Trying to Understand

As for the meds? while it is rare that a bipolar can be off their medications, some have done it, even for them it is a struggle, for me I personally welcomed the life long medications as they helped me to be better, more stable and able to live a more normal life... my doctor when they first diagnosised me as bipolar asked if I knew that I would probably have to take it for the rest of my life, I told him yes and if it made life easier for me, bring on the truck full..

I do not hide the fact that I have bipolar disease. My son would not discuss it with anyone...he was diagnosed at 14 and hated to be different.

Now he has finally started talking about it. We have several people at work and customers that talk freely about having bipolar disease. It is no big deal with us. And nothing to be ashamed of...you have to make those kinds of decisions for yourself. Each person has a different situation.

I am BP1, rapid cycling and I don't hide it from anyone. In fact, I announce it! lol

That's a bit of an exaggeration, but in all honesty, when I meet new people that I know will continue to be in my life in some way (new friends, neighbors, dry cleaner - that one's true.. lol ) I let them know what they can possibly expect from me. That way, I don't have to give the big drawn out explanation later if I ignore someone's calls for a day and a half, or smile at them in the morning but sneer at them in the afternoon or... (pertaining to the dry cleaner) fling a dress across the room and demand to speak to the "lazy jackass who did this" because it wasn't pressed to my royal specifications!!!

In the past, when I have had to tell people AFTER THE FACT why I behaved in a certain way, I heard the same thing over and over from many different people: "I thought I did something wrong" or "I was trying to figure out what I did to make you mad" and things to that effect.

I find that by telling people right away, it cuts down on THEIR burden by making them aware from jump street that if something is "off" & they can't figure out why, it's pretty safe to say it's probably one of my swings, but I also tell them not to assume that EVERY time I'm emotional I'm "being bipolar"; I have regular emotions just like everyone else.

(And sometimes I tell complete strangers purely to entertain myself with their reaction lol )

Post edited by: kimminentdanger, at: 05/21/2008 01:38

It's amazing how different we all are even though we all have the same thing in common.

Post edited by: carmen33, at: 05/21/2008 06:36

I am BP1 with psychotic features. I will be on medication the rest of my life. My Drs. have tried weaning me off of meds, but I start having psychotic thoughts after only about 3 days. I think each person is different, though. Some do very well managing their symptoms by natural means. I just happen to be among those who can't.

I do not make a point of telling people that I have a mental illness. I wait until I have known someone a long time, and then decide if I will tell them. For me, it is a matter of how much I trust that person.

How does your husband throw it in your face?

Meme, I would consider it a deep betrayal of our relationship if someone outed me. That's just me, though. I'm pretty particular about things like that.

what is extensive cognitive therapy. who does this for you