost 30 years ago, didn't realise anyone called it that anymore.
@_iamondjoe I was very surprised they still prescribe lithium but in certain cases they do, I know someone whose not long started it.
Eight years I was on it, let's just say that's eight years I won't get back.
To the op.
Understand your illness, find out your triggers use your close friends to tell you when your starting to get high.
People don't realise the dangers of manic episodes, everyone always talks about the depression side off things but I've actually been hospitalised more times through mania than depression
"
Yeah its officially bipolar II disorder but I prefer manic depression it sounds "nicer" to me. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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From what I've learned about my own cycles the crash from a mania is inevitable without mood stabilizers or other meds, however I choose to channel the energy. It's easier now I've learned to read the warning signs. I can feel when a mania is coming to an end a few days before it ceases, whereas before it was always a hard shock.
Are you able to recognise the way your cycle plays out and anticipate and prepare for the next phase before it occurs? |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"From what I've learned about my own cycles the crash from a mania is inevitable without mood stabilizers or other meds, however I choose to channel the energy. It's easier now I've learned to read the warning signs. I can feel when a mania is coming to an end a few days before it ceases, whereas before it was always a hard shock.
Are you able to recognise the way your cycle plays out and anticipate and prepare for the next phase before it occurs?"
Yeah hence the pointless research and planning of things.
As long as I focus off the energy and never actually try something and so never fail it tends to pass more normally without me getting depressed.
But feels like it's preventing me from aconplishing things |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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I know it's not for everyone but mindfulness meditation helps me to keep the mania's a little less intense. It's very hard to lie still long enough every day when I'm manic though. |
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When I'm normal manic and not jumping off roofs manic its the best thing ever, I get so much done and organised, everything is so perfectly crystal clear, my house is spotless and I lose weight.
I just wait for them now when I need massive sorting out done.
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"When I'm normal manic and not jumping off roofs manic its the best thing ever, I get so much done and organised, everything is so perfectly crystal clear, my house is spotless and I lose weight.
I just wait for them now when I need massive sorting out done.
"
I love this state. It's so very productive and fulfilling. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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I attended dialectal behaviour therapy. Its a year long course which also focuses on mindfulness. Just meds alone I really struggled. Bit now the skills I've learned from dbt together with meds om the most stable I've ever been. A lot less reckless behaviour during manic phases x |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"I attended dialectal behaviour therapy. Its a year long course which also focuses on mindfulness. Just meds alone I really struggled. Bit now the skills I've learned from dbt together with meds om the most stable I've ever been. A lot less reckless behaviour during manic phases x"
I'm about to start DBT. You find it worthwhile? |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"I attended dialectal behaviour therapy. Its a year long course which also focuses on mindfulness. Just meds alone I really struggled. Bit now the skills I've learned from dbt together with meds om the most stable I've ever been. A lot less reckless behaviour during manic phases x
I'm about to start DBT. You find it worthwhile?"
Definitely. I have gained so many skills and coping strategies from it. Really helped turn my way of thinking. And help me move away from destructive behaviours x x |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Depakote is a good mood stabiliser, I used to take it but not for depression was because I have narcolepsy and used to suffer with cataplexy so the depakote tabs I was prescribed to stabilise my mood. With cataplexy if I laughed or got upset and cried or got angry I'd collapse on the floor and sleep! Haven't taken it since 2009 before I was pregnant and it seems to have sorted itself out, still take dexadrine every day otherwise I have about 15 micro sleeps a day and have to declare it to dvla even though I know when I'm gonna fall asleep now and can sort of fight it till I get a safe please to sleep, part of the reason my memory is so good I think is down to all the sleeping I do! |
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I have a friend with bipolar…its the most challenging 'relationship' I've ever been in.
One thing she impresses on me over & over again is:
'I can't expect anyone to understand my illness'
So, when she can, she learns about herself, her behaviour, her patterns, her triggers and she teaches that to those closest to her. She asks them to tell her when she's out of line and asks for boundaries to be enforced, no matter what she says or does.
She is lucky, though that she has people around her willing & able to do that.
I realise this may not be relevant to everyone but her mania does cause her to trample on normal boundaries.
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"I have a friend with bipolar…its the most challenging 'relationship' I've ever been in.
One thing she impresses on me over & over again is:
'I can't expect anyone to understand my illness'
So, when she can, she learns about herself, her behaviour, her patterns, her triggers and she teaches that to those closest to her. She asks them to tell her when she's out of line and asks for boundaries to be enforced, no matter what she says or does.
She is lucky, though that she has people around her willing & able to do that.
I realise this may not be relevant to everyone but her mania does cause her to trample on normal boundaries.
"
Depressive and manic states can be challenging for the people around the sufferer, but your friends behaviour isn't representative of all by any means. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"I have bipolar II. I have no advice to offer unfortunately as I've chosen not to worry about the mania's, it's the depression that causes me the bigger problem.
"
Well said  |
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"I have bipolar II. I have no advice to offer unfortunately as I've chosen not to worry about the mania', it's the depression that causes me the bigger problem.
"
I have Bipolar too, well half of me has the other half is to dam depressed to give a shit. Just keep telling myself nothing is that important to worry about " don't always work". But living in hope is all I've got. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"I have bipolar II. I have no advice to offer unfortunately as I've chosen not to worry about the mania', it's the depression that causes me the bigger problem.
I have Bipolar too, well half of me has the other half is to dam depressed to give a shit. Just keep telling myself nothing is that important to worry about " don't always work". But living in hope is all I've got. "
You don't receive NHS support? |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Any sufferes on here how do you keep your manic phases in check/control?"
I have bipolar type 2 with social anxiety disorder and PTSD. I have regular meeting with my psychologist to talk through things. It has taken 8 years but my medication is now correct.
When I have down times, I just shut myself away, watch a good.film and stay in bed if I have to.
Thats about all I can suggest. Xx |
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