If you had an illness that was slowly making you go blind, would you stop at nothing to save your eyesight? The same motivation should apply to our mental health.
If your current bipolar therapy and/or medications aren’t helping you, then keep searching for what does! Perhaps that means looking for a new doctor or counselor, getting some genetic testing done, visiting a wellness center, or if you’re like me— flying to The Mayo Clinic to get some answers.
Over the past few weeks I have received genetic testing, blood work, brain MRI, 48-hour EEG monitoring, and more than five different doctors’ appointments. All of this so that I can get my mental health stronger. I share this in hopes of inspiring others to stop being complacent when it comes to mental health. If there is never any action on our part, how can we expect to get better?
How do you feel like your bipolar therapies/meds are working for you?
I’ve gone threw most every test that you talk about here today. My meds have kept me stable for the past 8 or 9 years some have had to be adjusted throughout that time I stay very active hiking canoeing walking but the big thing is to get outside and just do something
I could not agree with you more! Being outdoors is extremely therapeutic. I just had knee surgery and am not moving around well, but I think even just sitting outside helps. Can’t wait to heal and start hiking like you!
As I said in one of my posts, I’ve been almost symptom free for 6 weeks. It took an additional 4th medication, labs and two different Drs to get me here.
Now, Im starting biofeed back.
Just like you say on your sobipolar site, keep trying. Don’t give up. There are helps out there for your symptoms.
We all have to be realists though. We have a disease. It is what it is. We have to learn to live with ourselves
Peace and love to all you bipolars and bipolar supporters❤️
That is incredible news to be symptom free for six weeks! So happy for you. I would love to hear how biofeedback therapy is working for you. Thanks for sharing!
I hope someday everyone will understand and acknowledge there is no difference between mental health and physical health. Mental health + Physical health = Health. Until such time, the ability to seek the highest level of knowledge and care will be afforded only to very few. I understand how fortunate I was to have had the best mental/physical care. It is the reason I am alive today. Ditto my younger son. I champion those who are less fortunate. It is a goal to which all of us should aspire.
FYI – I spent 22 years in psychotherapy/psychoanalysis with a world renowned psychiatrist. It/He saved my life. Genetic testing revealed that the majority of medications used to control Bipolar 1 Disorder are toxic to my body as well as to that of my younger son. Because of very early intervention (age 5), my son has neither required medication nor further treatment for his predisposition to Bipolar 1 Disorder.
Thank you so much for commenting, everything you wrote is so true. It is very unfortunate that excellent mental health care is something afforded to few.
I am incredibly curious what early intervention was used for your son. Could you please either comment back or direct message me? I have three children and bipolar has remained in our family for multiple generations. Typical bipolar meds have proven to be toxic to me as well, how have you managed your bipolar without them??
You are welcome, Mehri.
My younger son had very frequent and violent “temper tantrums”. I understood he was very frightened during these episodes as he was losing touch with reality. I sought and got help at The Hospital for Sick Children (aka Sick Kids) here in Toronto. His psychiatrist was the Head of Psychiatry at HSC. (I know – Unbelievably fortunate!) The treatment was a combination of one-on-one play/talk therapy with the psychiatrist 3 times a week and monthly interactions with the psychiatrist that included my husband and me. At home, we needed to implement consistent limits when our son’s behavior started to spiral out of control. At school, he was “an angel”. No surprise he could contain himself in a place where the expectations were so high. He was “the brightest and the best” academically and physically. And, the most popular kid in his class. But when he was in a place where he knew there were no such expectations and he was safe – home – the top blew off the bulging container. Long story, short version. His therapy continued for almost three years. The psychiatrist was very pleased with his progress. However, he told us there was 50/50 chance our son would need additional treatment when he was older. The psychiatrist also told us that we were exceptional parents. At our son’s wedding last year, my husband ended his speech with the following words: Ladies and gentlemen, our son is not normal. He is exceptional.
Yes, he is…