This is a big step for me

[bepositive]

Hello kind person reading this!

I am a 17 year old girl who has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder 2 years ago. I feel as if i am a burden to everyone because of my poor management of the disorder.

Beyond blue is an incredible initiative, and I am so grateful for this support service.

[AGrace]

Hi bepositive,

This is a tough diagnosis to take on at such a young age. Has receiving the diagnosis brought you some relief? I know for me when I was diagnosed with BPD I finally felt like there was something to explain how I felt, thought, and behaved.

Are you receiving some treatment for Bipolar? Have you got family and friends who are supportive? It's common to feel like we're burdening people but I try to remember what it would be like if they were the ones with the illness. 

You're right about BB, the community are here to listen, support,  and offer assistance where we can. I'm glad that you've joined us here.

AGrace

[white knight]

Hi bepositive,

Kind words from the lovely AGrace.  With any of these illnesses it is a case of a/ accepting the illness and the highs and lows that come with it b/ managing it rather than trying often in vain to conquer it C/ coming to the realisation that a large number of people including family and friends will have no idea about your journey, its symptoms and your battle with it D/ that you might well be very very positive at time however you most likely will fall into your "hole" regardless. you mat feel that your efforts to be positive are wasted because of this. Dont be discouraged. Keep on battling through those bad times. and finally E/ there are some advantages having a mental illness. A large percentage have artistic ability, writing ability (we now have a poetry section) or other quirky traits.

Take care.

[bepositive]

Hi Agrace and white knight, 

Thanks for your replies! When I was 15, I saw a counsellor who gave me a manic depression checklist to fill out. I fell in the high range. Did that 'count' as a formal diagnosis? Last week I saw I psychiatrist for the first time, who suspected that I had bipolar disorder. However I feel he didn't really want to help- most of the time he was tapping away on a laptop and was quick to prescribe medication without asking many questions. Plus, he insisted that we pay him in cash, and did not issue a receipt or invoice. 

My parents are so supportive and are working so hard to help me manage. A few friends have reached out to me, and I have explained the condition them. I'm so lucky to have people who understand and care. 

Could I please have some advice as to how you manage this condition? What has worked and what hasn't, or any tips or advice. Right now, it's a bit difficult for me to juggle the HSC and stay mentally strong (panic attacks during class are not very fun at all). 

Thank you so much for your support Agrace and white knight :-). 

[AGrace]

Hi bepositive, 

The diagnosis from the counsellor sounds a bit odd. I think diagnoses come from spending time with the patient, observing behavior patterns, listening to history, and there are some diagnostic tests that can assist with confirming the diagnosis. I can't recall the name of the one I completed, but it had about 500 questions. 

I'm also going to say find a new Psychiatrist. This is not standard practice, and sounds very negligible. No Psychiatrist should be demanding cash because you should be getting reimbursed from Medicare, and they require an item number and proof of payment. It would be a shame to continue appointments, when you probably won't ever feel confident with this guy. You can have a look on the RANZCAP website and search for a Psychiatrist near you. They are not all perfect but there are some good ones. 

What has helped me:

Medication, make sure you know what you're taking and why? 

Mindfulness, google this it's a very useful technique to calm anxiety and practice present moment thinking. 

Sleep hygiene, I think the Centre for Clinical Intervention website has some suggestions on this. You want to ensure you are getting sufficient sleep. 

Group Therapy, if you have health insurance a Psychiatrist can recommend a private clinic that offers outp

[AGrace]

Sorry, I accidentally pressed the post button.

Outpatient programs for you, some are specific for Bipolar. If not then find your local community mental health centre. They also offer group and individual therapy, I believe all of their services are free. Group Therapy helps because you are around people who are experiencing similar struggles. 

Meditation, my favourite is a youtube clip called 8 minutes to calm, I think I just about suggest this one to everyone. Its quick and you can do it any time of day. Meditation and mindfulness are skills so they need to be practiced regularly to have benefit.

Exercise and diet are also important. 

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, google this I found it extremely helpful, see if your Psychologist can work on this with you.

You can also search the Internet to see if there's a Bipolar support group that runs in your area. 

Schedule time so you have routine. Allow time for pleasurable activities. Where anxiety is concerned try as much as you can to do things despite feeling anxious/panicked, otherwise you continue to reinforce it.

I hope this is helpful. 

AGrace

[Ali-xxx]

I'm not sure if my previous post went through. I was diagnosed when i was15 and im now 27. Just try out the medicine and if it works stick to it. It is the most effective way of treating the disorder. I have tried several ways of managing my illness but none of them worked. The first was herbal medicines they just make it worse. Then under the supervsion of doctors i decided i wanted to just take the medice when I felt I was getting Ill. Sometimes this worked but on several occasions my mood swings would be so bad that i couldn't catch it in time and would wind up really sick. So that being said, from my past experience fulltime medication and counselling is the only way to go. I have been taking my medication for 4 years religously and have not had any major episodes of bipolar. I still sometimes feel depressed or hiporactive but its never really bad. I think on the times when I do feel like that if i hadn't been on my medication I would of had a major bipolar episode. Anyway lifes so much easier now that i take my medication.