The mental health thread -previously The Highs and the Lows

[brightasyellow]

I thought this could be a thread for those of us who deal with any mental health issues... Any takers?

[ashleye]

It seems so vanilla at this point, but how about depression or SAD? It might be common, but that certainly doesn't make it any less difficult to get through.

[elizabethlsiegel]

Yes. I will let you guys know the next time I have a meltdown.

[brightasyellow]

Full disclosure - I have bipolar disorder. That may scare you off, but whatever. I'm trying to fight the stigma! I had to check into the hospital this summer after dealing with instability for two years. I had to move from LA to DC to live with my mom. And I'm now in recovery, just trying to be patient and let myself heal. I find that communicating with anyone who's dealt with mood disorders is very helpful.

So, you guys frightened yet?

[vandentron]

Yes. I will let you guys know the next time I have a meltdown.

Ditto!
http://guidesmedia.ign.com/guides/9846/images/ditto.gif

I have depression and I am Obsessive Compulsive. >_<;

[brightasyellow]

Despite everything, I still think there's such a stigma attached to mental illness so I guess I'm hoping that this thread will allow people to express themselves in a judgment free zone. We can support each other! Yay!

[FrannyGlass]

Full disclosure - I have bipolar disorder. That may scare you off, but whatever. I'm trying to fight the stigma! I had to check into the hospital this summer after dealing with instability for two years. I had to move from LA to DC to live with my mom. And I'm now in recovery, just trying to be patient and let myself heal. I find that communicating with anyone who's dealt with mood disorders is very helpful.

So, you guys frightened yet?

I also have bipolar disorder (with psychotic features.) My twin sister also has it and she just got out of the hospital this summer as well after 45days.

It has been a very difficult life and there is a lot of stigma out there, but i feel i have grown so much from my mental disorder because i have learned to be able to accept others who are different without being judgmental. I posted this as a status on my facebook yesterday.

" I figured something out less than four hours ago. Every feeling, every situation, everything that happens in your life (be it negative or positive) is happening so that you can learn and grow as a person...or that someone else you know can learn and grow as a person. (side note: i haven't slept properly since getting back from France (in other words i may be starting to go manic) so i might recant all of what i am saying after proper rest and reevaluation)."

That night i slept nine hours so i don't think i am going manic, i think i am just growing.

And to think this Feb i attempted suicide...i am so glad it was a failed attempt.

[brightasyellow]

Franny - I'm so glad to know I'm not alone. While I've been diagnosed with Bipolar Type 2, my hypomanias come very close to full-blown mania, but without the psychosis. I was in the hospital for the first time this summer for two weeks, followed by four weeks in an 8 hour a day partial program and am now living with my mom, unemployed, and just trying to get better. It's hard because it's an "invisible" illness so other people are like "why don't you have a job?" I tried to make it through the last two years, but I hit a wall this summer where the suicidal ideation was constant. I'm also doing a workbook to help me recognize the early warning signs of both mania and depression. For me, it's easy to recognize the depression because I've had more episodes of that than of mania, but I have a really hard time recognizing the beginnings of the mania. It's been 2.5 months since I've been out of the hospital and I'm getting impatient. I'm also so aware of every single mood change and am questioning them.

I'm so sorry that you've had to deal with this (as well as your twin), but I agree that living with this has helped to make me more tolerant of others as well as gaining more insight into who I am as a person. Although I gotta admit that I'd rather not have it.

I'm glad that your suicide attempt was unsuccessful. You seem to be a great person.

[FrannyGlass]

Franny - I'm so glad to know I'm not alone. While I've been diagnosed with Bipolar Type 2, my hypomanias come very close to full-blown mania, but without the psychosis. I was in the hospital for the first time this summer for two weeks, followed by four weeks in an 8 hour a day partial program and am now living with my mom, unemployed, and just trying to get better. It's hard because it's an "invisible" illness so other people are like "why don't you have a job?" I tried to make it through the last two years, but I hit a wall this summer where the suicidal ideation was constant. I'm also doing a workbook to help me recognize the early warning signs of both mania and depression. For me, it's easy to recognize the depression because I've had more episodes of that than of mania, but I have a really hard time recognizing the beginnings of the mania. It's been 2.5 months since I've been out of the hospital and I'm getting impatient. I'm also so aware of every single mood change and am questioning them.

I'm so sorry that you've had to deal with this (as well as your twin), but I agree that living with this has helped to make me more tolerant of others as well as gaining more insight into who I am as a person. Although I gotta admit that I'd rather not have it.

I'm glad that your suicide attempt was unsuccessful. You seem to be a great person.

It is an invisible illness, i am also unemployed and live with my parents and other people think that it is "pathetic" and that i need to "grow up". Also i know a lot of people who misunderstand bipolar disorder and when anyone is angry or moody they say that they are being "bipolar". I was just looking for friends on craigslist (lame, but i don't really have any where i live) and some people actually list that they will not be friends with someone is they are bipolar. I also would rather not have this illness if it were an option, but since i do have to live with it i try to cope as best i can. a good support system is important. If you ever need to talk to someone feel free to email me.

[brightasyellow]

Thanks so much, Franny. I found the group sessions in the hospital to be much more helpful than I expected. It was nice to have support. I did go to a local support group and it kind of freaked me out. It was a lot of older people who were applying for disability because they'd never been able to successfully manage the disorder. I was fine for 8 years and then I worked a crazy job that was 80 hours a week and, as you well know, lack of sleep begins the manic cycle. That was two years ago and in the meantime, I went through depression, a mixed episode, four months of stability and then rapid cycling. My therapist said that it can take 6-12 months to fully recover. In the meantime, I'm working on figuring out a good career path and I'd really like to move back to LA.

I also hate the way that "bipolar" gets thrown around. People will have a day with mood swings and say they were "totally bipolar." It makes me want to hit someone. That's really sad about people not wanting to be friends with people with bipolar disorder. Luckily, my friends are incredibly supportive. My close friends came to see me during visiting hours at the hospital. They're fantastic.