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• October, 2007
• September, 2007

Woe is me...I am bipolar15 Oct, 2007 | Posted by: kellee

Ok...I have another gripe here to discuss...
So we are bipolar. So we have mood swings. So get depressed and cry and think the worlds coming to an end. So we get manic and feel high as a kite. So were happy sometimes and sad other times.

Alright, now that we have established that lets GET OVER IT and learn to live life! Don't stay in this constant state of doom that because you were diagnosed with a mental illness that it is all over and you will never live life normally again...you will! And its ALL up to you how WELL you live from this point on!

So acknowledge the illness, begin to treat the illness, notice the signs of your manic and depressive states, and then LEARN how to live life again!

My moral here is don't dwell and get out and live...life is too short to stay in doom mode!

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Coping with your diagnosis30 Sep, 2007 | Posted by: kellee

For those moms who were just diagnosed with bipolar I have a few tips on coping:

1) Read all the material you can on bipolar to make SURE it fits you! Doctors have been known to wrong and misdiagnose...thats why they call it practicing medicine :-)

2) Don't think you are insane and sell all of your belongings to check yourself into the nearest mental institution...it WILL be ok!

3) Talk to your family and friends about it...it always makes you feel better to get some lovin'!

4) Begin a journal and note down when you feel yourself either going higher or lower...you will become an expert at noticing when an episode is starting in no time!

5) Search out remedies and begin one that makes sense to you. It can be prescribed or holistic just be sure to begin something to "balance" you out. You aren't going to BELIEVE how much better you feel!

Any other tips you readers would like to share please do!

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Caregiving Tips...30 Sep, 2007 | Posted by: kellee

I found this article and just HAD to post it:

Tips for caregivers of people with bipolar disorder

Look after yourself. The best way to do this is to deliberately separate yourself from the bipolar behaviour. Don't buy in to arguments or criticism.

Acknowledge that you can't control what anyone else does, including taking medication, keeping appointments, sleeping, drinking etc. It's out of your hands, so stop sweating. (We know this is easier to say than do!)

Keep yourself and any dependents safe. This means physical and emotional safety. Move out to a friend's house for a night if you have to.

You might get support from a mental health service, but be aware this support is likely to focus on mental health issues, and provide little distraction or relief. See the next tip!

When your friend or loved one is ill, make sure you have your own commitments away from the home, for example go visit a friend, play tennis, go to the movies, go for a long walk.

If you think 'this person shouldn't be behaving like this' it's reality-check time. Remind yourself they are ill, and if they are properly treated these behaviours will just disappear.

While your loved one is very ill, focus on his or her safety rather than issues like getting enough sleep. Get them medical help when they need it. Use the police if you have to.

Don't try to do everything at once. When your loved one is well again you can work together on learning the "Art of Roller-coaster Riding".

Learn to recognise how bipolar disorder shows its symptoms. In Bipolar and the Art of Roller-coaster Riding we demonstrate that the wide variety of symptoms are actually variations not only in mood, but also in activity and thinking.

Encourage your loved one to work with you, or his or her doctor, to identify the typical triggers and symptoms that are unique for them. Learn the "Art of Roller-coaster Riding" together to create a system of early warnings and safety nets for future episodes.

Take a case summary with you when you visit a new doctor with your friend. Especially in a crisis, the doctor will be able to get a better history and therefore provide better care. Your friend can ask his or her doctor, or you can write up the case summary with your friend.

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