Bipolar

[chiatea]

I have a form of bipolar, I don't know if it's bipolar 1 or  bipolar two, but I've been officially diagnosed by a licensed psychiatrist. Anyways, its a form that causes me to think that I am "the only person that something bad can happen to." My psychiatrist said that it is a form of bipolar that he has seen before. They have me on risperdol, lexapro, and serequel. I have had a good week this past week. I have been able to focus more. I have only been on the serequel for like 5 weeks, so my doctor said it could just be the serquel starting to work. Do you know where I could find information about people who have been on serequel and their results with it? Do you also know any other drugs that might work better or a combination of drugs that might work better that may have the same chemical compisition as serquel. I'm asking this because it seems to be working to a degree but not to where I want it to. So i'm not where i want to be in respects to getting better.

Thanks

[S. Earl Martin]

Any time I am given any medications by my doctor I always check them on the internet. My wife was killed in 2005 because the doctor perscribed a medication he knew she was allergyic to. The best advice I can give you is research your condition on the internet. Take a list of questions with you when you go to your doctor. If they can't answer them to your satisfaction? It may be wise to get another doctor. I went to 4 different Oyncologists before I found one who could answer the questions I had. I used the internet, a medical dictionary and medical encylopideas. To find out as much as I could about my condition.

I also am Bi Polar. I was diagnosed 40 years ago. It was called Manic Depression. The treatment options back then were not very good. So I learned to control it myself. I couldn't work for other people or have a boss per say. So I started my own company. The medications I was given at that time had major side effects. I chose to not take them. If the medications you are taking are helping do what you think is best. There are advantages to being Bi Polar. It has helped me be creative and think in a way other people don't. But it has disadvantages as well. Releationships can be harder. Meditation has helped me control the mood swings. Peace and good luck.

[joe2436]

If it is bipolar you have to take medication. Respiradal is an anti-psychotic drug which should work in your case. Consider taking psychotherapy which is the real fix for bipolar.

[chiatea]

S. Earl Martin,

How did you "learn" to control it yourself? Isn't it a chemical thing? If you don't think it is a chemical thing, or that it is only partially a chemical thing, then, do you think you can control your emotions to a good degree?

Thanks. Please reply.

Chiatea

[SWM]

there is a series of REBT workbooks for bipolar here http://j.mp/rSeUgG.

I would be interested to know what Earl thinks about these workbooks, being someone that is maintaining balance for himself.

[S. Earl Martin]

SWM I looked over the workbooks to a degree. Some of the technics are close to what I learned to do. I will give them a more through read when I have more time. I saved the sight.
I realized how the Bipolar was effecting me. It either made me one of four ways.
Either I was manic where I was animated and talkitive. Or Joking.
I was unfeeling and very analitical.
I was extremely depressed. Even suicidal.
Or I was very angry.

When I realized this I became aware of my reactions and learned to control them voluntarily. I also altered my diet and stopped eating certain foods that I believe contributed to me becoming angry or depressed. I eat a pretty natural diet. And I pray and meditate. The counting to 10 actually works. It gives me time to decide how I want to react, instead of just reacting.

I am not saying that people shouldn't take medications. When I was diagnosed the medications avalible were not very effective. At least in my case. They also caused me to hallucinate. I heard voices like peole were talking behind me, but I couldn't understand them. Or I would see shapes dart by out of the corner of my eye. I did not have this before I started taking the medications and they stopped when I discontinued them. It was very hard to learn to control the Bipolar myself. I am not saying that out of ego. I am just being honest. If medications are shown to work I would recommend that. If the medications would have been more effective in my day I would have used them, but they didn't work. This was about 35-40 years ago.

To be honest I haven't always been able to control it. When I allow myself to become angry. I have made some very big mistakes. I have hurt people physically and emotionally. I have had people who I had been friends with for years see me get really angry and not want anything to do with me. Or some have actually accused me of being posessed. Which I am not. Bipolar is a tricky thing. It isn't like some other mental disorders in that it only effects the person so much. It can be controlled and what ever it takes to do that is fine. I wish you luck. Earl

[chiatea]

Bipolar and ocd over here.

Not sure which one causes the majority of the problems. Not even sure if there is the manic episodes and the depressive episodes here. Not sure if there's much depression at all for moi. That is something I should find out. Possibly a journal would help.

Can you please describe how it made you feel again? And your symptoms. I understand it made you angry. How often did you go from being angry to depressed to analytical (what do you mean by analytical)? Can you give an example of being analytical? What was the fourth symptom. Anger, depression, analytical, and what?

I'm just glad to but a little shocked to find out that someone has controlled their bipolar before with just their mind and will.

Please tell any techniques that you have used if you think of any more. Or list your opinion on those workbooks, or list any resources you've used.

[S. Earl Martin]

Irony. I have posted a response twice. Both times I press post it knocks me off the sight and the post is lost. So I have to strive not to get pissed off. So I am going to press post again to see if this works before I construct a new response.

[S. Earl Martin]

Okay so why did that one work and the others didn't?

Oh well.

Okay the other response was being analytical or unemotional. This was usually in response to a crisis or to some emotion that made me uncomfortable. I would be very focused on what ever was happening at the time and not letting any emotions enter into the process. I still have this reaction, but it isn't necessarily a bad thing.

As far as what emotion I had when or what reaction I experienced? That would vary. I might go a period of time being "normal". Then the slightest thing would trigger a reaction. Depression and a suicide attempt was why I was sent to a counsler at the time I was diagnosed. I was I think about 13-14.

I have looked over the REBT workbooks again. I find them very helpful. Many of the tecnniques I already use, but reading them increases my awareness. I am more aware of the process instead of just doing the process. I would recommend them. (Thank"s SWM)

I have a very strong will. I just decided to quit smoking and just stopped. I have stuck with projects in my life to compleation, when many people adviced me to quit. I am not bragging. I don't recommend trying to control Bi polar on your own. It probably wasn't the best way for me to handle it, but what is done is done. Recently I have been adviced by my insurance company that they want me to seek help to deal with some issues I am having now. I have Leukemia and I lost my wife a while ago and I am trying to deal with the stress. I am considering it. I don't know weather I will start taking any medications to effect the Bipolar?

I am not a psycholigist. I took Psychology in college. I also have studied it on my own as well this sight has taught me as well. So I am not really qualified to advice you other than to convey my personal experience. Do what it takes to stay healthy and sane. Peace Earl.

[SWM]

thanks for feedback earl

[S. Earl Martin]

SWM: No problem. I noticed that while I am on the sight lately my green arrow at the top of the screen just starts spinning. Indicating it is searching. This happened both times after it bumped me off. It is working now, but my computer has been having a lot of updates and scans because it is getting attacked by all sorts of stuff. Thanks again.

[SWM]

Hi Earl,
I dont think those attacks will be coming from this site, but i am going to run a virus scan on the server to see if it shows anything malicious.

If you use firefox browser there is an add on called no script. it allows you to block scripts from unknown sites. it is a valuable security measure that will stop websites from highjacking your browser and through it your computer.

[S. Earl Martin]

Yeah I don't think it is from the sight either. I think it is a problem with my system processing the information from the sight for some reason. It is not letting me use some of the features that I have used in the past. They just don't function correctly any more. So I think it is on my end. I have been getting MSN updates sometimes several in one day. And my security/ firewall is doing the same. I was hit by a major spyware about a week ago. My system caught it and it took all day to run the program to remove it. I also defragged my system and that started a whole bunch of things happening. It is alot faster now. It is no big deal. Computers are messing up all over the place. Patience is a virtue. To err is human, but to really mess things up takes a computer. Blessings and good things be yours. Earl