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i think im bipolar what do i do?!?
I may be bipolar because i have pretty much all of the symptoms shown for bipolar. it says i need a good support system but i don't want to tell anyone i don't want them to look at me different or treat like im psycho. what should i do? first steps of dealing with bipolar? any help would be great thanks
Nothing will change if you don`t try. You have to work on your problems. And almost everyone in your situation needs some help to do so.
It is hard to control yourself after so much time, but it is the only way out of this mess. That`s the reality.
i also have some problems, and i know for sure it`s really hard to make some necessarily changes. It takes a lot effort and inside fights. But if you REALLY want to get better you have to go trough this. I would really like that this has been easy, but it`s not. I like imaging that i will be happy and stable few years from now and that it`ll just happen because it simply will. But it doesn`t work that way. It depends on us. It`s our battle. We create our own destiny.
It is hard to control yourself after so much time, but it is the only way out of this mess. That`s the reality.
i also have some problems, and i know for sure it`s really hard to make some necessarily changes. It takes a lot effort and inside fights. But if you REALLY want to get better you have to go trough this. I would really like that this has been easy, but it`s not. I like imaging that i will be happy and stable few years from now and that it`ll just happen because it simply will. But it doesn`t work that way. It depends on us. It`s our battle. We create our own destiny.
The choice is 'do I want to keep living my life the way it is' or 'am I willing to risk (and it is a risk) change to create a better life for myself.'
No one wants to have treatment, no one wants to take pills, no one really wants to go to therapy or air their dirty laundry to a psychiatrist. It feels bad. BUT it is the only way to get the help you need. Do you really want to be living this way a year from now?, a month from now? You are **** some pretty high risk behaviors, especially sexually. Getting pregnant, getting HIV, or getting taken advantage of are very real possibilities. You've lost your job, to get another one you are going to need to get stable. This is a crisis situation. You are in a place where you have enough insight that you know you need treatment. If you wait you may lose that insight and end up in a worse place than you are now.
I take the pills, go to the therapist, see the psychiatrist because it gives me a better life. A life I could not have without that. Before my life was lived in a very dark and scary place, or a too fantastic place. There was never any room to find out who I was because I was living such a strange life of peaks and valleys. I also got the ultra rapid cycling that you describe. That sounds like what is happening to you now. That was the scariest time of my life, and I was under medical supervision (took some time to get meds that worked). Without that anchor I don't know where I would be. I would likely be dead is where I would be.
Please get help. Its the only chance you have of changing your situation.
No one wants to have treatment, no one wants to take pills, no one really wants to go to therapy or air their dirty laundry to a psychiatrist. It feels bad. BUT it is the only way to get the help you need. Do you really want to be living this way a year from now?, a month from now? You are **** some pretty high risk behaviors, especially sexually. Getting pregnant, getting HIV, or getting taken advantage of are very real possibilities. You've lost your job, to get another one you are going to need to get stable. This is a crisis situation. You are in a place where you have enough insight that you know you need treatment. If you wait you may lose that insight and end up in a worse place than you are now.
I take the pills, go to the therapist, see the psychiatrist because it gives me a better life. A life I could not have without that. Before my life was lived in a very dark and scary place, or a too fantastic place. There was never any room to find out who I was because I was living such a strange life of peaks and valleys. I also got the ultra rapid cycling that you describe. That sounds like what is happening to you now. That was the scariest time of my life, and I was under medical supervision (took some time to get meds that worked). Without that anchor I don't know where I would be. I would likely be dead is where I would be.
Please get help. Its the only chance you have of changing your situation.
im starting to understand what i have to do. i started to cut myself with my own fingure nail an now i have a sore scratch mark on my leg that i done on the way home from work when i was told i was getting fired at the end of the week. i went into a downward spiral last week that was monday. i was seriously hyperactive tuesday i couldnt think about one thing long enough to understand what was going on. i soo happy and restless it felt great that lasted through to thursday. thursday i felt like i had no emotions none at all and friday i started drinking again i went out witha couple friends and got wasted i kissed alot of strangers and my friends had to keep pulling me away from them because i was going to far. even today ive had such a mixture of moods one minute fine the next not then back up my depressive state lasts longer than my happy ones they can last days friday i stopped eating i didnt eat anything same saturday i just felt so weird. i didnt call that number i really dont know why i cant seem to call it. i got stupid with money in the last month and have got direct debits that soon i wont be able to afford. ive always wasted money always. i need to sort it and sort it now! ive done a silly online mental health test and it came with bipolar but i know i have to take the next step and get help but i dont know.....i just dont really want to but i have to right?
To:looloo141
i don`t know, but I see your point. But it is what it is, and that has to be accepted...
to:becky90210
have you tried to tell them they should be more supportive. Asking for help can be hard, but I think being honest about things that matters to you is really important... maybe they don`t know you need more support...
i don`t know, but I see your point. But it is what it is, and that has to be accepted...
to:becky90210
have you tried to tell them they should be more supportive. Asking for help can be hard, but I think being honest about things that matters to you is really important... maybe they don`t know you need more support...
Ok becky, I hope it goes well. It will take a lot of talking and listening for your Mum to fully understand the support you need. Sometimes mums think they know you best and its hard for them to face up to the fact that their child is ill, they feel guilty and think they haven't done a good job. It will be ok! You will get there. Let us know how you get on :-)
thank you soo much for responding i shall do what you suggest my mum knows and some of my friends but they still dont seem to support me as much as i need them too. im calling this number tomo so i shall let you know what happens.
thanks again....best wishes
thanks again....best wishes
I completely agree with looloo141.
And don`t be ashamed because you`ve got a problem. It`s a part of person who you are. If you weren`t this way, maybe you would`ve have been be a different person. Maybe you wouldn`t have friends you have now. Who knows?
The most important thing is that you accept this part of you. Try to look it as positive thing. Why should that be negative? That`s something that makes you who you are. It also makes you special.
If you manage to control it(with medications help, of course), it means you are a strong person. If you do that and succeed to help yourself, that means you are ready to face a lot of things.
People around you are important, not just for fun, then as a support. And if they cannot be that way and accept you as you are, they are not really your friends. Maybe they`ll need some time to accept new facts, but if they really respect you, they will except you completely, with all virtues and flaws.
Hope you do well.
And don`t be ashamed because you`ve got a problem. It`s a part of person who you are. If you weren`t this way, maybe you would`ve have been be a different person. Maybe you wouldn`t have friends you have now. Who knows?
The most important thing is that you accept this part of you. Try to look it as positive thing. Why should that be negative? That`s something that makes you who you are. It also makes you special.
If you manage to control it(with medications help, of course), it means you are a strong person. If you do that and succeed to help yourself, that means you are ready to face a lot of things.
People around you are important, not just for fun, then as a support. And if they cannot be that way and accept you as you are, they are not really your friends. Maybe they`ll need some time to accept new facts, but if they really respect you, they will except you completely, with all virtues and flaws.
Hope you do well.
Hi Becky..I guess the first step of dealing with Bipolar is to see a doctor and make sure that it is Bipolar as moods need tracking for quite a long time and there are many mental health problems where symptoms overlap.
If you think you have Bipolar you will need medication and therapy, when you are newly diagnosed it is very unlikely that you can get by without medication, it can be done but it takes years of experience.
A support system is a good idea but many people feel the stigma of having a mental health problem stands in the way. Things are getting better people are understanding that it is not a taboo anymore. 1 in 4 people will come into contact with a mental health problem in their lifetime.
The thing with Bipolar is that people do tend to misunderstand because it has kind of been glamourised by the likes of Lindsay Lohan, Britney Spears etc.. it is a debilitating illness that wrecks lives and unless you are a celebrity it will be far from glamourous!
I think you should try to talk to someone close, it might be your negative thoughts ( common with bipolar and depression) that are telling you people will think you are a pyscho.. if you have been displaying erratic mood shifts this will have been obvious with your behaviour and your friends and family will no doubt be very concerned! they are probably crying out for you to talk to them but don't want to push you too hard in case it makes you worse.
I think you really need to speak to your family and friends, you'll soon see if they think that you have been unwell, theyre input could be valuable, take someone with you to the doctor. Keep a diary, take notes to the doctor about your feelings, mood, behaviour, sleep patterns, appetite ( the mood tracker on here is amazing, it covers everything andyou can print it off and take it with you)
See a doctor, speak to family, avoid drink and drugs ( this is a MUST ) and then come and tell us how you got on.. even if its not Bipolar you can still talk to us..
Hugs
If you think you have Bipolar you will need medication and therapy, when you are newly diagnosed it is very unlikely that you can get by without medication, it can be done but it takes years of experience.
A support system is a good idea but many people feel the stigma of having a mental health problem stands in the way. Things are getting better people are understanding that it is not a taboo anymore. 1 in 4 people will come into contact with a mental health problem in their lifetime.
The thing with Bipolar is that people do tend to misunderstand because it has kind of been glamourised by the likes of Lindsay Lohan, Britney Spears etc.. it is a debilitating illness that wrecks lives and unless you are a celebrity it will be far from glamourous!
I think you should try to talk to someone close, it might be your negative thoughts ( common with bipolar and depression) that are telling you people will think you are a pyscho.. if you have been displaying erratic mood shifts this will have been obvious with your behaviour and your friends and family will no doubt be very concerned! they are probably crying out for you to talk to them but don't want to push you too hard in case it makes you worse.
I think you really need to speak to your family and friends, you'll soon see if they think that you have been unwell, theyre input could be valuable, take someone with you to the doctor. Keep a diary, take notes to the doctor about your feelings, mood, behaviour, sleep patterns, appetite ( the mood tracker on here is amazing, it covers everything andyou can print it off and take it with you)
See a doctor, speak to family, avoid drink and drugs ( this is a MUST ) and then come and tell us how you got on.. even if its not Bipolar you can still talk to us..
Hugs
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