The feeling of wanting to go off RX meds at one time in your life is normal if your have a mental illness. You may feel you don't need them anymore, are frustrated with side effects, think they take your personality away or feel the dependency on them is worse than the rewards.
Even though I know that there are ways to manage some mental illnesses without RX drugs, I caution anyone that is wanting to discontinue taking them and if you do, don't stop taking them all at once and make sure you have a support system in place that includes Dr's and friends or family.
For myself I have discontinued taking most RX drugs but when I decided to do this I still saw my Phyc dr as well as had support from friends and family. I'm still taking something but it's all natural pills with vitamins and am doing this with my Dr's support as well as talking with a team that is knowledgeable in this area.
I know taking RX meds have their own problems like side effects and finding the correct combination that works for you can be a lengthy proses. Having a good team of Dr's helps as well as you being honest with them and yourself, not settling when you still don't feel well and commitment to be better.
Therapy, healthy choices in life style and healthy food helps tremendously. Dealing with your problems and learning new patterns of thinking to help with situations that may be difficult in life may take a while but is well worth it in the end. Following through with life style choices like having a regular schedule may be against instinct and habit but that enables you to do more in your life, exercise and enough sleep. It was amazing to me when I found out how much food plays a part in my moods. Not eating sugar and limiting my carb intake helped me stabilize my moods and consideration.
Learn about the meds you are on as well as how your react to them. Educate yourself about your illness and ways of managing it. Know that you may feel fine one day but still relapse that will be potentially harmful in the future so make sure you put in place safe guards for yourself like supporting people and knowledge of what to look for. You can manage your moods and other symptoms and live a full life, be persistent in finding the best path in persuading this goal.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Traveling with Bipolar
Coming into the Christmas season many people with mental illnesses still need to travel. This is a very difficult thing to do if not prepared from the pressure of being in a new place to stress of not being prepared to the airplane ride.
If your going to visit some one during your holiday, prepare yourself by letting the person your staying with know your needs. It may be that you need more time alone to wind down or regular diet and sleep.
Some of the new laws in airport security may be difficult and stressful especially if you are taken for a random search. It's OK if you need to talk to a Dr and get a note explaining your illness and to let them know so they will be more sensitive in this area. The worst thing is to get in a situation that may make you uncomfortable and are not able to communicate why you are reacting in a certain way.
I find that if I'm early for my plane then I can make sure I get the seat I want and am able to have time to do things that calm me like reading before I get on the plane.
Writing lists before I pack has been a great help to me. I think of all the things I need to pack as well as anticipate problems I may have, discovering solutions for them before they may arise. Talking about what stresses me to people in my support network helps me in two ways. One is that they can help talk me through my worries and the other is that if I need to phone and talk to them during a trip, they'll be there for me.
Please write to let me know of your holiday travel stresses whether you have a mental illness or not. How have you come to alleviate them and what still is worry some to you?
If your going to visit some one during your holiday, prepare yourself by letting the person your staying with know your needs. It may be that you need more time alone to wind down or regular diet and sleep.
Some of the new laws in airport security may be difficult and stressful especially if you are taken for a random search. It's OK if you need to talk to a Dr and get a note explaining your illness and to let them know so they will be more sensitive in this area. The worst thing is to get in a situation that may make you uncomfortable and are not able to communicate why you are reacting in a certain way.
I find that if I'm early for my plane then I can make sure I get the seat I want and am able to have time to do things that calm me like reading before I get on the plane.
Writing lists before I pack has been a great help to me. I think of all the things I need to pack as well as anticipate problems I may have, discovering solutions for them before they may arise. Talking about what stresses me to people in my support network helps me in two ways. One is that they can help talk me through my worries and the other is that if I need to phone and talk to them during a trip, they'll be there for me.
Please write to let me know of your holiday travel stresses whether you have a mental illness or not. How have you come to alleviate them and what still is worry some to you?
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Bipolar as a child
I was diagnosed as Bipolar when I was an adult but know I have had it all my life. Reflecting back to my childhood, I now understand some of the things I did and confusion I had. I remember sitting at dinner with my parents and there friends acting polite and quiet while my head was racing with thoughts and it was all I could do to control my emotions. Once and a while I would have such a build up of emotions, I would bite a family member.
No one had any clue of what was going on in my head because I learned to hide it well. All of my ticks as a child were excused and I learned to hide them more from people as I grew up. I didn't tell any one that I felt the weight of the world on me.
I wish people were more aware of this disorder when I was young because getting help at a younger age would have made my struggle a lot easier. If cognitive therapy is introduced at an early age, there would be less chance of RX drugs needed in later years.
What are some of the symptoms of Bipolar Disorder in children and what should you do if your suspect your child has those symptoms? Symptoms include biting, aggression, wanting to be cuddled one minute and raging the next, irritability, sleep disturbances like night terrors and nightmares as well as too much or little sleep, bed wetting, sleep walking, teeth grinding, hysterical laughing, when talking they jump from one idea to the next, hyper sexuality, and unrealistic self esteem.
Bipolar Disorder is often misdiagnosed in children as ADHD because of similar symptoms. Some differences are ADHD kids beak things by being careless and Bipolar kids break them out of anger. The period of time the child can calm down is greater with bipolar. ADHD children are triggered by over stimulation as Bipolar react to limitations of saying no. ADHD children are often unaware of danger and Bipolar children tend to be risk takers.
The first thing you should do if you suspect your child has Bipolar Disorder is to see a Doctor to get an evaluation. Cognitive therapy is often the best approach depending on the severity. Teaming up with your Doctor is important to make the best plan possible.
No one had any clue of what was going on in my head because I learned to hide it well. All of my ticks as a child were excused and I learned to hide them more from people as I grew up. I didn't tell any one that I felt the weight of the world on me.
I wish people were more aware of this disorder when I was young because getting help at a younger age would have made my struggle a lot easier. If cognitive therapy is introduced at an early age, there would be less chance of RX drugs needed in later years.
What are some of the symptoms of Bipolar Disorder in children and what should you do if your suspect your child has those symptoms? Symptoms include biting, aggression, wanting to be cuddled one minute and raging the next, irritability, sleep disturbances like night terrors and nightmares as well as too much or little sleep, bed wetting, sleep walking, teeth grinding, hysterical laughing, when talking they jump from one idea to the next, hyper sexuality, and unrealistic self esteem.
Bipolar Disorder is often misdiagnosed in children as ADHD because of similar symptoms. Some differences are ADHD kids beak things by being careless and Bipolar kids break them out of anger. The period of time the child can calm down is greater with bipolar. ADHD children are triggered by over stimulation as Bipolar react to limitations of saying no. ADHD children are often unaware of danger and Bipolar children tend to be risk takers.
The first thing you should do if you suspect your child has Bipolar Disorder is to see a Doctor to get an evaluation. Cognitive therapy is often the best approach depending on the severity. Teaming up with your Doctor is important to make the best plan possible.
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