Baby steps to getting better

[Anroca78]

Hi,

   So it's been a nearly a week since I was discharged from local hospital Mental ward. 

Mental health team have rang me every few days to see how I have been going. I went to my g.p and got bloods done as suggested by the hospital. I had my first psychologist session and she was wonderful. I took my partner in with me, so he was able to ask questions relating to my attempted suicide and admission to psych ward. It really helped. In the end we agreed that it was best for my partner to lock up my meds and give me my doses every day. It sounds drastic, I at first felt my independence was being taken away, but if I want to get better I had to agree. I am feeling better but with Bipolar, you can never be sure of anything. It would stop me from skipping meds as well. Being manic, the first thing I do is spend, spend, spend!. It was agreed that if I become manic,  my partner would take my credit card and give it to my mum who lives 15min away. He did not feel comfortable keeping it on him. Past experience of me screaming and chucking a tantrum and searching the place for the credit card meant he did not want to go through it. I don't drive, so taking it and giving it to mum meant I would have trouble retrieving it. 

These little steps are important to keep me from hitting rock bottom again. Sometimes you need to hit rock bottom so that you can begin to heal. I did but boy, it was a draining experience and I do not want to go through it again.

 Strength in numbers is quite fitting, I am lucky to have family support. And as for staying well... So far so good..😉

[Zeal]

Hi Anroca,

I am so glad you have found a psychologist you like, and that you are supported by multiple family members. You have a great attitude, and you are fully aware that certain things must be done (no matter how tedious) in order to slowly improve. It's good that your Mum lives close and is willing to help you and your partner with strategies to prevent relapse and poor decision making when manic. I don't personally know anyone with Bipolar (though I have OCD, and know others with anxiety, depression, eating disorders and alcoholism). However, a fantastic speaker came to my uni psych class. She turned her life around after struggling with Bipolar for years, and told us her story. Your partner having control over your meds is a smart strategy, as this will make it very unlikely that you will skip medication or overdose. You and your partner seem to be dealing well with your illness together. He sounds really supportive. You're lucky to have each other 🙂

I hope you continue on this positive path. Even with small setbacks, you can get to where you need to be.

Best wishes,

SM

[Doolhof]

Hi Anroca,

Thank you so much for sharing your positive story with us.

A few years ago I was in a mental health unit for two weeks after I seriously thought that suicide was the answer. I am so very thankful that I never proceeded with my thoughts and plans.

For me, I found it very helpful to laugh and joke about my experience in the ward. There were some really different things happening in there!

I was fortunate to be in a working environment where most of the people supported me and had a laugh with me over my experiences. My husband and family were not quite so understanding or helpful, but that is okay. I have grown stronger through it all and am more aware of the needs of others through my own experiences.

All the best to you in your recovery! The world is full of opportunities to make each day special.

Spread your wings and fly!

[Anroca78]

Hi Doolhof,

Thankyou for posting! I found laughter was quite helpful in the ward, at one stage we were even told to laugh a bit quieter, respect for other inpatients that were struggling. I understood that. Manic patients do have a wicked sense of humour, we are able to see the funny side of mental health but are also sensitive to others. I witnessed that in the ward. I am sorry to hear that you had little support on the outside. My mum was not supportive for the first few years. She did not believe me and felt it was attention seeking just like she had witnessed over the years. I had to learn to accept her attitude, it did my head in at many attempts to try and explain it. The psych ward finally made her see I was not doing well and she is slowly coming to terms with it all. 

It has made me more stronger, little by little. Thankyou for your support and kind words and sorry for the delayed reply.  Ange😊