It's official!

[Habakkuk3]

just diagnosed Bipolar

(Bipolar I)

Trying to rejoice anyway. I believe God has a plan. But it's so easy to start thinking "why me?" or "what things will I never be able to do because of this?"

I want to do full time ministry. Will I be stable and reliable enough? Time will tell. I already failed once in this regard.

I keep being told, "there's plenty of high functioning people with bipolar disorder... brilliant people.... lots of entertainers." as if that's what I need to hear. But the statement sounds like "Many people with bp are not high functioning so we have to mention the success stories to try to make you feel better."

I guess I'm still a little troubled at this new turn in my life.

But enough woe is me. Time for some praise God.

God has a plan.

 

[madison1101]

Jeremiah 29:11 says, "For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "Plans to prosper you, not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future."

 

[Hisonshine7]

Hi,
This is my first time posting here. I just wanted to say I was DX in '01 and am stable still and grateful to have found this site.

My sister had BP too, but wouldn't take her meds. I always do.

I came here to see how others deal with this. I know we all need support, this is not easy to deal with.

Blessings to you and I'll be praying for all of us!

 

[yanno the meek]

just diagnosed Bipolar

(Bipolar I)

Trying to rejoice anyway. I believe God has a plan. But it's so easy to start thinking "why me?" or "what things will I never be able to do because of this?"

I want to do full time ministry. Will I be stable and reliable enough? Time will tell. I already failed once in this regard.

I keep being told, "there's plenty of high functioning people with bipolar disorder... brilliant people.... lots of entertainers." as if that's what I need to hear. But the statement sounds like "Many people with bp are not high functioning so we have to mention the success stories to try to make you feel better."

I guess I'm still a little troubled at this new turn in my life.

But enough woe is me. Time for some praise God.

God has a plan.

I've facilitated a peer bipolar support group (that means I'm bipolar as well) for 3 years. Here are some tips to keeping the illness in check:

1) Take your meds religiously (no pun intended). The meds may not work, you will get new meds, take them. If they do not work get new meds. Keep going until you get it right. It usually takes about 4 years. The measure of a good psychiatrist isn't whether he is personable or knowledgeable or has lots of awards. The measure of a good psychiatrist is whether you are getting better. If not, punt him.

2) Keep stress at an absolute minimum. Stress is what causes us to cycle. For me that means staying away from my extended family at all costs, even though I love them. Also, people will push our buttons and bully us and make us to cycle, many times without bad intentions. Keep them at arms length.

3) Adjust your diet. No caffeine when you think you may have a stressful day. That means none, nada, zilch. Sugar often causes people to cycle, but not always. For me, large amounts of sugar causes me to cycle the day after I eat it, I have no idea why. I'm not a medical professional and this is totally unproven but I've spent more time with bipolar people than most professionals will in a lifetime: Most bipolars have extreme sensitivities to certain food or pharmaceutical items. Be mindful of them.

4) Exercise. Exercise provides stability and works wonderfully in conjunction with meds. Sunshine does as well.

 

[Hisonshine7]

Meek one,
Thank you so much. Sugar and caffine I live on. I will try so hard to follow your post.

 

[rossignol]

just diagnosed Bipolar

(Bipolar I)

Trying to rejoice anyway. I believe God has a plan. But it's so easy to start thinking "why me?" or "what things will I never be able to do because of this?"

I want to do full time ministry. Will I be stable and reliable enough? Time will tell. I already failed once in this regard.

I keep being told, "there's plenty of high functioning people with bipolar disorder... brilliant people.... lots of entertainers." as if that's what I need to hear. But the statement sounds like "Many people with bp are not high functioning so we have to mention the success stories to try to make you feel better."

I guess I'm still a little troubled at this new turn in my life.

But enough woe is me. Time for some praise God.

God has a plan.

Being reliable when you haven't felt able to is a difficulty so many of us face. Sometimes being reliable is knowing how to rely on other people when we aren't able to. A failure in this area can make you question it for your life time and that can be a good and bad thing. It can prevent you from doing things your capable of and also help you realize your limitations.

Being bipolar doesn't mean we can't do many things. Knowing your weakness and making yourself stronger by putting in place people and ways of living life make you able to achieve your goals.

I have recently gone back to work full time. I am going through a situation where every one at work needs to take a little more on because of short staff. I don't feel like it's fair if I don't work the same extra hours as every one else but also know myself and know if I do it will lead me down a in-capacitative path. They just need to understand that I do what I can and the result of me doing more will lead to me not doing anything.