There is hope for recovery

I recently had a change in my routine and as a result, didn't take my pills regularly. I became a bit manic. The good thing is that eventually I was able to see that I was manic and asked for help. Help was given and I'm doing much better now.

In the past I would have not been able to vocalize to another person what I needed from them. I would have gone into a tail spin that lead me angry, dry and depressed in the end.

Knowing that I still can swing into episodes scares me but there is a comfort that I have come to a place where I realize it when it is happening and have people around me who I can be open and honest with. Being aware of myself is the greatest thing I've learned through this journey.

I remember my fight to get where I am and it has been a challenge but the hard work is well worth it so far. People suffer every day and it's hard when you don't have fight in you. I had no fight in me left and then it was my Mom that fought for me. Most people don't have a Mom like I do but often has someone who is willing to help. Don't miss that help because of blind eyes.

There is light at the end of the tunnel, there is hope when all else is gone, there is recovery of life when you have bipolar disorder.

I.C.E.

I have written on this in the past. It stands for, 'In Case of Emergency.' In the past I suggested you had something written with all your emergency contacts and drugs you take as well as allergies, on a piece of paper under your drivers license. Now there is an app for that now.

Dr's, medics, etc, know to check your phone first when finding out information in an emergency for you. Inputting information about yourself and who people can contact can save your life or at least, help those who are trying to help you.

Bob Brotchie came up with the concept of ICE when he had treated unconscious people without knowing any information about them again and again. Seeing the problem of being limited to treatment because of not knowing the medical history, he came up with a great solution to this problem.

Who wants to wear a bracelet if they have an allergy or medical condition? The concept of ICE gives you freedom from that. First responders now are trained to look for that information in your phone or behind your ID.

Whether you have a medical condition or not, it's a good idea to at least keep information where first responder can find it, of who to contact in an emergency situation. Take the time now to get a free app on your phone and put in information that could help you if your ever in a situation when you can't speak for yourself.

Famous Bipolar People

Jesse Jackson Jr is the latest famous person who has been publicly diagnosed as bipolar and depression. Before that it was Charlie Sheen who wasn't diagnosed in public but many people came to that conclusion. It reminds me of all the famous people in the past who have been thought to have bipolar disorder. What makes them a star when they have such mental issues?

Vincent Van Gogh (an artist), Kurt Cobain (a musician), Robert Downey Jr (an actor), Mel Gibson (actor/Director), Jack Irons (drummer for Red Hot Chili Peppers and Pearl Jam), Debra LaFave (school teacher that had an affair with her student), Frank Sinatra (singer), Amy Winehouse (musician), and many more.

I see the full list of actors and musicians who were and are bipolar and can't help but see a coalition between creativity and mental health issues like bipolar. Not saying that every one who is creative has a mental health issue or that every one with those issues are creative. I just can't help to notice that maybe the benefit of bipolar is creativity, looking at the world differently than others, 

Being famous doesn't make you immune. It may make problems you have worse because of pressure and acceptance of poor judgment. Because they are famous, seeing how they deal with it can help or hinder us. Patty Duke was a famous actor back in the day, she has stepped in front of her illness and has been an advocate like many others.

Bipolar may have helped people be more creative and swings may have given them an edge. What is more powerful than their art is to admit and deal with mental issues in public, even though that's the hardest environment to do it in. Famous people have a responsibility to set a good example more than the rest of us because they have put themselves in a place where people see and listen to them more than others.

My trip to Bali with all it's glorry and struggles

I recently traveled overseas to visit my brother and his girlfriend. I would like to share the benefits and struggles I faced on my trip so that it will help those who are planning on traveling prepare for your trip and encourage those who are afraid because of mental illnesses disabling you.

The last time I went on a major overseas trip was when I was 15 yrs old. It was to Uganda, Africa with my school. My school was sponsoring an orphanage and school there and had a program where we could finish our semester in a shorter time, get credit for going there and enable us to be taught lessons that we could never be taught in Canada while allowing us to affect the lives of others through service. Because this trip I took, meant that I worked hard for the money and also received support of my family and friends. It encompassed my life for a year before I left, after I came home I felt displaced and went into depression. I realized that having such a big goal, working so hard for that goal, the goal consuming my whole life,  when I  achieved the goal there was nothing left.

This time when I planned my trip, one of the things I was aware of was how it would impact me seeing another culture and it's impact on my views on my own culture, so having a goal to make for this trip and afterwards was important. When I was away I was looking for clarity on perception change, how my experiences would affect my life, instead of just going with each feeling and emotion without any internal analyzation.

My goals for when I came home were subject to change depending on what I learned on my trip. One goal has to do with organization in my home and the other with my focus at work. This gave me a purpose instead of having an empty loneliness that comes from a habit of building something that is already done. Another goal was the progression within my life. I need to find a place to live with more room, a healthier environment and succeed at work or find work that will have an environment of success for me.

Another thing I faced was not having enough pills to remain on my schedule because I stayed an extra week and a half. I had to cut them in half so they would last until I got home. I had moments of depression and paranoia.

When I go on vacation, I always bring extra pills just in case. A place like Indonesia doesn't have the same kind of Dr's if you need to get help there so you need to put in place support before you go. I think the Internet is awesome! I was able to Skype friends and family back home when I was feeling uneasy and knew if I really needed to talk with my Phyc Dr, I could as long as I stayed up late at night, because of the time difference.

When I felt anxiety and all my other symptoms of bipolar disorder, one thing that helped was going for a long walk on the beach. Exercise has helped me at home and it helped me there.

The interesting thing for me is how I dealt with my symptoms. I got stressed where my anxiety started to take control, I became paranoid where I thought people were against me and there were intruders all around, and I had moments of depression affecting my will to move and get out of bed. Through all of this I fought back, I kept in my mind how I feel normally now and kept perspective of what I know is real versus what I felt. Some of you don't have the luxury of feeling in control or normal, that can come in time. For those of you who have more good days than bad or are able to remember happiness and control on your life, hold on to that as a center or grounding when you feel crazy emotions that aren't real, that aren't you.

Going on this trip helped me see my strengths as well as weaknesses. It was long enough to make me love the medical care I get from my country and stability I'm able to have by being able to make and keep a schedule. I will miss the people, warm weather and ocean. It helped me relax and listen to the sounds of earth and nature as well as see it. Enjoy the moment and see the beauty in front of me. There are differences in all our cultures, some good and some bad but in the end we are very similar.

Whits End With Mental Illness

Recently I took a class with a mother of an adult bipolar child. She began to share about her struggles with her daughter that she was going through, manic then depressive stage, her reaching her max end of putting up with it. I didn't tell her of my experiences until the last class we had together. I got to hear the struggles she went through unbiased and advise given by others with no personal relations accept they had children, for this problem. It was eye opening to me.

I knew it was hard on family members when I struggled but never realized how hard. In all my pain and torment, I never understood it may have been more difficult for people around me than it was for myself. All I have ever seen was my pain and torment.

I saw her frustration and physical exhaustion in how her daughter was draining her and she was at the point where she needed to start taking care of herself. The same scenario happens over and over again. No amount of reasoning and support makes any difference. The motivation and willingness to change for her daughter needs to come from her wanting it.

As a friend who had no prior experience, I would tell her to take care of herself first and leave the responsibility on her daughter to find her own way. It's not untrue that your first priority should be your own health.

After our last class together, I pulled her aside and said that I knew where her daughter was coming from. I had spent more time in bed than out of it and look where I am now. Mentally functioning well, working full time and going to the gym and eating well. I told her a web site that changed me. She said to me that it was her daughter that needed to make a choice to change and I wanted to be sportive of her emotions and feelings as well as stay true to helping people understand our point of view. I don't know if I can do both so I kept my mouth shut.

Seeing a loved one hurting and going through the same cycles again and again must be tiering. The logic and reasoning loved ones have isn't translating to mentally ill people. It seems like mentally ill people aren't making an effort or deciding to do things that are obvious for others that will be helpful. Gaining weight and blaming it on Rx drugs seems like an excuse. Don't like how you feel? Change your actions!! Isn't that easy for people with mental illnesses.

I would have loved to explain how much I wasn't in control of my moods and emotions. When I was depressed it was all I could do to keep myself alive and not kill myself. Every moment of my life was managing my brain. All the discomfort, thoughts in my mind, things I wanted to do or ideas I got when I was manic was a constant battle. I was in a constant battle of thoughts and feelings that were in contradictions of other thoughts and feelings I had. All seemed real while nothing did. My mind was tearing apart because I knew and realized it's instability. Now that I'm stable I realize how bad it was.

With what I know now, if I had a loved one suffering like I was, I'd try and understand them while keeping my boundaries. Beating your head against a brick wall is not help to either of you.

Understanding, knowledge, compassion, nudging then forceful loving help is what I would do. My parents supported my basic needs and encouraged me in areas of help. I had a wonderful best friend who's uncle is schizophrenic and relating to me helped him understand his uncle and his mothers position in helping him. He would come over to my place once a week and listen to me without judgment as well as almost force me to take a walk with him outside no matter if I hadn't showered in days. All of this support helped me find answers I needed for my recovery.

I also had a mother who saw me and didn't give up. She researched options and even though she couldn't relate, she had a belief that my life could be more, be better than it was. She had faith in me when I threw that out the window years ago. Her research panned out.

There is no easy answer for anyone involved within mental illness. A willingness to understand each other and an openness for empathy goes a long way.

Allergic Disease Linked To Bipolar I

People with airborne allergies can lead to the exacerbation of depression in patients with bipolar I. A study done by Teodor Postolache (University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA) and co-workers shows that 44% of patients who have bipolar I have airborne allergies like pollen and hay fever.

During high exposure to allergens, symptoms of bipolar increased.

It just amazes me how connected each part of our body is. How a physical problem like allergies connect to brain function. My question is what came first? The allergy or the mental disorder.

High Blood Pressure And Bipolar And Hypertention

A Clemson University researcher, James A. McCubbin and colleagues has found that high blood pressure dampens your ability to read emotional content in faces. In our writing and texts it is easy to tell if someone is joking by the smiley face they put behind their sentence when in person it would be easily mistaken.

He calls this emotional dampening. A friend or coworker may make a comment that is meant to be a joke, when unable to read facial expressions it may be mistaken and can lead to anger. This can also lead to distrust and risk taking by not proberly being able to read threats in the environment as well as robing a persons ability to feel enjoyment and personal connections with others.

McCubbin said the link between dampening of emotions and blood pressure is believed to be involved in the development of hypertension and risk for coronary heart disease, the biggest killer of both men and women in the U.S. Emotional dampening also may be involved in disorders of emotion regulation, such as bipolar disorders and depression.

I take a small amount of Pindolol which is a blood pressure medication. I take it for my anxiety and it helps even out my adrenaline.

Implants For Bipolar And Schizophrenic Patients

What would it be like for people who suffer from bipolar disorder or schizophrenia to be able to go to the Dr once every three to six months to be injected with medicine than to take pills two to three times a day? Forgetting to take a pill, or not being able to take it because you got tied up some where and don't have enough on you for the duration is a common issue. Not taking one dose, or taking it late will mess you up emotionally and can sometimes lead to you not caring about the next dose. Being free from that responsibility for months at a time sounds revolutionary.

A new drug that is expected to go on the market in a few months called, NP202, needs to be implanted minimally once every three months. It's a  biodegradable risperidone implant that has a continuous delivery system that can be taken out at any time. It can also be used to treat migraines and Parkinson's disease.

Who wouldn't want this new treatment espesially those who aren't good at taking medication as regularly as they should? This sounds like a miracle option. One problem is that it only works on just under half of patients. Just like all mental health drugs, there is not one pill for everyone. It will take time for all the side effects to be known and the known ones aren't published yet because the drug isn't approved so the company making it doesn't need to share that information publicly which helps them get needed financial funding. One thing that makes me uneasy about it is is what Jane Hollingsworth, the chief executive officer of NuPathe, the company making this drug, said. “There is a need for innovation, but the more innovation you have in your product, the more difficult it can be for [the regulators] to understand it, at least within the review cycle time line. By definition, innovation does not fit in a box or the mold for what has come before, and that can strain the regulatory system, particularly if it is a system that favors caution and safety over innovation.”

This statement makes me fear she may be more interested in some possible good outcomes without caring for adequate safety measures for the others.

This treatment is revolutionary while I wouldn't be the first in line to be a guinea pig.

 

Mentally ill, more likley to be violent?

A new study amongst developed countries show that adults who suffer from mental illness are 4 times more likely to experience violence and 1 in 4 people without a disability have experienced violence in the past year. Hm this sounds like people with mental illnesses are beating on people without.

Actually they are 4 times more likley to be victims of the violence than the perpetrators. This says a lot about out society and how they treat the mentally ill, as well as how people's mental illness affects them so that they live life putting themselves in harms way.

People who suffer from mental illness often are a target because of low self esteem, poor social behaviors, social stress and isolation, neurological impairment, and alcohol and drug abuse.

Media often portrays people with mental illnesses as the ones we should be fearful of, instead society should do a better job of protecting them because they are vulnerable to abuse from others.

How can you help change this trend for the positive? Don't make slide comments to homeless people on the street to find a job because they look physically fit enough to work, they may be suffering from a bigger problem than a broken knee or injured limbs. Engage yourself in a conversation, a kind word or relationship with someone who is different and may suffers from mental illness instead of awkwardly ignoring them. Be more aware of illnesses and stop others from derogatory comments at the least.

If you are mentally ill, acknowledge that your are more susceptible to being abused and you are worth more than that. Isolation is your biggest enemy and find something that gives you self worth whether it be in a job, volunteer work or being a good friend.

It takes all of us whether we are mentally ill, know some one who is or are just bi-standers among people for this violence to end.  Every little word said or action done, makes a difference one way or another.

Deap Brain Stimulation

In the 1940's and 1950's, electric shock therapy was common for treating the mentally ill. A few had favorable outcomes while many didn't. Many came out with broken bones and worse mental health issues like memory loss.

Some theories were, Neurotransmitter theory: The shock works like antidepressants, changing brain receptors to allow chemicals to flow like serotonin.

Anti-convalescent. Inducing seizures in hopes they will dampen abnormal brain function and stabilizing mood.

Neuroendocrine theory: Seizures cause chemicals to release that regulate mood.

Brain Damage Theory: The shock causes memory loss and disorientation while giving the illusion the problems are gone.

This was a barbaric practice because I'm sure they ruined more minds than they saved. Looking back there was such little knowledge and treatment known, this seemed like the best option.

My Grandmother is bipolar and received electric shock therapy, as I understand, of her own requesting. She wanted to be better like at one time I would have drilled a hole in my skull if it had a chance to help me no feel what I did.

Now it is called, deep brain stimulation. Where the electricity travels in ones body is more controlled as well as the patients who receive it. Studies show improvement in a majority of percentage of patients. Tests still need to be done but improvements and understanding of electricity helping people with mental illness is improving.

Electricity for mentally ill patients feels barbaric but there are possibilities for future understanding. When they started they knew nothing about the consequences, only the faith it would help some. Now they only use it in extreme cases, the research is growing and will one day be practiced daily.

While I Wait

I sit waiting in line like everyone else. I look around at other people. The young guy in the corner is still accept for glancing at his phone and writing a text message about once every five minutes. A child plays and tried to get attention by jumping off and on the seats near to her parents. An adult women starts to talk to the child because she is reminded of her own. The child calms down after she is noticed.

It would be usual for people to be focused on there phones, reading emails, surfing the web or writing messages but this day like many others, they all seem to be at peace with just waiting.

I have looked at the man in the corner and studied his behavior, I was entertained by the child playing for a while, I stared at the old woman, making stories in my head about where she came from and now I count all others before me and imagine excuses why I should go before them. I can't sit still, my leg vibrates in a beat. My bum starts to hurt from the hard seat so I move into another position. My back gets sore and my leg falls asleep from the other one perching itself on it so I reverse. Within seconds I reverse back and slump myself into the chair in hopes of comfort.

I don't find comfort in the chair I'm sitting in so I try and think of other things that would occupy my mind but all I can think of is how I don't want to be here and how are they able to sit and wait so peacefully.

Lack Of Sleep Causes Depresion

It is so common for us to have 5, 6 hours of sleep or less. In our fast pace society, most people don't have the time to spend on rest and sleep. It's recommended that we need 8 - 9 hrs of sleep a night but on average we get less than 7. Prolonged sleep deprivation can cause depression.

When we don't have adequate sleep our central nervous system is affected, it becomes more active, inhibits the pancreas from producing enough insulin, the hormone needed to digest glucose.

Studies taken show that a lack of sleep within 2 years can change the chemicals in your brain and lead to depression. Not only that, it can cause high blood pressure, anxiety, heart problems and weight gain.

I know from experience how not sleeping made me crazy. Now that I'm getting back into life I have a challenge to balance expectations of productivity and my desire to keep up with all activities in life with the time to sleep as well as the time it takes me to wind down to be able to sleep.

We need to make sleep a priority. Simplify your life if needed. Learn techniques on how to shut out life and fall asleep. If you don't, you most likely will suffer the fate of depression and unnecessary anxiety.

Stress Tests In High School

Should high schools give students a test for depression? With the pressure kids are under from school and home, teams they may be on and social stresses, more and more develop depression and anxiety problems. 31% of students suffer from some degree of depression. It is not part of the curriculum to educate and test children for depression, anxiety or a mental illness, even though small, there is a growing number of schools that address this issue.

Giving a child a questionnaire for assessment is useless unless there is awareness. A program with informal discussions, teaching videos and speakers is key to helping teens cope and others cope around them. Teachers need to be taught how to handle this situation and students need knowledge so they're more accepting towards others.

When I was in high school we were given a test to asses the level of our stress. I answered questions like, have you recently moved or, has some one you know died within the past _ years. There were also a few questions like, have you ever thought about killing yourself and Is it easy to get up in the morning. I scored so high on that test, high being likely to be depressed but the teacher didn't do anything to help which made me feel even more alone.

These kind of tests are good to give students while it's necessary if a teacher gives the test, he/she is equipped to handle the outcomes.

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.