Bipolar 1 Disorder

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I’m new here!

Hi, my name is I_Am_A_Hurricane. I'm 36. single mom of a 15 year old son and 12 year old daughter. I also have dog Leo, he is chocolate lab/put bull, and I love home WO MUCH!! I've struggled my entire life and never able to manage my disorders like bipolar 1 Rapid Cycling and Borderline Personality Disorder. currently I've made a disaster of my life in every way. my kids are unable to handle being around me bc of my rage and mood swings that I can't control so I say things that hurt them and apologize the next day. I know they don't understand any of my mental disorders and issues basically no one does. the ppl that did are dead or still using drugs. so I have no one. but it's the way I want it I don't want to hurt ppl.

#MightyTogether #Anxiety #Depression #BipolarDisorder #BorderlinePersonalityDisorder #PTSD #ADHD #Grief

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The Fundamental Five - eat well & enough , hydrate enough , exercise (PT for awhile 4 me) , holistic practice (yoga, meditation+)sleep well / enough

For me this has actually been a lifelong lesson. Amazing how 8 words of advice have been so hard for me to put into practice at times. Sadly in my life sometimes its taken for my body (and/or mind) to scream so loud that its been deafening enough for me to pay attention, yet I have found that even this can ebb & flow.

These days I'm pretty proud of how I’ve been taking care of myself. Its been basically 3+ years of very serious physical and mental struggles and I've learned that in the big picture no one else can take care of me and only I can deeply feel it when I don't.So I guess you could say I’ve been falling in love with myself!

*I've been eating much better (lots fruits, veggies & nuts especially...yet I love my milk and chocolate!)

*I’m exercising &/or doing home PT religiously. My spinal injuries have been part of that screaming voice quite a bit although its getting quieter, and as I told my first PT “I’m only going to get out of this what I put into it!” I've been at the gym regularly which is so empowering (plus its a really social place with great staff & members and I find it soooo mentally uplifting when I leave…knowing I'm taking care of myself)

*I actually was counting ounces of water I drank for a long while however now I'm doing great with that and carry bottles everywhere

*My holistic practice dropped off...then I found Box Breathing which I did before bed for awhile and I'm trying to get back to that, however I’ve found just stopping to breath and ground even for short moments throughout the day really makes a difference

*My spiritual practice is earth based and simple and so my church is nature and I pray to Great Spirit…my level of gratitude and reverence are stronger than ever!

*Now sleep...I will have to plead the fifth if I want to make other people happy about when I sleep, when I turns screens off, how much sleep I get etc…my stretch now is getting ENOUGH sleep and I'm exploring what my body can best function off with less meds. I've been very surprised how much less, yet in doing so I have maxxed myself out a lot recently! (its 6:00 am now, the birds are chirping as my music is lower. As a musician and deejay in college I never stopped being nocturnal. When I worked at the beach I always saw sunrises!!!... Then I went to sleep😉

Bottom line…

Life is a beautiful blessing, its a glorious day today, I got to see Mom & family for four days and that was good for my soul….and I'm going to keep smiling

Listen to your favorite music for a bit today
Go outside and wiggle your bare feet in the dirt
Eat a scrumptious piece of fruit or rich chocolate
HUG A FRIEND OR LOVED ONE…  or many…all day long!
(or a tree if you get out there and don't want to take your shoes off!

#MentalHealth #BipolarDisorder #BipolarDepression #Bipolar1 #Bipolar2 #ChronicIllness #ChronicPain #Disability #Selfcare #COVID19 #AddictionRecovery #Addiction #Arthritis #Headache #Migraine #Anxiety #Eczema #InsideTheMighty #Trauma #ADHD #Cancer #RareDisease #ObsessiveCompulsiveDisorder #BrainInjury #BackPain

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The Fundamental Five - eat well & enough , hydrate enough , exercise (PT for awhile 4 me) , holistic practice (yoga, meditation+)sleep well / enough

For me this has actually been a lifelong lesson. Amazing how 8 words of advice have been so hard for me to put into practice at times. Sadly in my life sometimes its taken for my body (and/or mind) to scream so loud that its been deafening enough for me to pay attention, yet I have found that even this can ebb & flow.

These days I'm pretty proud of how I’ve been taking care of myself. Its been basically 3+ years of very serious physical and mental struggles and I've learned that in the big picture no one else can take care of me and only I can deeply feel it when I don't.So I guess you could say I’ve been falling in love with myself!

*I've been eating much better (lots fruits, veggies & nuts especially...yet I love my milk and chocolate!)

*I’m exercising &/or doing home PT religiously. My spinal injuries have been part of that screaming voice quite a bit although its getting quieter, and as I told my first PT “I’m only going to get out of this what I put into it!” I've been at the gym regularly which is so empowering (plus its a really social place with great staff & members and I find it soooo mentally uplifting when I leave…knowing I'm taking care of myself)

*I actually was counting ounces of water I drank for a long while however now I'm doing great with that and carry bottles everywhere

*My holistic practice dropped off...then I found Box Breathing which I did before bed for awhile and I'm trying to get back to that, however I’ve found just stopping to breath and ground even for short moments throughout the day really makes a difference

*My spiritual practice is earth based and simple and so my church is nature and I pray to Great Spirit…my level of gratitude and reverence are stronger than ever!

*Now sleep...I will have to plead the fifth if I want to make other people happy about when I sleep, when I turns screens off, how much sleep I get etc…my stretch now is getting ENOUGH sleep and I'm exploring what my body can best function off with less meds. I've been very surprised how much less, yet in doing so I have maxxed myself out a lot recently! (its 6:00 am now, the birds are chirping as my music is lower. As a musician and deejay in college I never stopped being nocturnal. When I worked at the beach I always saw sunrises!!!... Then I went to sleep😉

Bottom line…

Life is a beautiful blessing, its a glorious day today, I got to see Mom & family for four days and that was good for my soul….and I'm going to keep smiling

Listen to your favorite music for a bit today
Go outside and wiggle your bare feet in the dirt
Eat a scrumptious piece of fruit or rich chocolate
HUG A FRIEND OR LOVED ONE…  or many…all day long!
(or a tree if you get out there and don't want to take your shoes off!

#MentalHealth #BipolarDisorder #BipolarDepression #Bipolar1 #Bipolar2 #ChronicIllness #ChronicPain #Disability #Selfcare #COVID19 #AddictionRecovery #Addiction #Arthritis #Headache #Migraine #Anxiety #Eczema #InsideTheMighty #Trauma #ADHD #Cancer #RareDisease #ObsessiveCompulsiveDisorder #BrainInjury #BackPain

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I was non combative and non aggressive but put in a restraint and drugged all because I refused to go to a psych hospital

So I just need to complain a bit this morning. Last week I was having a hard day. I was planning on a ketamine treatment and therapy the next morning and just needed a safe and quiet place for the night, so I went to a crisis center. The first crisis worker I talked to said I could stay the night and the next morning I could leave and go to my appointments. But in the morning, the new crisis worker twisted my words and used them against me. He claimed I was suicidal with a plan when I never even talked about having SI or a plan. I even had him talk to my therapist who said I was safe. But it didn’t matter, I was put on a 72 hour hold. Now, the psych hospital they were sending me to was one that a family member of mine went before and while they were there, was with held medications, given the wrong medications, sat in dirty clothes for a week, and was not allowed to communicate with my mom whom the therapists there were supposed to contact but never did. So of course I’m going to refuse to go. Because I refused to go, I was picked up from my chair, thrown onto a hard board, pinned down, restrained and drugged by 10 people. They left me restrained for 30 minutes until I finally gave up and complied. I was non combative and non aggressive I just simply refused to go. I now have bruises on me, I pulled a muscle in my leg making it difficult to walk, I hurt my rotator cuff on my shoulder that was recently replaced and now have trauma over what they did. I was NEVER in danger of hurting myself or anyone else. I NEVER mentioned SI. This crisis center made me feel shame for having strong emotions. This experience makes me not want to seek out help when I need it. Has this ever happened to anyone else? #Bipolar1 #MentalHealth #Anxiety #PTSD #BipolarDepression

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I was non combative and non aggressive but put in a restraint and drugged all because I refused to go to a psych hospital

So I just need to complain a bit this morning. Last week I was having a hard day. I was planning on a ketamine treatment and therapy the next morning and just needed a safe and quiet place for the night, so I went to a crisis center. The first crisis worker I talked to said I could stay the night and the next morning I could leave and go to my appointments. But in the morning, the new crisis worker twisted my words and used them against me. He claimed I was suicidal with a plan when I never even talked about having SI or a plan. I even had him talk to my therapist who said I was safe. But it didn’t matter, I was put on a 72 hour hold. Now, the psych hospital they were sending me to was one that a family member of mine went before and while they were there, was with held medications, given the wrong medications, sat in dirty clothes for a week, and was not allowed to communicate with my mom whom the therapists there were supposed to contact but never did. So of course I’m going to refuse to go. Because I refused to go, I was picked up from my chair, thrown onto a hard board, pinned down, restrained and drugged by 10 people. They left me restrained for 30 minutes until I finally gave up and complied. I was non combative and non aggressive I just simply refused to go. I now have bruises on me, I pulled a muscle in my leg making it difficult to walk, I hurt my rotator cuff on my shoulder that was recently replaced and now have trauma over what they did. I was NEVER in danger of hurting myself or anyone else. I NEVER mentioned SI. This crisis center made me feel shame for having strong emotions. This experience makes me not want to seek out help when I need it. Has this ever happened to anyone else? #Bipolar1 #MentalHealth #Anxiety #PTSD #BipolarDepression

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Just a medication and symptoms vent #BipolarDisorder

I technically know I’ll get better meds eventually, maybe even very soon, but I’m really struggling today.
My psychiatrist prescribed me an atypical antipsychotic for agitation, and it helped so so much. I felt so grounded and calm and normal at work and productive at home. I stopped continuously listening to podcasts and playing video games. Most importantly, the intense feeling of wanting to crawl out of my skin, or dysphoria, went away. I just liked being in my brain again.
I got to feel this way for like 4 days, and it gave me so much hope.

But I had to stop taking it because it gave me intense eye strain while driving to work, and I didn’t feel safe on my 40 min commute. I don’t know how to describe how tempting it was to take it anyways, but I know it’s a driving hazard, and not necessarily likely to go away. Changing dose or time of day didn’t help, so I stopped taking it.

Honestly coping skills don’t really feel worth it right now, when medication fixed 90% of the problem. Now that I’ve stopped there’s nothing I can do to make this buzzing, dysphoric feeling go away, only distract myself from it and keep functioning. Hopefully on Monday I can get in touch with my psychiatrist, and she’s willing to try something very similar.

Sorry this was a long post. I just really needed to vent. I dont have a super trusting relationship with my psychiatrist, because she keeps recommending antidepressants and doesn’t like to use the word bipolar with me. I understand because I probably don’t have bipolar I, and sometimes people with bipolar can take antidepressants, but it makes me worried. Our last session went better because I was able to describe the agitation and she completely understood it, but it’s still all new. The person who did my evaluation did diagnose me with unspecified bipolar, and I strongly agree with that diagnosis. I think my communication with that psychiatrist will improve with time, though.

Anyways, thanks for reading. I guess I just want validation for giving up on trying to make this feeling go away, when so far only medication (or sometimes time) makes it go away. I just hate being in my brain right now, and it has no connection to my thoughts or emotions at all. I’m just buzzing with “mild” distress, from as soon as I gain consciousness in the morning until I’m comepletely asleep at night, and I don’t even know how to share this kinda thing with coworkers and friends. #Hypomania #BipolarDisorder #MentalHealth

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SMI and caregiving for parents

Is anyone else trying to mange their own mental illness while caring for elderly parents? Both my parents need help, but my dad has Parkinson’s and as it worsens, his needs increase. I’m the only one in the household physically capable of caring for him but he needs help getting out of chairs, going to the bathroom, dressing, and preparing food. I can’t even get a full night’s sleep anymore because he needs me so often in the middle of the night to help him go to the bathroom. We’re not poor enough to qualify for financial help with caregiving nor are we rich enough to afford assisted living. I’m the plan, the only plan. If I get sick, too bad. If I need a mental health day, too bad. We are researching options. We have caregivers come in a few hours each week. But I need more. My family doesn’t understand why this causes me to be emotional so often even though they know I’ve been hospitalized so many times for psychiatric problems and I’m on disability for it. I don’t see why they can’t understand. #Caregiving #Bipolar1 #ParkinsonsDisease

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SMI and caregiving for parents

Is anyone else trying to mange their own mental illness while caring for elderly parents? Both my parents need help, but my dad has Parkinson’s and as it worsens, his needs increase. I’m the only one in the household physically capable of caring for him but he needs help getting out of chairs, going to the bathroom, dressing, and preparing food. I can’t even get a full night’s sleep anymore because he needs me so often in the middle of the night to help him go to the bathroom. We’re not poor enough to qualify for financial help with caregiving nor are we rich enough to afford assisted living. I’m the plan, the only plan. If I get sick, too bad. If I need a mental health day, too bad. We are researching options. We have caregivers come in a few hours each week. But I need more. My family doesn’t understand why this causes me to be emotional so often even though they know I’ve been hospitalized so many times for psychiatric problems and I’m on disability for it. I don’t see why they can’t understand. #Caregiving #Bipolar1 #ParkinsonsDisease

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Creatine: anyone using this?

I’ve started a work-out & fitness routine and it’s helping:) Have dropped a few lbs. Been reading about creatine supplements. Anyone tried these? I’m reading they can cause some mania. I have bipolar type 1 and experience some intense mania alot of weeks; don’t need more, for sure. Just curious what your experience has been. (I’ll be talking with my psychiatrist about this in a few weeks). Thanks!

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Relapse is a Part of Recovery

March is self-harm awareness month.

The brightest smiles often hold the most pain.
But depression and self-harm and hit anyone. It knows no age, gender, socioeconomic status.

I began self-harming at the age of 12. Unfortunately, it became routine whenever I couldn’t control my emotions. It became a coping skill- something to help me breathe through the pain.

My support system and care team are aware of my self-injury and I am very open with my scars.

I was diagnosed with bipolar 1 in 2020 and was told by my psychiatrist to stop taking my bipolar meds a couple weeks ago because of weight gain. However, this made me slide right into a manic episode where I ended up in the backyard in the grass, staring at the sky, sobbing with new injuries on my forearm.

When my fiancé found out he helped me call the doctor and order my meds again until we can figure out a new game plan.

All this to say… advocate for yourself. Love yourself. Don’t give up. Two steps forward and one step back is still progress.

You are loved and worthy of love.
Relapse is a part of recovery…. Keep climbing even when your legs hurt.

I love you, and I’ll see you soon.
#Bipolar1 #Selfharm #Selfcare #MentalHealth

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