How are you doing? Tips and Scripture and sharing.

[RuthD]

Hi. Happy Sunday to all. I have Bipolar and thought I'd start this thread for us who have it and for anyone who might benefit. What helps you with the Bipolar? I need help with it too. Anyone who wants to contribute ideas,scripture, music, poems or anything helpful for us would be so much appreciated. This is also a place to write how you are feeling and get support.

I am pretty even right now, praise the Lord.

Here is a picture with scripture on it.

 

[RuthD]

 

[RuthD]

On this page there are many people with Bipolar talking about Bipolar:

People talking about thier Bipolar

 

[RuthD]

I found this page very helpful:

WebMD Bipolar Health Center

There is all kinds of information on all types of Bipolar and help, too!

 

[madison1101]

My therapist has been encouraging me to practice Mindfulness Meditation for a while now. I downloaded an App on my iPhone, and have done some, but not with regular consistency.

Yesterday, he mentioned more of the benefits from practicing it daily, making it a life habit. So, I did some research, and learned how Mindfulness Meditation works on the mind. I also learned that it has more than just psychological benefits, including depression. It helps with chronic pain, and other physical illnesses.

My therapist has encouraged this as a key form of self-soothing. He also encourages me to practice regular deep breathing exercises. In addition, I journal, pray, read the Word, and talk to supportive women on a regular basis.

The App was free, I think. It gives options of 5, 10, 15, 20, 30 and 40 minute meditations. I recommend it for anyone with Bipolar Disorder.

 

[RuthD]

Thank you Madison. I have written this down and am going to do a search on it. I'm always looking for different kinds of meditations. I'm glad you found this! I look forward to doing my search on it. I really can use this for many reasons.

 

[RuthD]

 

[BlondieLashes]

Dear Sweet Ruth - I had no idea you struggle with Bipolar as well. I do too. I have type 2. Thanks for starting this thread...beautiful idea...

 

[RuthD]

Dear Sweet Ruth - I had no idea you struggle with Bipolar as well. I do too. I have type 2. Thanks for starting this thread...beautiful idea...

Yes, I have type 2, too. You are most welcome for starting this thread, my pleasure! I am now experiencing some irritability with my life in general. I am thinking of moving and it may be a good idea to start fresh again. I just want to find a nice place. My place is a bit run down and I want better than this. I did not get enough sleep last night. Hopefully I will sleep better tonight.

 

[RuthD]

 

[drjean]

Lovely posts here.

For me I make sure to practice mindfulness that is Christian meditation and not the Eastern (Buddhist) Mindfulness. I need to draw closer to God, not wander off.

True mindfulness is not totally clearing one's mind of all thoughts: it's focussing on only what one is doing right "now". Right now I am posting in a thread for mindfulness. I'm sitting, and typing, and ignoring (working at it at least) my pain, and trying to say good words of support and encouragement in Christian love.

 

[RuthD]

Lovely posts here.

For me I make sure to practice mindfulness that is Christian meditation and not the Eastern (Buddhist) Mindfulness. I need to draw closer to God, not wander off.

True mindfulness is not totally clearing one's mind of all thoughts: it's focussing on only what one is doing right "now". Right now I am posting in a thread for mindfulness. I'm sitting, and typing, and ignoring (working at it at least) my pain, and trying to say good words of support and encouragement in Christian love.

Thank you for posting here Jean. Thank you too for the great idea of focusing mindfulness. I really need to do that. I am getting kind of stressed and need to do the focusing on one thing at a time. I'm having family over for Memorial Day. It should be fun. All I need to do is clean a bit around here now. I went shopping and got all the food. Now I need to go to the store to get fresh flowers. I get them for myself when the old ones are dead.

My Bipolar is so-so right now. I hate to say this but I enjoy when I get large bursts of energy like I had today. It is depleated now after shopping in the 95 degree heat. I love my AC!!

 

[madison1101]

I'm struggling tonight. My med change from Cymbalta to Celexa has me mildly depressed. I was so much more stable on the Cymbalta.

My Mom was here this evening, and she and I have always had a tough relationship. She also has Bipolar Disorder, and has been sick my entire life. Now, I have it too.

I also think she has undiagnosed Borderline Personality Disorder. I say that because I also have it, and have been in therapy for that and my Bipolar Disorder for over 22 years, and have done extensive research on it. She has extremely twisted thinking.

Well, tonight, she told me something I suspected for a long time. She thinks I am like her mother, who was a twisted rageaholic. After we had a long, emotional discussion about some stuff, as she was leaving, she said, "Good night, Mom." I told her she is the mother, I am her daughter. Don't call me that. She told me she doesn't care, and called me that anyway. So, as she went through the door I said, "Then, we aren't speaking."

She has never respected me, and I am sick and tired of the disrespect. I don't think that blatant disrespect for people is a symptom of Bipolar Disorder, but I could be wrong.

I'm also tired of her entitlement attitude, that she is 85 years old, and can say whatever she wants to people.

I have been able to restore my relationships with all three of my adult children, and no longer treat them rudely. I respect them, and because I took responsibility for being a bad mother when they were growing up, they respect me.

Mom has the attitude that she should be respected because she is the Mother. Period. I try to honor her, as it is commanded in Scripture, but I can't respect someone that has no regard or respect for her children's feelings.

Does anyone else experience this with their parents? My sister, who is not Bipolar, or Borderline, just tells me to keep the peace with Mom, and not try to talk with her. My problem is, I try to talk to her as if she is not sick, forgetting how twisted her thinking is, and then get caught up in her twisted web.

 

[RuthD]

Hi Madison,
Sometimes antidepressants take up to 2 months to be beneficial. I hope you will talk to your doctor about the way it's making you feel.

My parents are gone now. Yes, I have experienced what you are going through with your mom. I understand the frustration this can produce in us. I am praying for you and your family. God bless you.

 

[RuthD]

 

[madison1101]

I've been able to identify the crux of the conflict between my Mom and me. She has never validated my feelings, or me. The few times I have attempted to talk about my feelings, she compares my mental health issues with my brother's or hers, and tells me I was not as sick as them. When I try to talk about my abandonment feelings, which began in my childhood, she tells me my childhood was not as bad as hers. It's like a competition with her, who had it worse?

Also, she refuses to take responsibility for how her mental illness impacted my childhood. She uses her depressions as an excuse for not being there when she was needed. My children grew up in chaos, because of my behavior with my mental illness. I took responsibility, and apologized to them for allowing my symptoms to cause their childhoods to be painful. My son told me that we would not have a relationship if I had not done that. He also told me that my daughter would not let me near my grandchildren if I had not done that. I told my Mom that, and she could not believe they said that.

I know that Mom had no control over her depression. However, I also know that she resisted going to the psych hospital because she felt guilty leaving us kids. While she is not responsible for her mental illness, she could at least acknowledge how it impacted her children and acknowledge we were hurt.

 

[strelok0017]

. sorry wrong thread

 

[RuthD]

Madison,
I agree that it would be really good if your mom apologized and was accountable. That is great that you apologized to your children. Do you live with your mom? I had to have less contact with my mom because of her behavior. She is gone now and sometimes I have regretted not spending enough time with her but she was a lot like your mom. She did apologize to me in a general way not admitting exactly what she did. She did tell me some regrets she had, too. But she was not easy to get along with besides that.

 

[RuthD]

. sorry wrong thread

 

[WWJD552]

I have bi polar disorder. I am having trouble with making my best friend Joe; understand my situation. I seem to find myself so angry with him over stupid things but he always forgives. Problem lies when I try and talk About my problems with him. how do you make a person, especially a person that you care so much about, understand?