This is my amazing nephew David. He’s six. I was pretty depressed yesterday. David came up to me and gave me a hug. I said, “Auntie Wee is sick today.” He said, “I know.”
Wow. That is pretty insightful. I said, “How did you know I was depressed?” He said, “Because you’re always depressed!” I had to laugh! I’m not depressed very often at all anymore, but when he was very young, I was depressed about 50% of the time.
I made a decision when he was born that I would be honest with him about bipolar disorder. When I had a tough day, I’d say, “Auntie Wee is crying because she has an illness called bipolar disorder. ” Then I would explain how the illness caused my depression, but that I was fine on the inside. There were days when I couldn’t play with him as I wanted to and he would say, “That’s ok. You can watch me play.”
I really believe we can be honest with kids about this illness. They understand. I never let it get in the way of how I interacted with him. He came first and he still comes first- I just know my limits. I used to get so upset with myself that I couldn’t find the energy to hang out with him on the floor or run around in the back yard- but he didn’t care! All he cared about is that I was there watching him and talking with him!
Now that my depression is so much better and he’s older, I teach him about mental illness and how it affects people- and I always do this in a practical, non scary way. By the time he’s 10 he will be an expert!
He knows about my treatment plan (the Health Cards) and he will eventually know how to use them himself.
Wow, considering how sick Britney Spears was last year, she sure is doing well.
When my partner Ivan went through a severe manic/psychotic episode, it took him a year to recover. I can’t imagine what it would have been like for him had he been in the public eye.
I’ve followed the story pretty carefully. I was interviewed for US Magazine last year when it was still unclear if she had the illness. Their sources said it was confirmed and that she was on Abilify. There is no way to know anything for sure if the family is not talking.
Well, writing about her is odd for me. I don’t get star struck- but I do feel this is a situation where her misfortune was a good thing for those of us with bipolar disorder. Her manic episode was caught on film over and over again and the world finally had compassion.
Compassion for a super star leads to more compassion for people who aren’t in the tabloids.
I have one wish- that she would come out and say that she has the illness. It would be interesting to hear it from her.
She just gave up custody of her kids. All we can do is speculate as to why.
Julie
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This is a difficult question for many health care professionals as well as people with the illness. It’s known that the first bipolar disorder medications tried are not always successful and that a trial and error process is usually indicated. Some people try medications for a year or more until they find something that works for them. Considering medication side effects and the impact on the body when stopping or changing medications, it’s important that you work with your health care professional closely when you’re asked to try a new medication.
I suggest that people keep trying to find the right medications. I use the Health Cards every day as I always say and I used them without medications for many years. It took me about 50% of my time to manage the illness. I’ve always said that managing this illness was a part time job. It was so difficult.
Then I found a medication that worked. It was like getting a business partner! When I combined the Health Cards with the medication, my life changed completely. It just took a few years for it all to work together. I started to get a lot better last year.
So keep trying medications until you find what works. My coauthor Dr. John Preston wrote a fantastic book called The Medical Treatment of Bipolar Disorder. This book is especially helpful if you or someone you care about were just diagnosed. You can read about the book on bipolarhappens.com
I love Lamictal. That could be a bumper sticker on my car. I hope you have a medication that you love.
Unfortunately, I have some pretty tough side effects. Right now I’m dealing with the super stiff neck that often comes with the drug. It disrupts my sleep, which isn’t good! It’s like nighttime whip lash. I’ve found that stretching my neck and then using an ice pack helps. I try to get a massage as often as possible. I find myself moving my head over and over again to try to find a comfortable place on my pillow. There usually isn’t one! My side effects come and go, so hopefully this will be gone soon.
I’ve probably written about this on the blog- but I had to write it again to remind people that we may have to live with some side effects if the medication works really well.
Here’s some more info about Lamictal: Lamictal, like Depakote and Tegretol is an anticonvulsant drug that just happens to work for bipolar disorder!
Lithium is the only ‘real’ mood stabilizer. It’s a natural salt which is why it’s so inexpensive! Lithium is a miracle drug for many people- but a lot of us can’t take it.
When it comes to symptoms, Lithium, Tegretol and Depakote are anti mania drugs. They are not anti depression drugs- which is why Lamictal has been the miracle for those of us with bipolar II who don’t have full blown mania.
Lamictal helps with depression, mild mania, rapid cycling, psychosis, OCD symptoms and ADHD symptoms. Wow, that is great.
I just finished an article on bipolar disorder triggers for my column in BP Magazine.
I was going through some serious trigger issues when I wrote it! Do you write things down when you’re sick? I find it helps. I can often see my role in what’s going on if I write about what I’m honestly feeling.
I started seriously examining my bipolar triggers about eight years ago when I created the Health Cards (my treatment plan on bipolarhappens.com )- wow, I was a mess. I walked into situations without thinking and I was constantly ill. I’m a lot more vigilant now. A lot more. The minute I start to get sick, I think to myself- what is going on here? And I examine my life. Often it’s a problem with a person or work. Considering that my life pretty much revolves around relationships and work, this is depressing!
A friend of mine was doing really well after spending a few months in the hospital over 10 years ago. And then he got a job promotion. He had his first manic episode in over ten years. He went back to his regular job and got better quickly. It’s not fair is it.
Triggers aren’t always negative. There are many ‘positive’ triggers as well. It helps if family members can remember that those of us with bipolar are just ridiculously sensitive to change. We don’t like it. I hate it. But it’s our reality.
I think I use the phrase- it’s our reality- about a million times a day.
Julie
If you don’t have a subscription to BP Magazine, I highly recommend it. If you subscribe now, you can read my column on triggers in the fall issue!
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This is my amazing nephew David. He’s six. I was pretty depressed yesterday. David came up to me and gave me a hug. I said, “Auntie Wee is sick today.” He said, “I know.”
