Comments on: Bipolar Disorder – Blessing in Disguise? http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarsurvivorblog/bipolar-disorder-blessing-in-disguise/319/ Get an inside look at what its like to have bipolar disorder with Michele Soloway Sexton. Michele, a survivor herself, shares regularly on the ups and downs of dealing with the disorder, along with personal insights, lessons learned, and encouragement for others who also have bipolar disorder. Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:09:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: Leo http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarsurvivorblog/bipolar-disorder-blessing-in-disguise/319/comment-page-1/#comment-2731 Leo Thu, 02 Jun 2011 18:03:09 +0000 http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarsurvivorblog/?p=319#comment-2731 I have this urge to help people, to do huge things in third world countries... to change the world. The bipolar keeps me anchored from doing these things and I have tried several approaches to get out of this way of thinking.. Meds don't work for me and I get very suicidal from nearly all of them, sometimes thinking its better to feel nothing at all (I don't believe in hell) than continue this tribulation. I have to talk myself out of it. To this day I think there's a hidden spiritual meaning of bipolar disease and those who suffer just haven't found their manifestation. I can't work for other people and I've tried starting up 2 businesses. To a point, having a business helped make me social but a couple days with no calls and im so antisocial its unbeleivable that I cant even talk to anyone yet I did just a couple days ago with no problem. My mood swings are throughout the day, not week, not month, day. Sometimes panic attacks come on so strong that I cant talk and all i can do is try and speak and tears just roll... I've recently considered disability but its really hard to think of myself as disabled but in all reality I am! I've been to 2 counselors and they say im not bipolar, every doc I go to is absolutely certain I am (5+). I think there's a bigger problem with bipolar- its a spectrum disease like autism but the big pharma comes up with new names for diseases just to put a pill with it... Aspergers Syndrome and Fragile X Syndrome fits too but who knows! I have episodes of OCD and Im extremely paranoid, the paranoia causes my adrenaline to get going and well its really hard to explain what happens after that. Im always in pain, not unlike fibromyalgia. So who knows what I have, maybe there's only one disease which manifests certain symptoms which can be fixed and in return fixing something in your life... I don't really have a purpose in life and I can't keep one when I do have one... Recently started gardening and its very rewarding to me. I've changed my diet and lost 80 pounds (270 to 190 over a few years) all without a bit of exercize, all of this by diet changes but I frequently go back to my old habits with each time becoming harder to get out of. Im posting this mainly because I know how helpful comments can be to others even just to know that they're not the only one experiencing all of this... I have no insurance, can't afford it, live with my grandparents and sometimes get on a kick that its my environment but Im sure its the bipolar. Back to the original meaning of this comment- do you have any suggestions as to what I could do to make money and help people? I can't go to college, I get so burnt out, I've tried twice, have been a few semesters and Im not anywhere near a degree, it degrades me more and more. Im actually a web designer but I just don't see a need for that since there's plenty of informative sites and support sites... I just want a purpose that'll stick. I have this urge to help people, to do huge things in third world countries… to change the world. The bipolar keeps me anchored from doing these things and I have tried several approaches to get out of this way of thinking.. Meds don’t work for me and I get very suicidal from nearly all of them, sometimes thinking its better to feel nothing at all (I don’t believe in hell) than continue this tribulation. I have to talk myself out of it. To this day I think there’s a hidden spiritual meaning of bipolar disease and those who suffer just haven’t found their manifestation. I can’t work for other people and I’ve tried starting up 2 businesses. To a point, having a business helped make me social but a couple days with no calls and im so antisocial its unbeleivable that I cant even talk to anyone yet I did just a couple days ago with no problem. My mood swings are throughout the day, not week, not month, day. Sometimes panic attacks come on so strong that I cant talk and all i can do is try and speak and tears just roll… I’ve recently considered disability but its really hard to think of myself as disabled but in all reality I am! I’ve been to 2 counselors and they say im not bipolar, every doc I go to is absolutely certain I am (5+). I think there’s a bigger problem with bipolar- its a spectrum disease like autism but the big pharma comes up with new names for diseases just to put a pill with it… Aspergers Syndrome and Fragile X Syndrome fits too but who knows! I have episodes of OCD and Im extremely paranoid, the paranoia causes my adrenaline to get going and well its really hard to explain what happens after that. Im always in pain, not unlike fibromyalgia. So who knows what I have, maybe there’s only one disease which manifests certain symptoms which can be fixed and in return fixing something in your life… I don’t really have a purpose in life and I can’t keep one when I do have one… Recently started gardening and its very rewarding to me. I’ve changed my diet and lost 80 pounds (270 to 190 over a few years) all without a bit of exercize, all of this by diet changes but I frequently go back to my old habits with each time becoming harder to get out of. Im posting this mainly because I know how helpful comments can be to others even just to know that they’re not the only one experiencing all of this… I have no insurance, can’t afford it, live with my grandparents and sometimes get on a kick that its my environment but Im sure its the bipolar. Back to the original meaning of this comment- do you have any suggestions as to what I could do to make money and help people? I can’t go to college, I get so burnt out, I’ve tried twice, have been a few semesters and Im not anywhere near a degree, it degrades me more and more. Im actually a web designer but I just don’t see a need for that since there’s plenty of informative sites and support sites… I just want a purpose that’ll stick.

]]> By: Michele http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarsurvivorblog/bipolar-disorder-blessing-in-disguise/319/comment-page-1/#comment-990 Michele Sat, 06 Feb 2010 15:18:42 +0000 http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarsurvivorblog/?p=319#comment-990 Hi, Dave -- It sounds like you are doing pretty well on your own - I don't know what I can add to it, except that you might want to be prepared to go on medication if you have to. Medication is good at controlling the mood swings and keeping you on an even keel. It's great that you're going after your goals, that's really important when you're dealing with bipolar disorder. Try not to put too much pressure on yourself, though, as that can be a trigger to a bipolar episode. Being ambitious in itself is not a bad thing, but if it draws you too far to the manic side (or depressed side, for that matter), it can be harmful to you. Good luck at school! Hope to hear from you again. Blessings, Michele Hi, Dave –

It sounds like you are doing pretty well on your own – I don’t know what I can add to it, except that you might want to be prepared to go on medication if you have to. Medication is good at controlling the mood swings and keeping you on an even keel. It’s great that you’re going after your goals, that’s really important when you’re dealing with bipolar disorder. Try not to put too much pressure on yourself, though, as that can be a trigger to a bipolar episode. Being ambitious in itself is not a bad thing, but if it draws you too far to the manic side (or depressed side, for that matter), it can be harmful to you. Good luck at school! Hope to hear from you again.
Blessings,
Michele

]]> By: dave http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarsurvivorblog/bipolar-disorder-blessing-in-disguise/319/comment-page-1/#comment-979 dave Wed, 03 Feb 2010 06:04:23 +0000 http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarsurvivorblog/?p=319#comment-979 its nice to see someone escaped their old self and harnessed their mind. i was depressed for about a month, and finally crept out a few days ago. i was finally able to force myself to stop taking drugs like marijuana, cigarettes, coffee and reduce my alcohol intake. it was not easy, and there is no end in site, but i have reached the other side. i like how i can think deeply and have intense passion, but the depression is really crappy. i can look back and take a deep breath. i wanted to abandon all of my goals while i was depressed, and now i want to attack the world just like i did in high sschool again, kinda like you. im a med student as well, and sometimes i think i put way too much pressure on myself, but i dont think being ambitious is a bad thing could you give some advice to a 21 year old kid in college? i find talking to a counsellor really helps, and i dont want to get on any medicine its nice to see someone escaped their old self and harnessed their mind. i was depressed for about a month, and finally crept out a few days ago. i was finally able to force myself to stop taking drugs like marijuana, cigarettes, coffee and reduce my alcohol intake. it was not easy, and there is no end in site, but i have reached the other side.

i like how i can think deeply and have intense passion, but the depression is really crappy. i can look back and take a deep breath. i wanted to abandon all of my goals while i was depressed, and now i want to attack the world just like i did in high sschool again, kinda like you. im a med student as well, and sometimes i think i put way too much pressure on myself, but i dont think being ambitious is a bad thing

could you give some advice to a 21 year old kid in college? i find talking to a counsellor really helps, and i dont want to get on any medicine

]]>