Comments on: Bipolar and Feeling Great

By: Michele

Michele — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 19:01:18 +0000

Hi, Mutya –

I hate to tell you this, but there really isn’t anything you can do to force him to take his medication if he refuses to. It is very common that, in a manic state, someone with bipolar disorder would believe themselves to be healed. The only thing you can do, maybe, is to show him the statistics from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), at http://www.nimh.nih.gov that state that 20% of people with untreated bipolar disorder will kill themselves (1 in 5 people), and tell him how concerned you are about him.

Let me know what happens. I wish I had better news for you.

Blessings,
Michele

By: Michele

Michele — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 16:33:47 +0000

Elaine -
You have such a positive attitude, and I admire that! It’s going to take you far in your journey to recovery. Thank you for sharing.
Blessings,
Michele

By: Elaine

Elaine — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 11:18:20 +0000

Thank you so much for this brilliant post. This is what I aspire to, every single day. And serves as a reminder that even though things are not always as I want them to be, I have come a long way, and there is ALWAYS something to be possitive about.

By: Michele

Michele — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 16:23:32 +0000

Hi, Morrisey,

Thanks for posting. I agree with what you said, “Staying positive is the key although not always easy.” But it’s the best weapon we have against depression. Whenever I have to go to my therapist, I have to pass the homeless shelter, and it makes me so sad to see those people, many of whom, I’m sure, have untreated mental illness. So, like you, I am very grateful I have a home and a job. I don’t ever want to take them for granted, as at one point, I didn’t have either. Yes, bipolar is a challenge, but we can beat it!
Blessings,
Michele

By: Morrisey

Morrisey — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 13:39:25 +0000

Michele,
Your thoughts are exactly what I have been reminding myself of as I slipped into depression over the past 3 months. Staying positive is the key although not always easy. Having worked as a Support Worker dealing with homeless people, you make a very good point about reminding ourselves that we are lucky if we are blessed with a home and a job. We take these things for granted sometimes. Although depression does make it difficult to rationalise and make us feel grateful for what we have got. Bipolar is such a challenge!
Morrisey

By: Mutya

Mutya — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 09:03:38 +0000

hi michelle! I’m an older sister of a bipolar patient. How do I get him to take his Lithium tablets when he’s in this manic state and insist that he’s healed already? please help. please send even to my email. I live in the Philippines. Thank you!