meercat

[meercat]

Hi. I have lived with bipolar for 43 years. Has anyone else had it for a long time.

[quirkywords]

Yes I was diagnosed 44 years ago but had symptoms a few years before that.

Welcome meercat.

What would you like to discuss?

Quirky

[meercat]

Me too. I was wondering do you have any favourite ways of managing things when you are feeling up.

[meercat]

Im a newbie pls explain how the forum works and what posts etc means. I have lived with bipolar many years but only just become curious about how to not let it totally control my life. It can be very lonely. I live with partner and after 6 years i have just told him i have bipolar. Have a good Dr. who is getting me back on track with small dose of medication. Dr. thinks my medication has been too high and made me toxic. It was scary..i went to bed for 3 weeks. I could not speak, hear, do anything and hardly walk. Carrying a cup was a massive feat i was trembling so much. Lost my feeling, taste and eventually sight. After a cat scan and blood tests we were back on the right track. With a lower dose of medication i started to function more evenly. I got out of bed, cleaned my house and started to take interest in life. Gradually taste sight and energy returned and so did the quick thinking and speech. I can see the sunshine.

[blondguy]

Hi Meercat

Thanks for being on the forums. I used to have chronic anxiety followed by depression for about 30+ years.

I think you have done really well by having a great GP that is helping you with a reduction in your meds. It can make such a big difference to have a GP that is dedicated to helping people with their mental health. I also have a great GP that has really helped me out too.

On the forums you can answer someone's question if you wish to and if you dont that fine too! Its like your thread here that you have just written....If people can offer you support they will (if they can) using their own personal mental health experience that they have.

For example Meercat...If you want to get more replies about BiPolar you could have a thread topic that is specific and mentions BiPolar in the heading. Nothing that there is anything wrong with Meercat as a subject line!

Take your time and have a look around the forums....You posted under Welcome & Orientation which is fine...There are many posts there from our moderators that discuss the forums for new people that have some great info.

Also just at the bottom of this page you will see the Heading "Get Support".....Under that click on 'Online Forums'. There is a lot of info there for you too Meercat.

There is also a thread on the forums called 'This BiPolar Life' with people people that suffer from BiPolar. Just copy and paste this link into your browser.....It will take you to the thread 🙂

www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/online-forums/long-term-support-over-the-journey/this-bipolar-life

I hope your day is good to you

My kind thoughts

Paul

[Doolhof]

Hi Meercat,

Welcome to the community here on this forum. I don't know much about Bi-polar, certainly sounds like you had an incredible reaction! Hopefully the medication issue has been sorted out and you will soon be more stable.

I'm 50 + and have some difficulty with "modern" technology, so someone may be able to explain this better than I can! Ha. Ha. Each time any of us write something on this forum, it is called a "post". You have created a "Thread" you called "Meercat".

You may like to venture away from your Thread and you will find all kinds of Threads that people have started. You can add to anyone of these that you like. Take your time, ask more questions if you need to, and hopefully you will find this forum to be very informative, supportive, caring and also amusing.

Hope this helps a little! Cheers for now from Dools

[quirkywords]

Meercat

I just wrote you a reply that I just lost!! I am not very technical!

Anyway thanks for replying and this is a safe supportive place.

To answer your question about managing my moods when up. I have a few signs that I look out for which indicate I am getting too high- they vary with each person for me it is sending too much and talking even faster than I normally do.

I tell someone I can trust to look out for these signs . Of course I will probably get defensive so you need someone who understands.

I think the usual healthy routine of a healthy diet and and exercise and enough sleep.

Everyone is different, for many many years I was in denial and my life was chaotic. Over 20 years ago I decided to seek help and have managed to be relatively stable but I still have ups and downs and I need to be careful to watch for signs and not be afraid to seek help.

Also working out what triggers my moods for me it is stress and taking on too much when I feel well.

I think being totally honest with yourself is a good start. Sometimes I know I used to pretend I am ok when I am not.

Hope this helps a bit.

Kind thoughts

quirky

[meercat]

Bipolar meercat. Hi thanks for ur tips. How do i paste a photo on my page. This bp has dulled my brain. I need to change spelling of name. There i go again i want to learn everything. Iv been like this for years and still it seems to take me by surprise. Especially the low times when i hibernate for weeks. I try to prepare planning something to look forward to. Being tidy helped last time when i couldnt see at all. I know i will do it differently next time..yes it will happen again. Id like to have some home frozen meals prepared so hubby doesnt have to hunt up his meals whilst caring for me.I Like your suggestion about avoiding stress. I have healthy diet and exercise. Im always happy to be off the elevator and back to "even"

[meercat]

Hi Doolhof.

How was your saturday? What do you like to do in your spare time?

I put a recipe on a BB cooking forum yesterday but somehow it went up into cyberspace.. my computer knowledge is a little limited.

Cheers

meercat

Im catching on to threads and posts but im still trying to download a pic and change my name..do you have any ideas.

[Doolhof]

Hi Meercat,

Wish I could help you with your technical problems, but I have no idea myself! I quite often have to ask my husband for help on the computer. Chronic fatigue, stress and depression, plus throw in menopause for good measure and that all adds up to a confused brain at times.

Hopefully someone else will come up with help and advice for you.

Saturday? Mmmm. Not a good mental health day for me. Thankfully Sunday was a lot better. I went to Church in the morning, had a chat to some friends there, home and made our lunch then in the afternoon my husband and I got stuck into the garden, him on the ride on mower (that does not seem to work for me!) and me using the push mower.

Now I will be able to see any snakes while out gardening and have less weeds to pull before the summer and the oncoming fire season.

Ha. Ha. Some of my posts end up in cyber space as well!

In my spare time I enjoy the beach, photography, reading, various crafts, being with friends, Church, and gardening. At present I volunteer with the Country Fire Service, at an Op Shop and in a Café in a Home for the elderly while I am still hoping to find paid employment.

How about yourself, what do you enjoy doing?

Hope someone comes along and is able to help you with your technical issues!

Cheers from Dools