Rick Rypien

I knew him playing on my hockey team, the Vancouver Canucks. He was our fighter, a player that showed up on the ice and stood up for team mates while always creating action and physical drama. He had his controversies by getting into a fight with a spectator as well as his physicality within each game. His name was probably the best of any others in all time to describe who he was as a player. Ripen it in heart and soul.

In Regina he was the captain as well as the MVP before he became a Canuck. During the last season he took time off for depression and the team and fans were supportive.

This past Monday he was found dead in his Alberta home, at the age of 27. The police and media are not giving any incite of how or why but suspicions are related to his mental health.


It isn't a secret that he battled depression and that is the likely cause of death. This may be another victim that mental illness takes from us.

There are not a lot of famous athletes who suffer from mental illnesses like depression because of the screening and help given along the way to become a athletic star. This is impart why his death impacts us so much and gives light to a mental illness like depression showing the serious concisenesses of it not being managed before it gets to a fatal point.

For people who suffer, they need to find answers and a peace within themselves and their lives no matter the consequences to career and lives. To be able to live within a life that is healthy may mean to give up a life they have been accustomed to. The result is finding a new way of living, a new life that is more complete and gives a greater happiness than imagined.

I know for myself this is true. I would have never imagined my life to be so fulfilled by rejecting things that seemed natural to me at the time, instead learning about myself and my illness, changing my thoughts and actions. It was all about learning more about why I felt and reacted certain ways and discovering new ways of thinking that made my life better.

Amy Winehouse

Often drug abuse is looked at as the cause of actions but often drug abuse is the symptom of mental disorders like depression and bipolar. This can be said about Amy Winehouse who was found dead in her home on July 23 2011 at the young age of 27. Did she need rehab or medication or both? Even though she was diagnosed years ago as manic depressive, now known as bipolar disorder, she never took prescription medication to help.

This brings to light the seriousness in getting help for mental illnesses, preventing another senseless death. The hardest thing is admitting it to yourself and others who can help. Drugs and alcohol being used as self medication is hard to give up. Why would you want to be normal when the high feels so good? The problem is the depressions that follows and you don't realize how much of a more fulfilled life you can have internally and amongst other people when you receive help.

Giving yourself the time and space to heal, creating new habits is vital for anyone with a mental disorder.  Feeling like your in a place where you have to hold it all together and have no room to take the space needed to recover is common. Unfortunately by not making that space in life, there is a high probability that it will take your life.

Amy didn't die alone that night. Many of us relate to her struggles with depression and bipolar disorder and others watch loved ones suffer while feeling helpless. We morn a talented artist and learn from her life and death.

Encouragment For The Future

I would like to give encouragement to all those who suffer from bipolar disorder or other mental illnesses. When in the midst of understanding your mental difficulties, relating to others around you while figuring out the best course of action for treatment and recovery, feeling alone and unsatisfied is normal. People around me genuinely cared but could do little. Most of them gave up quickly if they tried to help me at all. I always felt alone, abandoned and helpless. I was confused about my own feelings and thoughts without fully knowing how confused I was.

Now I have clarity in my mind and confidence in a way I never thought I would. Now I know I can achieve things in life that I never thought I could. This clarity came after a long journey through drugs, therapy and acknowledging religion.p

Your journey may lead you to a different point in life than mine but can lead you to a peace that has clarity and function. Don't be afraid of the journey and trust that you will find answeres.

Answers To My Poll

If one parent has bipolar disorder then the chance of the child having it is 15-30%. If both have it then it becomes 50-75%. It is obvious that it is passed through the jeans but have yet to find a study relating to grandparents and other relatives.

30% of people who have bipolar disorder will attempt suicide and 20% are successful. Treatment will affect these statistics in ones life.

The median onset of bipolar disorder is 25 while other common ages are 17 or 18 and 40 even though it can surface at any age. Bipolar disorder is a biological disorder and can lie dormant until activated on it's own of from physiological stress, social circumstances and drugs as well as alcohol. There is still a lot to discover on this topic. I have had symptoms since I was a child but it wasn't until my mid 20's that I lost the ability to manage my symptoms on my own. I think my onset was caused by symptoms I already had that created an environment for me to get in situations that caused emotional distress making the way for bipolar to surface. Also, even though drugs may be a trigger, often people who have a mental disorder is self medicating because of the symptoms.

Necesities For Mental Health

Living in Canada provides me with a lot of support when unable to support myself because of mental illness. Any person needing phyc drugs and can't afford it, medical will cover it. If unable to work, there is money given to provide monthly needs, full medical and Phyc Dr as well as counselling services.

This is a good thing if it's used to take care of our citizens and help people in times of need so that they can become more healthy, productive members of society. Being given a check every month may put a roof over your head and food in your belly but it doesn't give you a key thing in living a healthy life. Productivity by being involved in your community doing regular work or volunteering gives a sense of purpose that I know is a necessity in fulfilment of life.

Working promotes self esteem, value, rewards for earning your money, social connections and can give a sense of regularity resulting in the ease of a regular schedule.

I know it's difficult for a lot of people with a mental illness to be able to keep a job. Never sell yourself short though. You may need some time away from work to recover but becoming active in your community and earning your own money is a key in your health.

There are 8 categories in improving mental illness.

Treatment to alleviating symptoms. This gives symptom and distress relief

Crisis intervention. Controlling and resolving critical or dangerous problems resulting in assurance of personal safety.

Case management Obtaining the services client needs and wants.

Rehabilitation Developing clients’ skills and supports related to clients’ goals. The purpose of this is to help the ability to function.

Enrichment Engaging clients in fulfilling and satisfying activities to aide in self-development

Rights protection Advocating to uphold one’s rights giving equal opportunity

protection.

Basic support Providing the people, places, and things client needs to survive (e.g., shelter, meals, health care) witch is crucial to personal survival .

Self-help Exercising a voice and a choice in one’s life gains empowerment .

I have been fortunate by the support my family has been to me when my mental illness made it impossible for me to function in life. I used the time I moved back home for surviving, then recovering through Phyc Drs, counselling and my GP. I moved out of there house with the help of disability and government housing. It is only recently where I really feel right again and I know that final step was because I was able to start working again on a regular basis. At first I only worked periodically, then it became more frequent as I improved. I'm needed at work now and that gives me purpose again.

Before I had my crash and had to move back home with my parents, I worked a lot. When I stopped working I realized how much my job was who I was. I struggled with finding myself without work. I have feared going back because I experienced a lot of my life being manic while working, taking on as much of a load as I could get, working as many jobs that time would allow and still keeping a social life. I still get those rushes and feelings of wanting to take on as many responsibilities that I can get but now I am able to see that's happening and pull myself back. There will always be that fear of relapse but not letting that enable me to work has resulted in a fulfilment I thought was lost forever.

The government symptom of health care will provide you the ability to exist but falls short in providing necessary things to really live. It's your family and community around you that can give you the purpose for living as well as your involvement in others lives. Involve yourself in helping others through volunteer work, payed work or another community service.

Japan Earthquake

8.9 earthquake centered off the coast of Japan March 11, 2011, the largest recorded in history, triggering a tsunami that was more devastating than the quake itself. 4 trains filled with passengers missing, homes and cars washed away making each street unrecognizable with countless souls lost and many others injured loosing all they own.

How do you not get depressed from this tragedy? It can be especially depressing for people who suffer from mood disorders. Stop listening to the news if you find yourself being emotionally affected in a way that is harmful to yourself.

On the other hand, it's good to think of how prepared you are if a disaster hits, how much water, food and medical supplies you have as well as a week or two worth of RX drugs in reserve. It is more important for people with mental and mood disorders to be prepared because disasters will affect your moods more than the average person.

Having Children Knowing You Have A Mental Illness

Having a mental illness raises concerns for people who suffer from a mental illness from the RX drugs they are taking to passing on this illness to a child to the abilities or inabilities they may have or not have while raising children or mood fluctuations during pregnancy.

Drug concerns should be discussed with your doctor. Topamax that is used for a mood stabilizer, migraines, and weight lose, is now linked to a higher risk of your child developing cleft palate if you take it during pregnancy. There are some ant-depressants and other psychotic drugs that are known to be safe like Lithium while carrying a child and others that either aren't tested enough or harmful like sedative medication often used in treatment. If you plan on having children in the future near or far and being treated for a mental disorder, open a dialogue with your doctor about RX drugs that are safe for a future child you may carry.

Passing on the mental disorder you or your partner has is another concern when planning for your future within a family. Many studies link a genetics to mental disorders. In my family my Grandmother, cousin and many others have bipolar disorder like me. When I think of having children I used to question whether or not it's fair to have them if I knew the risk of passing along this trait is worth it.

Each person needs to come to there own conclusion, sifting through the emotional and factually information. For me, I'm glad I know what I may be passing on, who better to help a child through something like a mental disorder than some one who has overcome it themselves. We all pass some sort of strengths and weaknesses, at least I'm aware of an illness that potentially will be passed on.

I fear the possibility that I may suffer from mood swings while being pregnant and post pregnancy. Having a plan is key to be responsible and alleviate fear when planning children. Talking to your doctor about any RX drugs you are on and side effects going off drugs that aren't good while being pregnant is the first step. Bringing up emotional concerns with your doctor that you may have about hormones and childbirth should become a comfortable subject.

If you are asking the questions of whether or not you are able to be a parent while suffering from a mental disorder that in itself shows a level of responsibility. Some parents never fully see the downfalls or inabilities they have before raising children. If you are aware of difficulties you may have and are able to overcome your struggles, you need to look at that. Some people will never be able to be stable enough to raise children, it's a decision you need to make looking at your awareness, emotional and financial stability, social support as well as medical awareness.

Does Charlie Sheen Have Bipolar Disorder?

Charlie Sheen, the star of Two And A Half Men, has never been diagnosed with bipolar disorder but he shows classic signs. It's painful for me to watch his latest interviews because it brings me back in time before I was treated from his twitchy demeanor to clearly unhealthy elevated unpredictable state. He has done drug test before going to some of his interviews so drugs don't account for his behavior.

"I am on a drug. It's called Charlie Sheen. It's not available. If you try it once, you will die. Your face will melt off and your children will weep over your exploded body."

"It's perfect. It's awesome. Every day is just filled with just wins. All we do is put wins in the record books. We win so radically in our underwear before our first cup of coffee, it's scary. People say it's lonely at the top, but I sure like the view."

"People don't say you're the coolest guy in the world for 20 years if it's not true."

"I'm tired of pretending like I'm not special. I'm tired of pretending like I'm not bitching, a total fricking rock star from Mars, and people can't figure me out, they can't process me. I don't expect them to. You can't process me with a normal brain,"

"I have a grandiose life. I embrace it." Sheen expounded. "Sorry my life is so much more bitchin' than yours. I planned it this way."

"I'm proud of what I created. Why wouldn't I be? I exposed people to magic. I exposed them to something that they otherwise would not see in their boring normal lives. And I gave that to them!"

"I have one speed, I have one gear: Go." "What's the cure, medicine to make me like them? Not gonna happen. I'm bi-winning. I win here, I win there. Now what? If I'm bipolar, aren't there moments when a guy like crashes?"

It's obvious to me that he will continue his cycle of feeling on top of the world with feelings of grandeur then crash, most likely to abuse drugs and alcohol once again. In my experience the higher I felt, the greater the crash.

I don't want to bash him, I hope the best for him and his future but until he seeks treatment he will proceed to ride this uncontrollable roller coaster up and down and around again.

What are your opinions on this subject?

Managing Bipolar In The Work Place

 It can be a struggle getting a job, then keeping it when faced with mental illness. Do you tell your manager and/or associates you work with about you disorder or not? Even during an interview process it's hard to know how much of your health issues you should share. When you know your performance at your job may be affected, when should you share this information about yourself and how much should you share if any.

9 out of 10 people with bipolar disorder are affected by it in job performance. As a previous manager I would have wanted some one to tell me if they struggled with mental health so that I could understand restrictions they may have and know how to relate to them but I was an understanding person and many aren't.

Talking with a supervisor can be beneficial, helping them understand your needs and abilities. It could also affect the way they treat and look at you in a negative way.

If you decide to share your mental illness with work or not there are some things you can request from your boss, giving an excuse under a different name not even needing any details but health if you wish. You need regular breaks to eat or a regular schedule, these are all normal requests for anyone with blood sugar problems etc. Regular breaks allow for you to meditate, call a friend if your stressed, take medication, refocus your mind or walk around to relax and relieve stress.

Find a job that's suitable for your health. I find that constant machine noises drive me up the wall. Most often the job needs to be scheduled hours, not too much stress, and suit the person of social and personal needs. What environment is best for you? Is it a job that drives you too much that you may struggle with impulsiveness or doesn't challenge you enough.

Have you told people you work with about a mental health issue? What benefits did you get from telling them or did you wish you never did?

Explaining Your Mental Health

Who should I tell? When is the best time to share my mental health issues? How do I explain it? What should I share and what information should I leave out? These are all questions that arise in people with mental illnesses when relating to friends, work relationships and family. Sharing your mental health issues can have a positive or negative outcome but one thing's for sure is that there is an uneasiness about sharing this personal information about yourself and how the other person is going to react. Is your friend, boss or family member going to treat you differently? How to make a person understand what you go through and how to treat you when they could never fully understand when they have never experienced it and media portrays mental illness in the most dramatic ways?

First, why do you want to share this information? How will it benefit you or the other person? Is the person your sharing with able to understand and is open to what you are going to say? I tell people for various reasons. It can help explain my actions and quirks, once they are close to me I like them to know how they can help me or I just need some one to talk to.

The following are suggestions on how to explain your mental illness like bipolar.

-Simplify your explanation, strip it down to the basics. Share the information that is needed for each person.

-Educate yourself in your mental illness medically and socially.

-Don't use a lot of personal emotions while explaining.

-Have information like web sites for the person in explaining symptoms and other useful information.

-Think first how to vocalize highs and lows you may have in a way that's relateable like, 'Being manic doesn't make me crazy, I just feel adrenaline that I can't come down from. I don't sleep well, my brain races with thoughts from one to another and I tend to be impulsive. Then I have periods of time where I feel depressed and it's difficult to be motivated. Some times it's hard to get out of bed.'

-Let them know how TV shows and movies portray a small percentage of people and the reality is that your not violent or....

-Tell them the steps you are going through to help yourself like medication and therapy.

-Discus some of the symptoms they may see in you and how it may affect them, also how they can help. Some times when I'm manic I'm not aware of others because my thoughts are racing and I become impulsive or quick to be angry. I tend to spend too much money and talk a lot. I ask some of my friends to let me know if they see this behaviour because I'm not always aware of it. I can make adjustment accordingly.

-Discus when a depressive state is serious enough to call and hospitalize you. Let them know if you are able to distinguish the difference. I have a good friend where if I call and need to talk, he knows when I'm emotional and I want to talk when it's serious. I say I need to talk when you have time, med serious really serious or I need help. Serious is wake up, phone me even if on a date or sleeping and serious is come over now or call an ambulance.

-How can that person help you. It can be something as small as them understanding you and your actions, being a person you can talk to, letting you know when you aren't acting normal, helping you seek options for help, being an advocate, passing your thoughts by them to know if your level, getting help in finding and understanding information or supporting you with positive support. I have person in my life I trust no matter my feelings. I have a friend and family member I trust, they keep an eye out on me and I listen to them for guidance as to whether my thoughts are logical and rational as well as actions. They have the OK to talk to my Doctor as well. I have another person in my family that I've given permission to keep an eye on my moods and progress, giving me input. I have 2 people I can call in emergency and need help medically or to talk whatever the time. I'm fortunate to have people who care about me and support me but it did take work building this support network. Being honest with myself and others of my needs, asking for help and letting them help me as well as distinguishing who is genuine and trust worthy, vocalizing their role in my recovery and releasing trust to them in areas I saw fit, was pivotal in building a team to strengthen my mental health.

-Ask the person if they have any questions.

People may look and treat you differently after you tell them so be aware of the impact this may cause. This is why I need a reason to tell people. Not every friend and person I meat needs to know, especially the minute I meet them.

Please share with me some of your successes, fears and positive outcomes in sharing your mental illness with people around you.

The Difference Between Normal Moods And Bipolar?

I was asked the question what makes mood symptoms ones of bipolar disorder and normal mood fluctuations. This became a difficult question to answer even after research. There are two areas to look at, one being an teenage stage and the other an adult one. Teenagers all go through more turmoil with emotions that may appear as bipolar to adults and is not always the case and adults are more likely to have been able to hide such emotions outwardly that it's not easily seen by others.

I first revert to the basic symptoms of bipolar disorder and what a couple of this my own Dr has said to me. First is when your own symptoms prevent you from living life then it's some thing you should look into. Another is that when your manic mood, or feeling of excitements is so great you can not pull them back when you desire to. That would be the case if you are so excited and seeing you be this way, you can't get control over your emotions. This would be true in a depressive state as well, if you can't see anything beyond the negative feelings you have.

Saying that the difference is how it does or doesn't interfere with ones life is not all that clear. I have been bipolar all my life and learned how not to let it interfere. I was skilled in making all my physical ticks as a child not be seen as an adult like my need to lick, touch my nose then chin or problem with walking on cracks.

When I was depressed I had a bright logical reason for why I wasn't able to go out with friends for the weeks or months that it occurred so they were never worried. This is why it wasn't diagnosed in me earlier.

To make it easier there are some questions you can ask to differentiate between bipolar and depression.

How intense is your mood? How long is it lasting and can you see beyond this mood.

How long dose your mood last? Weeks, months.

How much does it interfere with your life? Does it keep you spending time with your friends or makes it difficult to get out of bed.

If you relate to these answers than it's important that you talk honestly to a Dr as well as a friend or family member.

It was the most difficult to diagnose me when I was manic because I felt so good and didn't see the harm it was causing. Most people don't seek help during this time. Now I see how harmful it was for me. I put myself in such harmful positions because I felt so powerful. I had such an intensity of emotions that made me think I was thinking so smart, would make me not think of consequences financially and sexually, I was on top of the world I thought but not seeing how I was harming others and myself from my bliss.

What I can say is that if your may be thinking you have symptoms then seek professional help. If you are depressed than there are solutions for you other than you being bipolar and you may still need help. If you are asking the question than that means something. Seek out the answers for your questions. Like the person who asked me, that person knows there is a happier more fulfilled life out there for him/her and it's worth looking for those answers. Whether your not happy because of moral dilemmas, chemical problems in your body or situations in your life that need changes, there are people to help you find answers.

Natural alternative to meds

Anthony Stephan is the founder of True Hope. True Hope is a non profit company that gives an alternative to RX drug therapy for people who have mental disorders. It includes a combination of water soluble vitamins and minerals in high doses.

The people who have to watch and live with family members and friends who suffer from a mental disorders go through anguish watching them while feeling helpless not knowing how to help. This is what empowered Anthony to find a permanent workable solution to help people like his wife, Deborah Starr Stephan who took her life due to bipolar, as well as her father years before and now has four children, including Autumn and Joseph suffering from the same disorder, he was in a fight to save there lives.

A fathers love and determination to not settle for anything else but happiness for his kids is what it took for a break through. Anthony studied and prayed for answers, then met David Hardy, a biological scientist who coalated his own research with pigs emotional problems like ear-and-tail-biting syndrome and nutritional supplements with mental disorders in people. The two men partnered up to create supplements for humans that would affect humans the same way as in pigs. This was the birth of EMPower.

Studies started in the University of Calgary under the advisement of Dr Kaplan and now is studied in three different countries in six Universities with hundreds of medical Doctors using the program.

The basic philosophy behind these studies is that people who suffer from a chemical imbalance have a nutrient deficiency because they have a problem absorbing nutrients naturally. EMPower is a formula of high doses of those vitamins and minerals that make the body and brain function as it should. I look at it as giving the body the means to heal itself by feeding it what it needs to connect those wires that have been misfiring.

My family, especially my mom suffered as they watched me struggle with bipolar disorder and knew there was a better answer than medication. I improved on RX medications but had to take more medication to counteract the symptoms while my liver and kidneys suffered from those drugs. My mom was like Anthony, determined to find a solution and pushed me to start EMPower therapy after she researched it.

I was reluctant to try the supplements and only did it to shut my mom up and prove to her it wouldn't work but am glad my mom advocated on my behalf, almost forcing me to give it a chance. I talked with my family Dr as well as partnering with my Phyc Dr and the TrueHope specialist while I slowly went off my RX meds and on the supplements. I never knew I could be this happy and stable. It's like a dream I'm not waking up from. I don't have the drowsy side effects of RX drugs and feel like I want to live again, not just surviving like before.

I am in no way against RX medications to treat mental illnesses. It's all about finding out what works for each individual person. My goal in writing this post is to give another alternative to drug therapy as well as portray how important it is for people to get involved with helping loved ones find solutions. If some one suffers from a mental illness it's so hard to think clearly and research the answers on there own.

You can find more information at truehope.com.