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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by seldomseen on September 18, 2008, at 6:26:48
My therapist and I today worked a little today on my potential bipolar diagnosis.
The klonopin is working and I no longer feel as though I'm going to burst into a billion little pieces. I'm much calmer.
So we were able to enter the discussion. I'm right at the age when my mother had her first hospital admission for her bipolar. He assured me that he did not see that in my future.
He pointed out that I am a much different person than my mother. We laughed at how everyone is now bipolar and it is the diagnosis du jour. However, he also pointed out that we are still very much in the early stages of understanding what that illness is.
We discussed strategies as to how to avoid getting to where I am right now and how I fought to make myself heard. He apologized for being so dense. I felt a strong desire to hug him.
We gotta remember that these guys aren't mind readers. Frustrating and difficult as it may be, we gotta sometimes spell it out for them.
Then we talked a lot about butterflies. I think it really intrigues him about how much I love them. Or maybe it was just chatter while I sit with what is going on with me.
In any case, he's not forcing anything and is very reassuring.
Just as I knew he would be.
Seldom
Posted by lucie lu on September 18, 2008, at 8:21:47
In reply to Sitting with bipolar diagnosis, posted by seldomseen on September 18, 2008, at 6:26:48
Hi Seldom,That's really great to hear. Sounds like you really have a terrific T. It is so important to be able to jointly reconnect, and so well, after some rupture (i.e. him misunderstanding how you were feeling before your diagnosis), since they happen all the time in relationships. At least the meaningful ones. As for the BP itself, I sent you a Babblemail.
Yay for you!
Lucie
Posted by Dinah on September 18, 2008, at 11:04:20
In reply to Sitting with bipolar diagnosis, posted by seldomseen on September 18, 2008, at 6:26:48
:-)
I knew he would respond well, too. I love hearing about your relationship. In some ways, it seems very much like mine.
I'm glad you're coming to terms with your diagnosis, and are realizing that diagnosis is not destiny. Bipolar is treatable, from what I hear, although I'm not minimizing the side effects of treatment.
It's impossible to think of you in any other terms than as someone I really respect and admire.
Posted by antigua3 on September 18, 2008, at 12:12:05
In reply to Sitting with bipolar diagnosis, posted by seldomseen on September 18, 2008, at 6:26:48
Posted by Phillipa on September 18, 2008, at 12:46:44
In reply to Re: Sitting with bipolar diagnosis » seldomseen, posted by Dinah on September 18, 2008, at 11:04:20
And isn't it only a possibility? Love Phillipa
Posted by seldomseen on September 18, 2008, at 19:07:50
In reply to Re: Sitting with bipolar diagnosis » seldomseen, posted by lucie lu on September 18, 2008, at 8:21:47
SOmetimes I wish everyone could have my T. He's part magician, part physician, but very very much human.
We've been together for so long, it's easy to forgive the faults sometimes.
He cares for me, knows me pretty well and we haven't hit an impasse yet that we can't work through.
When I've communicated clearly enough to him where I am, he acts.
He's demonstrated time and time again that he is willing to go through all this crap with me. Whatever surfaces he can handle. I'm grateful.
Seldom
Posted by seldomseen on September 18, 2008, at 19:21:38
In reply to Re: Sitting with bipolar diagnosis » seldomseen, posted by Dinah on September 18, 2008, at 11:04:20
I think our relationships with our therapists are very similar. I think they are both very very good people who very much want to help us.
It's good to shift from the "I" to the "we". in the relationship as in "well, what are we going to do with this".
In a long term therapy situation that is good place to be no matter what comes up.
There is a lot of peace to be had when you get there.
God, it's a lot of work though.
I actually had a dream the night before I spelled out for him what a terrible mess I was in. For some reason I was soaking wet. We were talking and we both leaned in and simply put our heads together, not butting heads, but just resting our heads together. It was such a good dream.
I knew I had to get him on board even if I had to make flashcards. As it turns out, they weren't required.
I sincerely appreciate your kind words, I don't know what I've done to deserve them, but I feel the same way about you.
Seldom
Posted by seldomseen on September 18, 2008, at 19:24:44
In reply to Re: Sitting with bipolar diagnosis, posted by Phillipa on September 18, 2008, at 12:46:44
Well, it's still sitting out there. The emergent situation is under control.
We'll see where this goes.
Seldom
This is the end of the thread.
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