Straight Talk on Managing Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar Disorder and Schizoaffective Disorder: What is the difference?

I just received the following comment from Laura regarding my article on psychosis for healthyplace.com. She raises an imporant point- how do you know the difference between the diagnosis of bipolar disorder and schizo-affective disorder?

Hi Julie,

Your article was very helpful for me. It not only educated me but gave me hope which I desperately need right now. My 19 year old son is currently hospitalized after a suicide attempt. They have diagnosed with as BP type 1 but possibly schizoidaffective.
After reading about the psychosis differences between the two, I am hopeful – he seems to display the BP type of psychosis instead of schizphrenic type.

Hi Laura,

I am so glad the blog helped. Schizoaffective disorder is actually easy to understand in terms of a diagnosis- If the psychosis comes with an obvious mood swing- such a psychotic mania- ie, a person could be euphoric with high energy, zero desire to sleep with no tiredness the next day and the belief they are the reincarnation of a famous figure, that is bipolar disorder. If the person has mood swings without psychosis such as a suicidal depression, that is bipolar disorder as well. If a person has psychosis with NO mood swing at the time- in other words they hear voices and feel the police have bugged the house- that would be a diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder.

Bipolar disorder psychosis can mimic schizophrenia psychosis, as it did with my partner Ivan who was in a three month manic/psychotic episode, but for others, it does fit the pattern I talk about in my psychosis article.

I hope your son is doing better. Please remind him that suicide and suicidal attempts are a normal part of bipolar disorder. He can learn to manage the illness so this doesn’t happen again. He went into the hospital- so he is a strong guy who can get better. It just takes a plan. Julie

What is Greatness?

I have always liked the words greatness, champion and hard worker. I apply those to bipolar disorder management. I like to see myself as a champion. I certainly hope for greatness. To me these words mean that I simply keep going no matter what bipolar disorder throws at me. Sometimes I limp- fall down, hurt myself and dont’ want to go forward. I know that is what bipolar disorder wants. I remember coming out of some manic episodes in the past and feeling that I would never recover from what I did while I was manic. But I recovered. I remember being so suicidal that I could hardly move because of fear I would do something I regretted. When I realized that I could make it through anything, that’s when I started to write my books. You may not know this, but I wrote all of my books while depressed. I am sure you can understand that I wasn’t exactly sitting down to write when the hypomania decided to show up.

How are things for you today? Maybe you just got out of the hospital, did something stupid while you were manic, said something awful to someone you love, thought of killing yourself or spent money you didn’t have.

I’ve been there! I’ve done that! My idea of a champion is someone who makes it through bipolar situations and then finds a way to keep going so that they can create a plan for the future- a much better future.

Julie

Generic Bipolar Disorder Medications

As may of you know if you’re a regular to this blog- I had a very bad reaction when I changed from brand name Lamictal to to generic Lamictal (lamtrigine.) Others made the switch just fine. If you have switched over from your brand Lamictal to generic Lamtrigine and have noticed a difference in the efficacy of the drug, there are many blog entries under the Lamictal tab to the right that explain generic bipolar drugs in great detail. You can also ready my story- it was quite a saga! But it has all worked out. My mother who takes Lamictal had no problems and has stayed on the lamotrigine. I went back to brand Lamictal and am very happy with the results. No matter what you take, knowledge of generic bipolar disorder drugs is essential!

Julie

lamictal

viagra This is not generic Lamictal…. yes, I am trying to make you laugh!

Spiraling back up from a downward spiral

Bipolar disorder doesn’t like change. It likes structure and set schedules.

I’m not trying to anthropomorphize bipolar disorder. When I say ‘it’ I do know it’s an illness, but it can sure seem like a human adversary. It’s tricky, sneaky and nasty. Those are not exactly good qualities! But just like with any human adversary, it is possible to minimize the damage.

When an event sends you spiraling down into depression, it’s easy to think that everything in your life is spiraling down. That is what bipolar disorder does. It distorts your thinking so that one event becomes about your whole life. So when you have a problem – with a relationship for example, bipolar disorder symptoms will whisper that this means you have trouble with all of your relationships and that you will never have good relationships again.

It doesn’t matter that this is impossible. It feels very real and the spiraling downward continues. Here is what you can do:

1. Say to yourself over and over again- ‘My life is made up of many, many experiences. This one experience is important, but it doesn’t mean my entire life is about this experience.’

2. Remind yourself that even the worst pain in the world can eventually end. Bipolar disorder will lie and tell you it won’t, but it does.

3. And finally, there is a person in you that has zero to do with this illness. The illness is like a blanket- it affects the real you, but it’s not you. Remember that when it feels that the blanket has covered up all of your life.

The way to end a downward spiral is to do anything and every thing to go into an upward spiral. The three suggestions above are a good start.

Julie

PS: Can you tell that I need my own advice today! It’s always important that I only listen to the real person- myself!

A Quick Hello

Life is good. I am working and getting things done.

I’m not manic.

I’m not depressed.

I’m busy like a normal person who isn’t manic would be busy.

This is such a dream come true. I just wrote a newsletter about the topic of goals and how long it takes to reach them when bipolar disorder is involved. I am never sure how long a period of stablity will last, but I will do everything in my power to keep it going!

How are you doing?

julie

Video blog welcome from Julie

I’m committed to using my new video camera to record more videos for the blog. My goal is to answer reader questions, give updates on my writing projects and offer as much support as possible. Feel free to send me topics for these webcasts. I so appreciate the questions regarding bipolar disorder treatment, bipolar symptoms and help for family members who love someone with bipolar disorder.