Posted by mellow on September 8, 2011, at 16:09:24
In reply to Advice for bipolar?, posted by Raisinb on September 8, 2011, at 15:15:27
Congratulations on having a positive outlook on your diagnosis. I fought mine for years. The best thing to get a grasp on is when you are really having an full blown episode and what strategies help get you stable. For many years I had no clue how my meds worked, what the side effects were and when I was just bummed out or really in need of some attention from a doctor. I've also been able to learn the difference between when I'm just doing well and when I am going into mania. Sometimes mania can just feel like being really productive and feeling good for the first time in months, but it can quickly turn into so much energy that you become unable to function. Learning to step back and put the breaks on before it is too late is very crucial...Although not very fun when you feel absolutely brilliant.
I would recommend having a therapist at all times. Even if you aren't involved in some deep form of therapy it's good to have someone objective who can witness your moods and keep a file on you. My therapist has been with me for three years so we have figured out that spring time is mania, little dip into a funk in the summer and stability in fall through winter. I don't know why I am backwards. Many people go crazy in winter. I love the melancholy and the snow. That's just my pattern year after year. A good therapist will help you identify stuff like that. Mine will mention when I need to see my doctor and would certainly assist me lovingly if I needed to be hospitalized again.
Best of luck
mellow
Bipolar II
Lamictal 150, Topamax 50, Risperdal 2, Cal/Mag, D3 1000, Fish Oil 2400, High Potency Multi"We're all just walking each other home." -Ram Dass
poster:mellow
thread:996158
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20110902/msgs/996165.html