Last post Tue, Apr 29 2008 3:48 PM by shebrattie1. 34 replies.
Hi,
Brain disorders (also called mental illnesses) can disable us, too. Bipolar Disorder is often described as "extreme highs coupled with extreme lows," but as many who have BP I or BP II (maybe another post about that later??) can tell you, it can be SO much more than that. The extreme highs and lows refer to depression--extended, proglonged, severe, or just plain unwarrenated feelings of sadness, sleep disturbances (sleeping too much or waking in the middle of the night, even insomnia), loss of interest in activities you used to find pleasurable, lack of interest in sex, weight gain or loss, the list goes on. The extreme highs, called mania or hypomania depending on severity, might show as pressured speech (a pressing urge to talk), rapid speech, flight of thoughts, feelings of expansiveness, rapid thoughts, and unfortunately, sometimes like depression which can turn suicidal, these thoughts can ratchet out of control and end in psychosis--people hear voices, believe they are an historical figure, do not sleep for days at a time. This condition, if allowed to continue to spiral can require hospitalizaton as it can be quite dangerous.
Sometimes people have what is called mixed states, which means that symptoms of BOTH mania or hypomania AND depression are there at the same time. Sometimes people change very quickly between mania and depressed states. This is called rapid cycling. And sometimes, mania and hypomania are not experienced as the euphoric, feel-good high like we hear about, but rather as a state of irritibility and agitation which is called a dysphoric mania or hypomania. Now, given all that, we can have someone who is rapid cycling with mixed states who experiences dysphoric hypomania for years before getting a proper diagnosis and treatment. So we get farther and farther away from the "extreme highs coupled with extreme lows," in the typical description, at least to the outward appearances of the untrained eye. And even then, as mentioned earlier, it can take several years for this pattern to be recognized by the trained eye.
I've heard the average length of time to diagnosis of BP is from 7-15 years, depending upon whose esitmate you are using. In fact, treatment and diagnosis of mental illness is often a process, so it can differ from some of the stories on this web site of people who have suffered a traumatic accident, for example, and lost use of a bodily system all at once. But it is also similar, in a way, because we can remember a time when we were not plagued by the terrible feeling that WE were not in control of our lives. Biploar Disorder tends to be reported in men in young adulthood--late teens and early 20's, whereas onset for women lags behind to tend toward the mid to late 20's. But, diagnoses are made in fairly young children today as well as those over thirty. People over 60 are virtually never diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder.
Treatment of Bipolar Disorder generally includes medicine and some talk therapy, at least at first. There are varying degrees of illness within the disorder. Not all people with Bipolar DIsorder ar disabled by it, but it can be a very formidable adversary.
OH. I think it would be nice to have a mental illness community. I saw an ad for this site claiming it's the best new thing for disabled people, then lo and behold, no room at the inn...I'm disabled, too...
Hello Denise!
I, like you, have been dealing with Bipolar Disorder. Many people do not realize how debilatating this mental illness can be. I tend to lean more to the depressive side and have long periods between manic episodes. When I do have a manic episode, I am told that I act like I'm bouncing off the wall, since I don't remember anything I've done until I "wake up" in a normal state.
I was first diagnosed when I was a teenager and meds were not as effective as they are today. About 8 years ago, my family was going through some hard times. I thought that we could save money if I quit taking my meds which were quite expensive at the time. Needless to say I quickly sunk into what I like to call the "BLACK HOLE". I was refusing treatment and it took a court order to hospitalize me. My husband had never seen me in such a state and was very frightened. With meds and therapy,I recovered and have been doing well ever since.
When Social Security asks for my disabilities, bipolar disorder is listed as a secondary disability. I am not ashamed that I have a mental illness. I don't understand why people with mental illness are treated so much different that someone ,say ,with any other physical disability. Isn't the brain part of the human body? Even insurance companies pay out differently for mental health treatment (50% for mental health & 80% for all other treatment)
I think the stigma that go along with mental illness needs to be changed. So many important and gifted people have bipolar disorder. Just like a diabetic,with proper treatment a person with mental illness can lead a happy and productive life.
samsara1:OH. I think it would be nice to have a mental illness community. I saw an ad for this site claiming it's the best new thing for disabled people, then lo and behold, no room at the inn...I'm disabled, too...
I am confused by this statement. Aren't you in the mental health forum right now? What do you mean by mental illness community? As far as I can tell, Disaboom just has one community, the disaboom community that is open to all.
Hi. I'm bipolar too. I have no physical disability but there are times when I've been knocked right on my bum by this illness and have been no more able to function than a person unable to move. In my twenties I was hospitalized and when I started to emerge from a very bleak depression indeed, the nurse told me I'd been catatonic for a time; completely unable to respond to anything. There is no doubt in my mind that I was incapacitated and disabled in a very real sense during that time, and in the unstable times prior to and following that episode.
Nowadays I'm lucky enough to have a fairly stable time of it with medication that works well for me but I know this is not always the case for bipolar sufferers. My mother is a case in point. Nothing has ever really worked for her and she's had the lot. Given ECT at 16 didn't help matters but lithium, carbamazepine, all the MAOIs, every modern drug she's tried has never been able to keep her on an even keel for long. She's a rapid cycler and, like me, tends towards mixed states and depression although Iwe've both experience euphoric highs at different stages.
Anyway, pleased to make your 'quaintance, marm! How is life for you at the moment?
I'm a 3rd generation Bipolar victim. At another time I'll tell my "Crazy Stories" my life has been full of them. It a damn shame that I can't remember all of the important detail. I could write a book and be rich. My memory is affected by the bipolar.
I would be glad to talk to any of you.
My thought of the day is; if you have not had or have lived with someone with bipolar You can't possibly understand the complexity the disease causes. Even the people with bipolar who can pass off as "normal' struggle every minute of the day..
hi my name is shawn, i was wanting to know how can i get help with no money.i have never been diignosed with bi bolar just a few test on my com.but the syptoms decribe me to a tee.and im losing everything and i really need help.
Hi Drsha9,
Do you have any insurance coverage? If so, you may be able to find treatment that way but if not community mental health centers often offer treatment on a sliding scale. If you have NO income, you'd be treated at their lowest fees.....I know even that may be difficult but some people look at it with the idea that if they can begin functioning better/again, they'll actually be able to pursue working again or living a happier life. I hope you find help that works for you. Good luck!
hello shawn! if you are in need of medical care and can not work right now i suggest you go to your nearest social service office and apply for insurance coverage, you may qualify for temporary medical insurance.
i understand what you are saying, i also suffer with mental illness and it very well can be disabling for many people, not exactly the same as a phycial disability, but it is great to be able to chat and make new friends that can relate to your life situation.
Shawn,
I'm glad that you found this site. I'm glad that I did, too. I just joined today.
Your message hit me hard. My older son's name was Shawn, and he was bi-polar, also. So am I. In fact, pretty much my whole family is.
How old are you? If that question offends you, please disregard it, okay?
Your county should have a mental health facility where you can get help. If you are having halucinations (auditory - voices, even if they seem to come from another room; visual - seeing things move or that just aren't there), having thoughts that you know are not accurate but can't stop thinking about them (like believing that people are sending radio waves to you, or you know that you are doing something this not right, but you can't stop) and you can not get seen quickly, I think that you might want to go to the hospital and see if they can help you. Sometimes, you get admitted to the hospital. It's not very scary, unless you've never done it before. Basically, what they are doing is getting you into an environment without the outside world to see how you react and to see if you need meds. It is very safe for you, and you can usually feel all that tension that has been inside you unwind, because you are protected in there. Usually, you are not there more than 3 days, and most places will release you with follow up appointment with a psychologist. When you get admitted, if you do, they will do the paperwork needed to get you medical help.
Don't be afraid to the tell the Doctors, Psychologist or whoever you see, what you are actually thinking and what has been happening that brought you to them. They have dealt with what you are going through before, nothing that you tell them will make them think badly of you.
Terri
Http://www.tlsprague.com
Shawn's Mom
Http://northwest-wanderer.spaces.live.com
1Thank you for starting this post. I have Bipolar Disorder II and it manifests itself in mood shifts or swings between depression and irritability. However, I have recently started a medication called Lamotrigene (aka: Lamictal). Once I got up to 100 mgs. a day ( it takes a while to titrate up to a therapeutic dose, you have to start with 25 mgs) my mood shifts or swings completely disappeared. I do take the lamotrigene with paxil 20mgs. a day since I also have depression. This combination really works for me. Lamotrigene is not an anti-psychotic but an anti-seizure medication. The anti-psychotics can cause weight gain, diabetes, and heart problems which the anti-seizure meds don’t tend to cause. I recommend that folks with BP ask their physicians about trying an anti-seizure med before an anti-psychotic. 200 mgs. of Lamotrigene might work better for folks with BPD 1 but the 100 mgs. is fine for me.
Also, I have heard that BPD affects 5 to 7 percent of the population.
Anyone else taking anti-seizure meds for this condition?
Also, my physician got me on the patient assistance program from Glaxo Smith Kline, which manufactures lamotrigene. You can get on this with if you have no income from employment and have a doctor serve as your advocate (he or she can enroll you over the phone from his/her office) Once you get on this, the med is only $10 for 60 pills and you can get refills at your doctor’s office. The usual price for this med is up to $200 a month in America (in Canada, it’s available as a generic, go figure).
I hope this info helps folks.
Judy
hello Nonnibee, my name is robyn and I am new to this site with in the past week. I am a RBK amputee and my 26 year ols was diagnosed with Bipolar last April '07. One of his best friends gave me the insight to the fact that my son was Bipolar because his sister is. I had suspected it and talking with his friend and his friends sister I was sure. I urged,cried and begged my son to get treatment and he flatly refused. In april '07 there was an awful incident with him in my home and he terrified me and was out of control. Within days I had him hospitalized and had to do it by Court Order, it was the hardest thing I've eveer done...he was SO angry with me, but after a few days realized I did what I had to do to SAVE him from himself...he was able to sign himself out after 9 days, sooner than I felt he should be released but he signed a form that stated he was going to be court ordered for 90 days to continue his therapy and meds or be put back in the facility for 90 days. Well, once his hospital supplied meds ran out he stopped everything and that was w/in a month. I, again urged him to continue but he refused, it was starting all over again. I called his caseworker and was going to have his courrt order lifted, as I could becuase I was the originator of it. I let him know this and let him know how much I dearly loved him and WAS NOT going to sit back and watch him do this to himself. I gave him an ultimatum....start back on the meds and therapy or goodbye for 90 days plus. I let him decide ....within 2 days he walked in with meds and appts. with his therapist. He is doing fine today, sure he hads his mpoments but its soooo nice to see my son feeling better about himself. Good luck to all of you and God Bless. xoxoxo -robyn
it's Robyn back with more....my son was first started on RISPERDONE and put back on it after he had stopped but was then added CELEXA to it...The RISPERDONE did not seem to work for him, nor did he feel so. He was just recently changed to ABILIFY..has anyone been on that med and if so how does it make YOU feel. I have told my son (jeff) about this site and about postings concerning BIPOLAR and he just said "NO THANKS"...he is treating himself for the disorder but seems yet want to ignore learning more about it and hearing what others deal with and go thru...I DON"T push it on hom whatsoever,just trying to offer more support to him. I AM very proud of him right now. He has decided to continue his education and learn a Trade. He is currently attending our Community College ( Grand Rapids Community College) here in MI. and is learning WELDING. He is SO proud of himself and I am of HIM. He's going to be o.k.....he HAS thanked me for helping him and I told him...how could I not,sweetheart!!!!
Response by Tom Weiss deleted due to Disaboom Censorship. I would rather censor myself.
