Ups and Downs

[rushingwind62]

Many of you may already know what I am about to share. But there are some new people here that may not understand bp and how the medication works. Those are the ones I hope will read this thread.

We all have ups and downs, even healthy people. As bp's our ups and downs are much more exaggerated and severe. The meds we take help us to level out those wild rollercoaster rides. That doesn't mean we don't mean still have ups and downs. We are human and human feel. So SOMETIMES when you are feeling up or down there could be a legimate reason.

The meds we take for our disorder are not meant to take away the ups and downs, they are merely meant to knock off the edge of there severity. Along with medication it is vital that we learn new ways to deal with our mood swings. It has taken me over 3 years to get where I am at now. I still have ups and downs and sometimes I can't control them. I just have to accept what life deals. It isn't always easy, but life is better realizing I can't control everything in life. The serenity prayer has gotten me through a lot.

So just remember, sometimes your feelings are justified and medication is not going to numb your emotions or your feelings. You aren't necessarily crashing if you get depressed over something bad and you aren't necessarily manic if you are high on something that happened in your life. It is merely life sometimes.Maybe the meds are working and you are just experiencing life...live it and enjoy it.

God Bless EVERYONE!
Rush

 

[PrairieGurl]

Hey Rush,

Wow!!! That is encourageing words! I know as a person with bp, I often wished the ups and downs (even the everyday ones) would just completely disappear (especially the downs)
I have come to realize this is not so. Yes, the meds do level me out. Then I get to enjoy life (with the ups and downs) with a "clear" mind !

Thanks for sharing with us "newbies"

Wendy

 

[PrairieGurl]

PS

Aren't the 40's GREAT !

 

[berry2000]

Yes. I struggle with knowing what is a bp up and down and what is a normal up and down. I think my ups and downs maybe just be what i have to learn to live with as normal. But I can't really tell. The ups seem okay, althought they are "Weird" because I am not used to feeling that way. The downs I have to be careful for because they can become clinical depression. But I think you are right and thank you for saying so it is the first time I have ever heard anyone w/ BP say the swings could be normal. It gives me some sense of peace about them.

 

[rushingwind62]

Yes. I struggle with knowing what is a bp up and down and what is a normal up and down. I think my ups and downs maybe just be what i have to learn to live with as normal. But I can't really tell. The ups seem okay, althought they are "Weird" because I am not used to feeling that way. The downs I have to be careful for because they can become clinical depression. But I think you are right and thank you for saying so it is the first time I have ever heard anyone w/ BP say the swings could be normal. It gives me some sense of peace about them.

I don't know how long you have been diagnoised. My advice is to stay in therapy and be open and honest with your counselor about everything. Listen to what they have to say, most of them understand this illness and all that goes with it. Hang in there, you will begin to seperate what is life and what is bp. And yes, you do have to watch the downs because they do become clinical. A way to fight that is when you are feeling depressed, push yourself to get out. Get some fresh air and some sunshine in your face, even if you don't feel like it. Do something to get your mind off the problem. Clean house, go for a walk, just do something to change the situation..... .....God Bless YOU...Rush

 

[Alive again]

Many of you may already know what I am about to share. But there are some new people here that may not understand bp and how the medication works. Those are the ones I hope will read this thread.

We all have ups and downs, even healthy people. As bp's our ups and downs are much more exaggerated and severe. The meds we take help us to level out those wild rollercoaster rides. That doesn't mean we don't mean still have ups and downs. We are human and human feel. So SOMETIMES when you are feeling up or down there could be a legimate reason.

The meds we take for our disorder are not meant to take away the ups and downs, they are merely meant to knock off the edge of there severity. Along with medication it is vital that we learn new ways to deal with our mood swings. It has taken me over 3 years to get where I am at now. I still have ups and downs and sometimes I can't control them. I just have to accept what life deals. It isn't always easy, but life is better realizing I can't control everything in life. The serenity prayer has gotten me through a lot.

So just remember, sometimes your feelings are justified and medication is not going to numb your emotions or your feelings. You aren't necessarily crashing if you get depressed over something bad and you aren't necessarily manic if you are high on something that happened in your life. It is merely life sometimes.Maybe the meds are working and you are just experiencing life...live it and enjoy it.

God Bless EVERYONE!
Rush

AMEN!!!! Thanks for the reminder, I do remewmber learning this lesson. It is a hard one as many of us have never really know what normal emotion feels like and it cam be a shock to say this could ber normal, no this is normal and I now know how to cope with it.

 

[rushingwind62]

Hey Rush,

Wow!!! That is encourageing words! I know as a person with bp, I often wished the ups and downs (even the everyday ones) would just completely disappear (especially the downs)
I have come to realize this is not so. Yes, the meds do level me out. Then I get to enjoy life (with the ups and downs) with a "clear" mind !

Thanks for sharing with us "newbies"

Wendy

amen sister!! ....and as for the forties...it has it's plus's and minus's...lol....wish I had the wisdom of the forties and youth of a teen....rofl

 

[rushingwind62]

AMEN!!!! Thanks for the reminder, I do remewmber learning this lesson. It is a hard one as many of us have never really know what normal emotion feels like and it cam be a shock to say this could ber normal, no this is normal and I now know how to cope with it.

yw...I know for me, I sometimes want to blame the bp when it is just life....no one ever said life was easy did they .

 

[Mitsy]

Can a person with bipolar ever function normally without meds or will we be on them for life?

 

[rushingwind62]

Can a person with bipolar ever function normally without meds or will we be on them for life?

No, not really. bipolar disorder is a chemical imbalance of the brain. So to not be on meds means that imbalance is never corrected. If it goes untreated it can and does lead to pyschosis. I know firsthand because this is what happen to me.

I when undiagnoised until my 40's and when I final got help I was in a psychotic state. I lost a period of my life that I will probably never get back. During that time I was doing things uncharaistic of me. So one is capable of doing anything when they reach this state.

 

[rushingwind62]

bump

 

[PrairieGurl]

bump

Morning Rush,

Is there a specific mean by "bump" ????

 

[berry2000]

I'm pretty sure that mean he just wanted the topic to stay at the top so people would keep reading it. It's called a bump cuz you bump it up towards the top.

 

[PrairieGurl]

I'm pretty sure that mean he just wanted the topic to stay at the top so people would keep reading it. It's called a bump cuz you bump it up towards the top.

Thanks Berry...this CF experience is a never ending of learning new "things"

 

[It's Mee]

Can a person be only slightly bp and does not really need meds.

 

[rushingwind62]

Can a person be only slightly bp and does not really need meds.

Well there are many disorders a person can have that mimic bp. Such as clinical depression or anxiety panic attacks. Which they some times medicate for a short period of time. And there are different levels to bp. Some are more severe than others. So I would have to say that is possible. But realize bp is a chemical imbalance in the brain. So more than likely even if a person is not severe it is still a chemical imbalance, regardless of how severe or slight the disorder is. So though I say your senerio is possible I would still think it would have to be medicated. I am not a professional but that would be my opinion and advice. You may want to check with a therapist or psychatrist for a more accurate opinion.....God Bless You...Rush

 

[walshclan]

Interesting you ask that Meemaylam, I know someone who was diagnosed with bp who never had a mania or a hypomania. They had periods of normalcy (they called it) and periods of depression and their pdoc diagnosed it as bipolar. They were treated with similar drugs as I was and they were fine.

And there is some on here that are able to control their bp without meds. I don't know if that makes it less severe. I know that I need meds. Most I know need meds, in fact without meds they have very adverse reactions.

Connie

 

[It's Mee]

Thank you very much ,Rush and & Connie
It's clear for me now.