Bipolar Support Group

a drug which acts to limit or reduce the chemical process in the brain which contributes to depression.

periodic, deliberate, excessive, short term use of alcohol; intentionally seeking fast and extreme short term intoxication (.08% concentration in blood tests).

(also manic-depressive): demonstrating extreme mood swings ranging from manic (exhilerated, energetic, positive, imaginative, optimistic) to depressed (fatigued, lethargic, negative, unimaginative, pessimistic).

a diagnosed state of mental or physical ill health which causes or affects  extreme mood swings ranging from manic (exhilerated, energetic, positive, imaginative, optimistic) to depressed (fatigued, lethargic, negative, unimaginative, pessimistic).

(also manic-depressive disorder): a diseased or dysfunctional state of mind suggested by extreme mood swings ranging from manic (exhilerated, energetic, positive, imaginative, optimistic) to depressed (fatigued, lethargic, negative, unimaginative, pessimistic).

lingering or repeating [event or condition]; sometimes hard-wired or permanent [event or condition].

a professionally supervised effort to improve one's awareness of the symptoms, indicators, and impact of one's own thoughts, motives, actions, moods, and emotions; a clinical effort to change or refine one's perception, beliefs, or reason.

apply irrestable force, reason, or pressure.

faith reinforced by knowledge and experience.

resistance to the opposing force of change, belief, ideas, fear, opinion or physical barriers.

DT's: an unstable condition between nerves and muscles which often presents with tremors (the shakes), nausea, muscle spasms, dizziness, and acute pain.

Recent research has demonstrated that certain traits correlate positively with recovery from trauma. I will describe each of these traits and discuss their relevance to recovery from the trauma of a bipolar episode and to the maintenance of feelings of well being in the future.
These observations are based on studies of individuals who had to face the trauma of being POW's in the Viet Nam War for up to 8 years and had been subjected to torture and solitary confinement. I will focus on the particular traits, attitudes or perspectives which enabled certain soldiers to be most "resilient." John S. Tamerin, M.D.

"Suicide is a major problem for those with mood disorders. It is estimated that as many as fifteen percent of individuals with untreated Bipolar Disorder commit suicide."

By submitting this admittedly subjective article, I wish to encourage those to whom it may apply to learn to speak openly in the matter of suicidal feelings. Bipolar disease and addiciton/alcholism have plagued me all my life, isolating me from rather than connecting me to others at the most critical and devastating moments.
Whether you have been afflicted with bipolar disease, addiction, alcoholism, or a combination (dual diagnosed), or whether you merely seek a better understanding, it often helps to hear someone's first hand experience.

This is MY experience....