SoberRecovery : Alcoholism Drug Addiction Help and Information - View Single Post

shutterbug · 08-22-2007, 04:48 AM

Morning Teach...we seem to both be up in the weeee hours of the morning and both having forms of bipolar on our minds

You are right. The goal is not to end up flat, and "normal" moods is the goal of treatment, but what i was more wanting to point out is that it's not even close to being as simple as that statement of "only a small percentage of people will continue to have symptoms, even after getting treatment."

I had already written/typed out the above responses before your question...so the bolded area in that last sentance was not directed at this question, but that is how important i think that is for people to understand about bipolar disorder -- particularly bipolar II.

It is not easily treatable by any means. And like i mentioned above, even when a med combo is eventually found (that time usually taking on average 2 years on a med rollar coaster to 'find') then many find that within sometimes as soon as 2-3 years something has changed or stopped working and another med-merry-go-round is needed. To those of us who've gone thru the initial trial-and-error med process, changing meds after being stable for awhile is super scary and many (like myself) put it off as long as we can -- which also means we are obviously experinecing symptoms during that time too.

Med changes are such a scary thing to us because we can go from struggling to unable-to-function with the addition or deletion of one goofy little pill! And very quickly too....and the climb back up is not always as easy as reversing the change that caused the downward spiral.

Stable -- that is the word that i use to express my "goal" state of moods....stable. When stable, i can handle the normal everyday things that cause stress, grief, general saddness, whatever -- but when unstable....these things are no longer manageable to me like it is for people without a mood disorder. These normal everyday occurances truely throw my life in total upheaval on many fronts.

Teach, that statement of small percentage still having symptoms really stuck out to me because I am heading into my fourth year of "treatment" and i am NOT alone in my FIGHT to live my life successfully (i.e. still here, still working, still pushing on). I am not in the minority of bipolars, but the majority). And of course....this doesn't even take into account all those who initially seek treatment and give up way before ever finding a half-way decent med combo...and without understanding the disorder, they don't realize that even tho they may feel "normal" when they stop taking their meds....they may actually be in a hypomanic episode or only have leveled out for the time being. And without education of the illness...even when symptoms start hitting them again there are often things in life for them to blame it on (like a death or hard break-up) and they don't connect that....yes the circumstances suck...but this is WAY past normal responses to such life events and they don't see that a mental illness is actually doing most of the damage in their lives.

It is why so many people go their whole lives without being diagnosed or taking heed to the diagnosis...we get so USE to always struggling, that we often don't know it isn't normal.

This can be seen just as codependency can be viewed. Anyone who knows how that affects our lives and our choices can see that knowledge is really the only way "out" but that we will still always struggle with codie issues regardless -- it is that engrained in us. And in the same token as bipolar disorder, how many codenpendents continue wrecking their lives because of codependency that they don't know exists or do, but don't understand it enough to recognize it's forces in their lives on a daily basis? To me, someone saying only a small percentage of those treated for bipolar disorder continue to have symptoms is like saying...."only a small percentage of those who've read a codie book and go to occational Alanon meetings will ever have to deal with codependency at work in their lives ever again." It's just not that easy unfortunately.

It is a constant uphill battle against this disorder and one i will have for the rest of my life unless modern science comes up with something better (or else i am able and brave enough to take on ECT and find it works for my depressions).

Hugs and thanks for this thread Teach,
Jenna

08-22-2007, 04:48 AM	#6 (permalink)
shutterbug A picture's worth a 1000 words Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: With any luck, I'm lost in a view finder Posts: 2,928	Morning Teach...we seem to both be up in the weeee hours of the morning and both having forms of bipolar on our minds You are right. The goal is not to end up flat, and "normal" moods is the goal of treatment, but what i was more wanting to point out is that it's not even close to being as simple as that statement of "only a small percentage of people will continue to have symptoms, even after getting treatment." I had already written/typed out the above responses before your question...so the bolded area in that last sentance was not directed at this question, but that is how important i think that is for people to understand about bipolar disorder -- particularly bipolar II. It is not easily treatable by any means. And like i mentioned above, even when a med combo is eventually found (that time usually taking on average 2 years on a med rollar coaster to 'find') then many find that within sometimes as soon as 2-3 years something has changed or stopped working and another med-merry-go-round is needed. To those of us who've gone thru the initial trial-and-error med process, changing meds after being stable for awhile is super scary and many (like myself) put it off as long as we can -- which also means we are obviously experinecing symptoms during that time too. Med changes are such a scary thing to us because we can go from struggling to unable-to-function with the addition or deletion of one goofy little pill! And very quickly too....and the climb back up is not always as easy as reversing the change that caused the downward spiral. Stable -- that is the word that i use to express my "goal" state of moods....stable. When stable, i can handle the normal everyday things that cause stress, grief, general saddness, whatever -- but when unstable....these things are no longer manageable to me like it is for people without a mood disorder. These normal everyday occurances truely throw my life in total upheaval on many fronts. Teach, that statement of small percentage still having symptoms really stuck out to me because I am heading into my fourth year of "treatment" and i am NOT alone in my FIGHT to live my life successfully (i.e. still here, still working, still pushing on). I am not in the minority of bipolars, but the majority). And of course....this doesn't even take into account all those who initially seek treatment and give up way before ever finding a half-way decent med combo...and without understanding the disorder, they don't realize that even tho they may feel "normal" when they stop taking their meds....they may actually be in a hypomanic episode or only have leveled out for the time being. And without education of the illness...even when symptoms start hitting them again there are often things in life for them to blame it on (like a death or hard break-up) and they don't connect that....yes the circumstances suck...but this is WAY past normal responses to such life events and they don't see that a mental illness is actually doing most of the damage in their lives. It is why so many people go their whole lives without being diagnosed or taking heed to the diagnosis...we get so USE to always struggling, that we often don't know it isn't normal. This can be seen just as codependency can be viewed. Anyone who knows how that affects our lives and our choices can see that knowledge is really the only way "out" but that we will still always struggle with codie issues regardless -- it is that engrained in us. And in the same token as bipolar disorder, how many codenpendents continue wrecking their lives because of codependency that they don't know exists or do, but don't understand it enough to recognize it's forces in their lives on a daily basis? To me, someone saying only a small percentage of those treated for bipolar disorder continue to have symptoms is like saying...."only a small percentage of those who've read a codie book and go to occational Alanon meetings will ever have to deal with codependency at work in their lives ever again." It's just not that easy unfortunately. It is a constant uphill battle against this disorder and one i will have for the rest of my life unless modern science comes up with something better (or else i am able and brave enough to take on ECT and find it works for my depressions). Hugs and thanks for this thread Teach, Jenna __________________ I'M FINE!! Fanatically Insecure Neuratic & Emotional Bipolar/Depression support: 1-800-950-NAMI(6264). Last edited by shutterbug; 08-22-2007 at 05:15 AM.