Just diagnosed with bipolar disorder

[Brett]

Welcome,

My name is Brett and I have just been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. This certainly wasn't welcome news but, in looking back at my life, it makes sense of a lot of my experiences. I have experienced a few amazing highs (or so I thought at the time) and a lot of lows. Apart from getting some of my thoughts onto this site, I really wanted to share a simple idea. That is, I have decided to lead the healthiest lifestyle I can in order to stay well. To many, this might sound a little obvious but, as I am heading towards a cycle of depression, it is very easy to lose hope. I wont go through the long list of what I am going to do to stay well other than to say I am going to follow the advice given to me by my trusted support people. I hope that a simple decision can help you too. From the bottom of my heart, I wish you wellness and happiness. 

Kindest Regards,

Brett.      

[Bianca]

Hi Brett

My name is Bianca and I'm in the same position as you. I was diagnosed just over a week ago as being bipolar possibly type 1 and have been put on meds. I have been going thru the cycle of manic and then depression for so long its all I know and can remember. Reading all the information out there I was suprised just how much it fit me. I am still trying to wrap my head around the fact that these feelings aren't normal for everyone. I am currently in a manic period which is testing my limits as I've been like this for nearly 2 weeks now I recognise the symptoms. I understand what you are saying about just trying to live healthy it's not as easy as people would like to think. 

Peace and Strength

Bianca

[luke_c]

I was waiting at a train station yesterday and some lady came up and started to talking to me. After about 5 minutes or so, she revealed to me she had bipolar (just a little bit she said, but I would have understood if it was more than just "a little bit"). A lot of sympathy was running through my mind as I felt her pain. I have depression/anxiety issues myself, so I could understand what she was going through. I think she was appreciative that I sat down and wanted to listen to her.

Luke

[Anicca]

Hi Brett,

It is good to finally get a diagnosis that is really you, isn't it? I really appreciate your positive attitude and will use it to inspire my own wish to live a happy and healthy life.

[The_Real_David_Charles]

Hey Brett,

Keep up the healthy lifestyle.    Unfortunately (and I have had bipolar long term) the meds tend to increase your appetite.  For ex, back in the early 90's I would have been a spritely 80kg and this year I'm more of a lumbering 120kg.   And I walk my dog 4 or 5 times a day.  This weight increase possibility wasn't mentioned to me.

The main reason a bipolar would increase weight also is lack of a proper sleep routine.  Getting up at 2am with buzzing ideas, unable to sleep, maybe making a cuppa and watching tv or reading for 30 mins.  Mmmm.   Unless you have great self discipline soon you'll be adding a bowl of cereal or a cheese sandwich.  I have a bit more of a problem on top of that with a failed nissans fundiplication which should have sorted out oesophagul reflux but ended up with negligent surgery and full on mania.  But you can probably see it's all the same thing - try and stay healthy and your mind has a chance of following suit.

Well, until grandma sends you a fruit cake for Christmas.  This might sound totally crazy but I think even locking the fridge up (as they do in psych hospitals) over night is a sound way of avoiding adding 40kg over the next 20 years.

Adios, David.

[geoff]

dear Brett, some of your valuable advice may be so helpful to others who are suffering the same as you.

What Luke has done by listening to this lady was something I decided to do, when I was slowly coming out of depression, as most of the elderly people I visit always want to tell you everything that has gone wrong with them, because nobody else would listen to them.

This may not work for some people, but it was appropriate for me.

I hope that you consider telling us your approach. Take care. Geoff.

[Brett]

Good afternoon,

I read the replies to my post a few days ago and have been wondering what to say in return. In some respects, the diagnosis of bipolar disorder has become important to me, especially when talking to health professionals. And in other respects, the diagnosis is but a fraction of who I am. I am struggling but beneath it all I am a person who is trying to live life and help others who are close to me. And I mean this in a practical way without being 'pollyannarish' or 'sugar coated'.

I like the fact that some of the people who have replied have been open to talking to other sufferers. People become human once we get past their 'shields'. And I am lucky that some people in my life can see beyond mine.   

I have to admit that weight gain has become an issue. I have started gaining weight and have had to walk almost everyday to keep it off. Locking the fridge is one solution and I have to be mindful of what I bring home from the supermarket.

In terms of my long list of 'to dos', I have: been honest with my psychiatrist and have committed to medication that (1) is affordable and (2) doesn't leave me too sedated; gone for walks everyday and taken photographs of interesting places; talked to my partner about my mental health, what to expect, and how to help; practiced a lot of mindfulness which has been about the only thing to help pull me away from intense paranoia; forced myself to be social even when I 'so don't want to be'; and have found a reason to keep going on, my son. I hate to be prescriptive. We are all different. It is just the case that this list has helped me.

Again, I wish you wellness. It is one thing to have mental illness and another to be impacted by it. One of my hopes is for sufferers to have a decent quality of life, despite the challenges that they face.

Kindest Regards,

Brett.

[Anicca]

Hi Brett,

Yesterday I was diagnosed bipolar and my doctor is organising a second opinion to get me on the right medications. 

I feel heartbroken that this is my life. I'm afraid I don't have your positive attitude. 

The diagnosis I can understand but I feel really angry that I have gone from major depression and anxiety to bipolar. I don't feel like I have any control over my moods and therefore, my life choices. I just feel so negative about this. 

[geoff]

dear Brett, you make a good point when you say ' one thing to have mental illness and another to be impacted by it', and I'm not sure which is the worse.

With depression we block most things, and once we are down, it can't seem to get any worse, but when we have to try and deal with someone in depression, we try something, but it fails, so then we try something else, and again that fails, and this can go on for a long period of time, and nothing seems to work, so we are at the stage of pulling our hair out, because they are oblivious to any help, and don't want to accept the help that people try and provide us.

I was no different, it was the same as above for me, I wouldn't accept anything nor the help that they wanted to give me, so after awhile they stopped wanting to help me, because I was a lost soul, and so they rejected me and left me all alone.

Hi Johhnie don't worry dad's depressed come on lets kick the football. Geoff.

[Brett]

Hi Alison,

I am sorry to hear about your story. My story has some resemblance; I was diagnosed with depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and then bipolar disorder again. I also have very little control over my moods; they go from depression to over-confidence to anxiety and so on. And I used to feel a lot of anger. In some respects, I have let go of the struggle. My moods don't go away but I can tolerate them a little better than I used to. Although my attitude is fairly positive, it can shift from time to time. All I can really offer is the heart-felt sentiment that you/we are not alone.  

Wishing you (and us all) ease and happiness,

Brett.