A bridge over a beautiful waterfall
Nature brings magic
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
B is for Bipolar
Not all of my posts are going to be this serious. In fact, most of them won't be. But I felt, on the tail of the abuse post, I wanted to talk to you about a diagnosis that will follow me for the rest of my life: bipolar disorder.
It's not as frightening as it may sound. Bipolar disorder is a chemical imbalance that creates misfires in the brain. It can lead to a shift from hypomania to depression. This is not the depression that can be controlled with positive thinking, it's not the type that goes away after a day or two. Neither of these are. Both the mania and the depression can last for hours or they can last for days, depending on how fast the cycle is.
My cycle isn't rapid but it does change faster than you'd think looking at me. You also wouldn't realize I was bipolar looking at me, unless you knew my diagnosis. This is because I'm on medicines that help me control it.
Now, medicine isn't the only way to control it. Exercise, diet, herbal supplements, things like that can help too. For me, medicine was the best route because I couldn't find another way to control it. I have a friend who is unmedicated that cycles faster than I do that controls hers by exercise and other activities.
Here is an excellent article that gives you some subtle signs of bipolar disorder. There are a number of mental illnesses that can range from mild to complete and total mental shutdown. Not all of them can be treated like mine can.
If you see someone who has bipolar disorder - or any mental illness - don't shut them out. Don't push them away. Don't ignore them. Offer your love and support and friendship. You never know when they'll need that one person they know they can trust to talk them out of something that will destroy their own lives, and possibly the lives of others such as cutting, self mutilation, suicide, homicide. All of these are possible for those who are bipolar, as they are for other mental illnesses.
Support, don't shut them out. Educate, don't assume. Love, don't hate.
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That must be a real challenge sometime, but it's wonderful that it can be treated. My friend's mom is bipolar and she does such a good job dealing with it and taking care of herself. I think it's great that you highlighted it for A to Z as there are many people who don't understand.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment. My mother spent too many years untreated and unwilling to admit she had a problem. I've spent my fair share of years thinking the same thing. So many people think it's something that you can just get over. I hope that this helps even one person understand.
DeleteMental illness is difficult enough without the stigma aspect. People have to stop talking about it like it's something bad instead of just something that has to be dealt with, like diabetes.
ReplyDeleteExactly. It's not something to be ashamed of. It's something that needs treatment of some kind, just like any other disease.
DeleteI don't agree with stigmatising mental illness, but I've seen some people really suffer when they tried to support loved ones. This is not a reason not to do it, just an observation that it's not easy, and sometimes down right impossible. My ex-husband had dissociative identity disorder (multiple personalities) which is far worse than bipolar and has no real treatment - the only one being therpay which may not help. My ex cheated on me and did god knows what with who knows who. My condition of the marriage was that he had to go to therapy, and he refused. That might seem like an ultimatum, but it wasn't - I couldn't function in my life, and look after myself emotionally and physically, if things just went on as they were. I had already done myself a grave disservice for ten years by letting some things slide that I shouldn't. I also have friends in the process of divorce with husbands with narcissism and bipolar. Both also persisted in their relationships at their own expense, and in the end achieved nothing except their own pain. As I said, not a reason not to try - but sometimes there are no happy endings. It sounds like you are doing a better job of managing your disorder than any of the men involved in the relationships I've mentioned though!
ReplyDeleteYou do bring up a good point. Sometimes the support becomes a crutch for the one who's mentally ill. People have to be willing to seek help. If they're not, then there has to be a point where you say "enough". You can't support someone at the expense of yourself.
DeleteVery good point. Another post that can't be easy to be open about, but you wrote about it very well. :)
ReplyDelete- Murphy
Thank you. Not all my posts are going to be serious. But I've had a lot on my mind.
DeleteI have a beloved family member who has BPD. The combo of finding the right meds and being a support system have been key in our family.
ReplyDeleteYou know how hard it is to find the right combination of meds. Once it's found it's like you're dealing with a whole new person. I'm glad that you're offering support and that they sound like they're doing well.
DeleteI have a Facebook friend with a rapid cycle. It doesn't take as much patience as he thinks, just forgiveness and love and compassion, and since that's what I write about I certainly should walk the walk. It is a brave person who can speak about these topics in a time where people seem to be confused about the fact that bullying and abuse is wrong. I admire your honesty.
ReplyDeleteLife isn't easy, but it doesn't need to be made harder by misunderstanding and hatred. Bullies and abusers need to learn that what they're doing is wrong. Those with mental illness don't need to be bullied. More compassion is definitely needed.
DeleteI am in love with your blog background, by the way. It is beautiful. I feel at peace when I come here.
ReplyDeleteI love the picture too. I found it on a free stock photo site and realized that with my blog being Writing in the Woods that mossy trees would be perfect.
DeleteI've known several people over the years with bipolar. All of them were seriously affected by their illness. But all were also incredibly intelligent and creative, and also very compassionate and feeling people. It's a chronic disease that they had to manage each day, just as I have to manage my diabetes.
ReplyDeleteStopping by from the A-Z and a new follower.
Hi Cathy. Thanks for coming.
Deleteloved the post :) I love shopping, but there are mood swings I even avoid doing that in. Shaman has been joking again about finding my "wheel"- sighs, if only my bipolar was a wheel that I could stop its spinning some days
ReplyDeleteThat's a good analogy, Joelle. A wheel. I look at it as a roulette wheel. You know there's a number coming up but you don't know what it's going to be. That's about how to describe mood swings.
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