Bipolar

[Prometheus]

I got diagnosed as bipolar a while back. I opted out of taking medicine(Rispalden) and instead focused on scheduling diet, sleep, and excersise(All with medical oversight, i didn't just randomly go off my meds on my own.).  Seems to be working mostly. I've been able to make a 4.0 for the past 2 semesters and haven't had a prolonged anxiety/depressive/severely manic state since i was diagnosed. Most importantly I haven't lost my temper and yelled any of my family or friend's(Despite ample incentive ).

I'm interested in knowing if anyone here has the illness(Or personality trait). I still become extremely agitated in certain situations for some reason. If a stranger makes eye contact with me for too long, walks near me "Aggressively", asks me for spare change, or uses the wrong tone of voice i get riled up. A records office employee was really rude to me a few months ago about a fax I'd sent in and I told him to shove the fax machine up his *** and walked out(He was being very rude). For those who have the disorder, how often do you do this sort of thing? Monthly, X times a year, etc.

I find it a little irritating that I'm perfectly calm and polite until some moron starts trying to walk over me like that. The difference between my reaction and a normal persons(Many of whom might have also told him to shove the machine up his ***) is that my reaction could easily tip over into a psychotic episode which might involve physical violence overwhich I have little or no control. There should be a law against such open hostility, I believe many assaults are provoked by people who like "walking over" other people as much as possible without breaking a law.

[Stevil]

There should be a law against such open hostility, I believe many assaults are provoked by people who like "walking over" other people as much as possible without breaking a law.

I don't think violence is ever the answer to resolving disputes nor do I think it is ever an appropriate response to someone whom you feel is disrespecting you. If you take that step from verbal to physical confrontation then you are responsible for your own actions, it isn't merely a self defense position.

In saying that, people are complex creatures, we can't always have our wits and sensibilities about us. Emotions are powerful and some people face a greater challenge than others.

I have no knowledge of experience with people whom are bipolar, although I do feel a flatmate of mine possible was. She got more excited than most people and often got herself into emotional turmoil as well, I believe she attempted suicide once or twice. She was quite confused with male companions and almost had three guys on the go at one time (not with each other), but she was a mess. She also just dumped all her friends all of a sudden. So possibly she was bipolar, maybe she had some other issues or maybe she was normal, I don't know.

[Amicale]

A close relative of mine is bipolar, and another good friend of mine is also bipolar as well as having schizo-affective disorder. When it comes to bipolar, I know that some people are "rapid cyclers" while others go through the highs/ups and the lows/downs on a more gradual basis. If you don't mind my asking, which would you say more closely resembles your experience?

I understand what you say about being easily agitated. It's very easy for emotions to swing up and down suddenly, sometimes in a same short time period. I'm very glad that diet, exercise etc seem to be helping you. In the case of my relative, he has a good diet as well as exercise, but that unfortunately doesn't control his bipolar, and he's dealt with the effects of it for years - he also refuses to take any medication, mostly because he doesn't believe he needs it, although he does. In the case of my friend, a combination of medicine, diet, exercise etc have really helped him deal very well with the BD, as well as the SAD. I'm proud of my friend, for working at it so hard.

[OldGit]

I have no experience of the condition, so I can only wish you all the best.  It seems to me that you are tackling it with insight and careful thought.  This has to be good, surely.

[Prometheus]

Amicale:

I'm the type that has mostly ups and few downs, i don't cycle as far as i know. The worst thing I've experienced has been prolonged anxiety/depression(a week at a time but less than once a year). More often I would sleep only a few hours a night or not at all for weeks at a time then crash for a few days. That part doesn't sound so bad, I feel like a god while its going on and act very extrovertedly. But its bad for my heart and makes it hard to think(Mind just feels grey when i try to do complicated things).

Stevil:

I compeltely agree with your stance on violence. The problem is that someone with a disorder who is actually experiencing a psychotic episode is not always capable of rational behavior. The public in general seems to think these people just get mad and decide to do dumb things. The reality is that they're often overwhelmed by imbalances in their bodies chemistry(This can be made much worse when medication is involved which i why I don't want to take mine).  These imbalances take the decision out of their hands.

[Asmodean]

Hmm... Not gonna instruct others on how to live, but me, I'd pop the pills. That is, after all, what they were designed for.

[Prometheus]

Our society has a pill for everything Asmo. Feel sad, take a pill. Can't rise to the occasion, take a pill. Can't poop, take a pill. I was born this way, whose to say i should chemically alter myself to fit the social norm?

Interestingly, this disorder was likely a favorable trait at certain points in history. There seems to be a link between bipolar and Norse berserkers.

[Asmodean]

Depending on what you want, pills may provide a nice solution. Can't take a dump, but really want to? Pop a laxative and let the dam break etc.

[Ali]

There seems to be a link between bipolar and Norse berserkers.

I'm pretty sure Fishlegs isn't bipolar*.

Prometheus - Like Asmo, I'm not going to tell you what to do.  But being bipolar seems to be largely a chemical imbalance in the brain, which is why a pill is the usual solution.  If you don't like the pill and don't want to take it, that is, of course, your right.  It's your body.  However, you seem to be under the assumption that the onus should be on other people not to aggravate you, rather than on you to control yourself under stressful  situations.  I disagree.  You can't control other people's behavior, you can only control your own.  And if you can't control your own....maybe that should give you pause to figure out a more effective way of dealing with the situation.  Expecting society to change to value aggression (like a Norse beserker) is probably wishful thinking.







*Reading the How to Train Your Dragon series with T.  I hope some one else gets the reference.

[Firebird]

I don't have it, but I know people who do. Frankly, the pills have done wonders for them. Crappy side effects like lowered metabolism, but well worth it.

[DeterminedJuliet]

Stevil:

I compeltely agree with your stance on violence. The problem is that someone with a disorder who is actually experiencing a psychotic episode is not always capable of rational behavior. The public in general seems to think these people just get mad and decide to do dumb things. The reality is that they're often overwhelmed by imbalances in their bodies chemistry(This can be made much worse when medication is involved which i why I don't want to take mine).  These imbalances take the decision out of their hands.

Honestly, this seems like a strong argument for taking chemistry altering meds, not against it. I understand that finding the right balance of medication can be a difficult process, but if a person really feels like committing violence is out of their hands, I don't really see what the other option is. It'd be nice if obnoxious and inflammatory assholes didn't exist, but they do (in large supply). Unfortunately, being an asshole isn't illegal while punching an asshole in the face is.  

[Icarus]

Grand daughter has been diagnosed as BP. She has wild mood swings and is sometimes on the brink of violence. She has cut herself a few times as well. This was a serious problem for about three or four years and she has now very nearly grown out of it. She was on meds off and on. The meds helped but did not make the problem go away entirely.

Natalie practically worships her gramps and oddly she has never behaved badly when she was with me. I do not pamper overmuch, I just talk to her as if she were an adult which she almost is at 19. In any case her problem has diminished steadily, sans meds, as she becomes older.

[Asmodean]

which she almost is at 19.

In civilized world, at that age, she has been an adult for about a year.

[Prometheus]

I have several friends and a relative on meds like lithium. None of them have been effectively "cured" by their meds. I don't think many people understand how poorly these meds work and how dangerous their sideffects can be. My stepdad has had the disorder for over a decade and they're still "Getting his medication right" he has to take other types of meds to deal with sideeffects of his lithium and his lifespan will almost certainly be shortened by the effects these pills are having on his kidneys. For some people it can be the lesser of two evils(People who without them cannot function or are regularly violent). As stated previously I've been functioning pretty well for the past year or so and haven't been violent since i was teenager(Probably had nothing to do with the disorder).

[Asmodean]

...His lifespan can be shortened even more by turning manic and playing violin on his wrists with a razor.