Hi my name is Jackie Smith, I've been digansoed with bipolar since the year 2000. I found this site to be very beneficial to me at times. http://www.bipolarworld.net/ It will explain fully that bipolar theories on how you get this disease. Some says you are born with bp it skips generations. Some says it's trauma as a child. In my case I had a borderline learning disability that leads into the mental disability of BP my father was a dictator and emotionally and physically abusive. Which back then the states didn't have child protective services. If a parent is found to be abusive then you live with other relative that's the way it was in the 70's and 80's There are all different medications for bp but not for a physical disability. You can seek conseling and medication as that is what I am doing. Well balance diet and excersing. Don't go off meds either. Too dangerious. You can have homidal thoughts or suicidal thoughts. Read more information at http://www.bipolarworld.net/ Also if you see signs of yourself or someone you care about have a raging anger problem and can't remember five minutes later what they just say. Just suggest to them to seek evaluation on being bipolar. ETC. My world collaspe about 8 years ago when something majored happen to wake me up. Somtimes it takes something major to wake you up. With any kind of disease or addictions out there. If your in denial then your not ready for help. I encourage people if you need a person to lean on. Just send me a e-mail at godsprofits@hotmail.com I can give you other resources as well. Dr.phil message boards is a good resources. Never go off your medicine and thinking your normal your not. You will have this for the rest of your life. Jackie

Hello Everyone
  Here is some pretty good information about Bipolar that just came to me in one of my news feeds. I am posting part of the article here and then the link for the rest of the article will be at thew bottom of this post for anyone who might want to read the rest of this report. I wish you all the very best.

information on bipolar
Friday November 17th 2006, 4:41 am
Filed under: Health Research

How is Bipolar Disorder Treated?

Most people with bipolar disorder—even those with the most severe
forms—can achieve substantial stabilization of their mood swings and related
symptoms with proper treatment. Because bipolar disorder is a recurrent
illness, long-term preventive treatment is strongly recommended and almost
always indicated. A strategy that combines medication and psychosocial
treatment is optimal for managing the disorder over time.

In most cases, bipolar disorder is much better controlled if treatment is
continuous than if it is on and off. But even when there are no breaks in
treatment, mood changes can occur and should be reported immediately to your
doctor. The doctor may be able to prevent a full-blown episode by making
adjustments to the treatment plan. Working closely with the doctor and
communicating openly about treatment concerns and options can make a
difference in treatment effectiveness.

In addition, keeping a chart of daily mood symptoms, treatments, sleep
patterns, and life events may help people with bipolar disorder and their
families to better understand the illness. This chart also can help the
doctor track and treat the illness most effectively.

Medications for Bipolar Disorder

Medications for bipolar disorder are prescribed by psychiatrists—medical
doctors (M.D.) with expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of mental
disorders. While primary care physicians who do not specialize in psychiatry
also may prescribe these medications, it is recommended that people with
bipolar disorder see a psychiatrist for treatment.

Medications known as “mood stabilizers” usually are prescribed to help
control bipolar disorder. Several different types of mood stabilizers are
available. In general, people with bipolar disorder continue treatment with
mood stabilizers for extended periods of time (years). Other medications are
added when necessary, typically for shorter periods, to treat episodes of
mania or depression that break through despite the mood stabilizer.

Lithium, the first mood-stabilizing medication approved by the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment of mania, is often very
effective in controlling mania and preventing the recurrence of both manic
and depressive episodes.
Anticonvulsant medications, such as valproate (Depakote®)
or carbamazepine (Tegretol®), also can have mood-stabilizing
effects and may be especially useful for difficult-to-treat bipolar
episodes. Valproate was FDA-approved in 1995 for treatment of mania.
Newer anticonvulsant medications, including lamotrigine (Lamictal®),
gabapentin (Neurontin®), and topiramate (Topamax®),
are being studied to determine how well they work in stabilizing mood
cycles.
Anticonvulsant medications may be combined with lithium, or with each
other, for maximum effect.
Children and adolescents with bipolar disorder generally are treated
with lithium, but valproate and carbamazepine also are used. Researchers
are evaluating the safety and efficacy of these and other psychotropic
medications in children and adolescents. There is some evidence that
valproate may lead to adverse hormone changes in teenage girls and
polycystic ovary syndrome in women who began taking the medication before
age 20. Therefore, young female patients taking valproate should be
monitored carefully by a physician.

 

Women with bipolar disorder who wish to conceive, or who become
pregnant, face special challenges due to the possible harmful effects of
existing mood stabilizing medications on the developing fetus and the
nursing infant. Therefore, the benefits and risks of all available
treatment options should be discussed with a clinician skilled in this
area. New treatments with reduced risks during pregnancy and lactation are
under study.
 http://juliehughes.wordpress.com/2006/11/17/information-on-bipolar/

Hi Bill, I noticed you mentioned "manage" bipolar. That is very important. Most Bipolar sufferers believe if they feel better they must be cured. Bipolar cannot be cured!!! You either have it or you don't, and it's for life. I, too, was diagnosed with Bipolar I in 2000. Two months later, my husband died. If I hadn't been on medication, I probably wouldn't be here today to discuss it. Although I was beaten as a child and mentally and emotionally abused all my life, I believe I was bipolar even before that. Actually, I believe it was BECAUSE of that that I was abused! My reason for this belief is that I have 3, possibly 4 children who are also Bipolar/ADHD combination. They were never abused, I forbade it. They are not spoiled, and yet they have major issues very common to Bipolar symptoms. Violent Anger, Forgetful, Impulsive, Sexually promiscuous (girls), drug issues, Severe Depression, self-destructive and possibly suicidal actions and thoughts. Not only do I have to deal with my own difficulties, I have to deal with theirs. They don't see they need medication, it makes them NOT FEEL like they used to. I know now that I was living on a "Natural High", but then I would plummet into such a deep depression for six months at a time. That depression is what keeps me on my meds. I have missed alot in my life because of sleeping my life away. Granted, I no longer have the "high" feelings, but I also am up living my life. I just wish I could get this through to my kids. I was 38 when I was diagnosed, even though my family and I knew there was something wrong twenty years earlier. I only wish I had what is available now so I could have concentrated in school, controlled my anger out of school, and had a life. I was a social outcast. I don't want them to be. And you also mentioned the medications and counseling. There are so many kinds of meds, and even if you find one that works, it doesn't mean it will work forever. It has to be adjusted as your life changes, or your body adapts to it. Some work for some, others work better. Lithium did not work for me, it really messed up my thinking so much I had to stop homeschooling my oldest and send her back to school, even though I knew it wasn't good for her. And it made me shake terribly, but it works for my cousin, who is on so much medication because of the severity of her problem. I also wanted to mention, before I sign off, that IF you continue to go on and off your meds, you could end up like my sister -- She was Bipolar, but is now classified as Schizophrenic. She has been in and out of hospitals, lost custody of her son, been divorced twice, and is living with my father and his family. She is only 40. This began when she was 14! So don't mess with what the doctors say. Work with them. That's enough from me. Thanks for being here, Bill. Lola V

Hello Jackie and Lola

   I thank you both for having the courage and compassion to share your stories with us. I know that it is not easy to talk about such things but you are both helping someone understand more about their life. You are giving hope to someone who most likely felt totally alone in this world untill now.

   The importance of staying on your medication can't be stressed enough. As Lola said, some meds work better for different people so there is a continuous need for followup care. One med might work for a while but lose it's effectiveness later on. The important thing to remember is that there are effective treatments for mental illness and you must seek out those who are most knowledgable in this field.

   Something that I have noticed on this forum is that there are way more people who read it than there are those who post here. If for some reason you have an issue that you are afraid to discuss in a public forum, feel free to send me a pm. I will never reveal your personal information. This way you can discuss your issues with others and never have to reveal who you are. I will copy and paste your message for you and then you can just read the responses to yor post in the forum. Just know that you are not alone in your suffering and that there are people who truly understand your situation and waNT TO HELP YOU IN ANY WAY THEY CAN.

Hi Jackie.  I'm Susan and I write a blog with my brother, David who is bipolar.  I, myself have depression/anxiety.  We write on a joint blog because we though men and women would appreciate hearing from both a man and a woman and how they cope with their mental health problems. 

The site you listed in your post looks interesting and I appreciate you it them.  All of us who are affected by these kinds of problems need all the help and understanding that is available.