Bipolar Manic Depessive/Does anyone know anyone who?
- Thread starter Rockael
- Start date
Hello Rocky.
A friend of mine from church, he is that. He eats right, stays active and is always on his meds. He does well when he does all 3 especially the meds part. He is a business owner, has a beautiful home and is a truly nice guy, He is considered to be Bipolar more depressive.
A former friend of mine, and old girlfriend of this guy, is Bipolar and more on the skizophrenic is in an Adult Foster Care home. Her Dad became her Custodian, her house is sitting empty, she lost any chance of gaining custody of her daughter. Due to mistakes of her own personality and with the disease, she's lost most if not all of her friends. She's hurt alot of people.
Find the right doctor for her, get her on the right meds-there will be adjustments down the road as far as dosage. Diet is important and so is exercise.
This is just my experience with the disease. Others may have more input that might be what you're looking for or need.
A friend of mine from church, he is that. He eats right, stays active and is always on his meds. He does well when he does all 3 especially the meds part. He is a business owner, has a beautiful home and is a truly nice guy, He is considered to be Bipolar more depressive.
A former friend of mine, and old girlfriend of this guy, is Bipolar and more on the skizophrenic is in an Adult Foster Care home. Her Dad became her Custodian, her house is sitting empty, she lost any chance of gaining custody of her daughter. Due to mistakes of her own personality and with the disease, she's lost most if not all of her friends. She's hurt alot of people.
Find the right doctor for her, get her on the right meds-there will be adjustments down the road as far as dosage. Diet is important and so is exercise.
This is just my experience with the disease. Others may have more input that might be what you're looking for or need.
My daughter, 19 years old. Diagnosed at ten after a series of suicide attempts, one where we wrestled with a knife, she was serious and tried to take me as well.
Being a teen age girl her diet is all over the place she eats Kosher, then she's a Vegan, then she's dieting, then she's trying to build strength (she's a competitive figureskater). She battles us over taking meds, normally she's on Welbutrin a real good match when she takes it regularly.
What can you do for your friend? Be a friend. She probably doesn't need another person nagging her to get help, take her meds etc.
A gentlemen who lost a brother to depression told me this: "Depression is a terminal disease like cancer, sometimes you live a long productive life battling the disease and something else kills you or the disease gets you."
Being a teen age girl her diet is all over the place she eats Kosher, then she's a Vegan, then she's dieting, then she's trying to build strength (she's a competitive figureskater). She battles us over taking meds, normally she's on Welbutrin a real good match when she takes it regularly.
What can you do for your friend? Be a friend. She probably doesn't need another person nagging her to get help, take her meds etc.
A gentlemen who lost a brother to depression told me this: "Depression is a terminal disease like cancer, sometimes you live a long productive life battling the disease and something else kills you or the disease gets you."
RE: Bipolar Manic Depressive/Does anyone know anyone wh...
Hi Rocky,
Sorry to hear that your sister is suffering. Has she been to a doctor and been given a diagnosis? If she is truly Bipolar, medications is the number one way for her to get better. Remember that BP is a biological brain disorder, and not a choice your sister has in her behavior. Empathy is always the best way to approach someone with a mental illness. My son was diagnosed a few years ago with this disorder and his therapist described what he's feeling like this: Picture a volume control. While most people would be around the middle range, most BP suffers would be pushed up all the way most of the time. When they feel sad, they feel it 10 times greater, or if they feel angry, they may rage or become violent very easily, or when they're happy, it's euphoric.
Best of luck in trying to help and understand your sister. It sounds like you really want to help her. Manic Depression and Bipolar are one in the same. They changed the label a few years ago to BP which includes several different variables of the illness.
Hi Rocky,
Sorry to hear that your sister is suffering. Has she been to a doctor and been given a diagnosis? If she is truly Bipolar, medications is the number one way for her to get better. Remember that BP is a biological brain disorder, and not a choice your sister has in her behavior. Empathy is always the best way to approach someone with a mental illness. My son was diagnosed a few years ago with this disorder and his therapist described what he's feeling like this: Picture a volume control. While most people would be around the middle range, most BP suffers would be pushed up all the way most of the time. When they feel sad, they feel it 10 times greater, or if they feel angry, they may rage or become violent very easily, or when they're happy, it's euphoric.
Best of luck in trying to help and understand your sister. It sounds like you really want to help her. Manic Depression and Bipolar are one in the same. They changed the label a few years ago to BP which includes several different variables of the illness.
crunchymomof3
Cathlete
Rocky,
My sister, too, suffers from Bipolar Disorder (Manic Depression is the name it used to go by, so they're synonyms). She was diagnosed just about 7 years ago (at the age of 18) after years of being misdiagnosed with just depression. She's been in and out of the hospital over the years, on and off of meds, etc. It is very difficult to handle. I've chosen to take the approach with my sister that she needs to do the work to stay stable (take meds, go to therapy, etc) and I'll be there for her when she needs me (she will always let me know when she needs me), but I can't "fix" her as much as I'd like. My sister also tends to blame other maturity issues (which I believe to be separate from the bipolar) on her disease. I try to call her out on this behavior, but still, I can't do the work of growing up for her. It's hard to have a relative with a mental illness, but I hope you continue to be there for your sister in whatever capacity you can handle.
Carol
My sister, too, suffers from Bipolar Disorder (Manic Depression is the name it used to go by, so they're synonyms). She was diagnosed just about 7 years ago (at the age of 18) after years of being misdiagnosed with just depression. She's been in and out of the hospital over the years, on and off of meds, etc. It is very difficult to handle. I've chosen to take the approach with my sister that she needs to do the work to stay stable (take meds, go to therapy, etc) and I'll be there for her when she needs me (she will always let me know when she needs me), but I can't "fix" her as much as I'd like. My sister also tends to blame other maturity issues (which I believe to be separate from the bipolar) on her disease. I try to call her out on this behavior, but still, I can't do the work of growing up for her. It's hard to have a relative with a mental illness, but I hope you continue to be there for your sister in whatever capacity you can handle.
Carol
Rockael
Cathlete
RE: Bipolar Manic Depessive/Does anyone know anyone who...
Hi Everyone, You all have explained my sister to a T.
I do not know if she takes her meds like she should, I have always tried to get her to do the right thing for herself and those around her. She knows right from wrong, but how much wrong is she accountable for? Right now she isn't talking to anyone. I fear she will end up in an institution one day.
She is beautiful, has had her nose done three times, breasts done.
face done. And had liposuction.She is prettier than she has ever been.
She lives in California. Beautiful home, with a pool. Sometimes I wonder if she just makes her life sound bad.All the things that I would be so grateful for.
I know she carries alot of guilt, at least she says for her behavior.
If a person takes their meds. Doesn't that help? Would she behave better? For lack of a better word.
Thanks guys. Oh and I take meds for depression. They help.
I believe my meds have done so much for me. Thank God.
Rocky
Hi Everyone, You all have explained my sister to a T.
I do not know if she takes her meds like she should, I have always tried to get her to do the right thing for herself and those around her. She knows right from wrong, but how much wrong is she accountable for? Right now she isn't talking to anyone. I fear she will end up in an institution one day.
She is beautiful, has had her nose done three times, breasts done.
face done. And had liposuction.She is prettier than she has ever been.
She lives in California. Beautiful home, with a pool. Sometimes I wonder if she just makes her life sound bad.All the things that I would be so grateful for.
I know she carries alot of guilt, at least she says for her behavior.
If a person takes their meds. Doesn't that help? Would she behave better? For lack of a better word.
Thanks guys. Oh and I take meds for depression. They help.
I believe my meds have done so much for me. Thank God.
Rocky
debbydarestobefit
Cathlete
RE: Bipolar Manic Depessive/Does anyone know anyone who...
Hey Rocky,
Getting the right combination of medications and at the best dosage level for a person is an art. It may take awhile to find the best combination. Be patient and encourage your sister to be patient with the process too. Life does get better once a person becomes stable on the meds and accepts that they have to take care of themselves with meds and healthy living just like anyone else with a chronic medical condition. But the meds are not without side effects and some people go off the meds when they're feeling better -- eventually they'll cycle right back to the problem. It is a difficult condition to treat and live with. Patience, patience, patience. Best wishes, Deb
Hey Rocky,
Getting the right combination of medications and at the best dosage level for a person is an art. It may take awhile to find the best combination. Be patient and encourage your sister to be patient with the process too. Life does get better once a person becomes stable on the meds and accepts that they have to take care of themselves with meds and healthy living just like anyone else with a chronic medical condition. But the meds are not without side effects and some people go off the meds when they're feeling better -- eventually they'll cycle right back to the problem. It is a difficult condition to treat and live with. Patience, patience, patience. Best wishes, Deb
RE: Bipolar Manic Depessive/Does anyone know anyone who...
So sorry to hear about your sister. I had a good friend who is Bipolar. In the early years she was always up, incredibly energetic and upbeat, supremely positive, she never had down moments. Gradually, she started exhibiting odd behavior, including paranoia, grand illusions, sexual deviation, and spending and borrowing a ton of money. She had a breakdown of sorts and went into a very deep depression for about a year. The unfortunate thing with this illness is that medication is really needed and it must be constantly monitored by a doctor, much more than say a normal depression. A change in diet may help, but I think medication is unavoidable. The biggest problem is that, when they are in the euphoric stage and happiness and feeling powerful take over, they go off the medication, won't listen to people who love and worry about them, and eventually they crash. My friend's husband and son really suffered thru these cycles. When we start to see some of the odd behavior return, my friends and I usually get right on her to check in with the doctor. She'll listen to her friends, but not her family. I think the family or friends need to monitor the behavioral changes and intervene with the doctor if necessary.
So sorry to hear about your sister. I had a good friend who is Bipolar. In the early years she was always up, incredibly energetic and upbeat, supremely positive, she never had down moments. Gradually, she started exhibiting odd behavior, including paranoia, grand illusions, sexual deviation, and spending and borrowing a ton of money. She had a breakdown of sorts and went into a very deep depression for about a year. The unfortunate thing with this illness is that medication is really needed and it must be constantly monitored by a doctor, much more than say a normal depression. A change in diet may help, but I think medication is unavoidable. The biggest problem is that, when they are in the euphoric stage and happiness and feeling powerful take over, they go off the medication, won't listen to people who love and worry about them, and eventually they crash. My friend's husband and son really suffered thru these cycles. When we start to see some of the odd behavior return, my friends and I usually get right on her to check in with the doctor. She'll listen to her friends, but not her family. I think the family or friends need to monitor the behavioral changes and intervene with the doctor if necessary.
pepnchar
Cathlete
RE: Bipolar Manic Depessive/Does anyone know anyone who...
My SO was just diagnosed last month -- until then he'd been on all kinds of meds for ADHD and finally went to a specialist who took one look at him and said "we can't treat the ADHD until we tackle the underlying issue -- you're bi-polar" and of course, when I heard that, it made perfect sense.
In the years leading up to this, I had gotten fed up with the behavior, and threatened to leave. Now, I think it's even worse, because this diagnosis has given hin an "excuse" to act like a child. I'm not sure how much more I can take -- I hear everyone saying patience patience patience. It's very hard. Good luck to you!
Charlene
My SO was just diagnosed last month -- until then he'd been on all kinds of meds for ADHD and finally went to a specialist who took one look at him and said "we can't treat the ADHD until we tackle the underlying issue -- you're bi-polar" and of course, when I heard that, it made perfect sense.
In the years leading up to this, I had gotten fed up with the behavior, and threatened to leave. Now, I think it's even worse, because this diagnosis has given hin an "excuse" to act like a child. I'm not sure how much more I can take -- I hear everyone saying patience patience patience. It's very hard. Good luck to you!
Charlene
pepnchar
Cathlete
RE: Bipolar Manic Depessive/Does anyone know anyone who...
My SO was just diagnosed last month -- until then he'd been on all kinds of meds for ADHD and finally went to a specialist who took one look at him and said "we can't treat the ADHD until we tackle the underlying issue -- you're bi-polar" and of course, when I heard that, it made perfect sense.
In the years leading up to this, I had gotten fed up with the behavior, and threatened to leave. Now, I think it's even worse, because this diagnosis has given hin an "excuse" to act like a child. I'm not sure how much more I can take -- I hear everyone saying patience patience patience. It's very hard. Good luck to you!
Charlene
My SO was just diagnosed last month -- until then he'd been on all kinds of meds for ADHD and finally went to a specialist who took one look at him and said "we can't treat the ADHD until we tackle the underlying issue -- you're bi-polar" and of course, when I heard that, it made perfect sense.
In the years leading up to this, I had gotten fed up with the behavior, and threatened to leave. Now, I think it's even worse, because this diagnosis has given hin an "excuse" to act like a child. I'm not sure how much more I can take -- I hear everyone saying patience patience patience. It's very hard. Good luck to you!
Charlene