Comments on: Suicide Awareness Week and My Bipolar Sister http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarsurvivorblog/suicide-awareness-week-and-my-bipolar-sister/297/ 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. Mon, 15 Mar 2010 15:02:51 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Cheryl Wright-Watkins http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarsurvivorblog/suicide-awareness-week-and-my-bipolar-sister/297/comment-page-1/#comment-638 Cheryl Wright-Watkins Sun, 11 Oct 2009 06:55:54 +0000 http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarsurvivorblog/?p=297#comment-638 I found this site by seaching desperately for the last several hours on the net. My sister, 4 years younger, last tried suicide (to my knowledge) about 3 months ago. She began drinking at about 12 years old, progressed to pot, cocaine, stuff I don't know or remember the names of, prescription drugs. She has in the past been such an accomplished liar that she's scammed all her family (including me) out of money, sympathy, empathy, etc., etc. The stories are disgusting and revolting. She visited the same upon my niece, now 23 years old, who as children will, worships and caretends her mother, while she goes to nursing school. After a jillion events, my sister attempted suicide on these pills prescribed by ONE doctor and filled by ONE pharmacist on Feb 9, 08 (NOT blaming the pharmacist) - 120 Vicodin, 90 Valium, 90 Xanax, and various muscle relaxants (names of which I don't know). She refused to stay in the hospital for the tests to determine the extent of her brain, lung, liver, kidney, heart damage once she recovred from the coma. Or for the follow-up psyciatric care & follow-up rehab. Now, she's gobsmacked that she finds her shoes in the freezer and that she lights candles when the house smells of natural gas in the night and and that she takes her husband's heart meds & then hides the prescription bottle in the freezer. I know that most people here only have the condition, most don't have ADDICTION. My sister has been an addict for her whole life, and I've wanted someoe to understand the connnection, while she hints that my father, the most spiritual human I've ever known, sexually molested her, while she blame me for being her older sister with better grades and such a "prude"., the "blamees" are endless. I found this site by seaching desperately for the last several hours on the net. My sister, 4 years younger, last tried suicide (to my knowledge) about 3 months ago. She began drinking at about 12 years old, progressed to pot, cocaine, stuff I don’t know or remember the names of, prescription drugs. She has in the past been such an accomplished liar that she’s scammed all her family (including me) out of money, sympathy, empathy, etc., etc. The stories are disgusting and revolting. She visited the same upon my niece, now 23 years old, who as children will, worships and caretends her mother, while she goes to nursing school. After a jillion events, my sister attempted suicide on these pills prescribed by ONE doctor and filled by ONE pharmacist on Feb 9, 08 (NOT blaming the pharmacist) – 120 Vicodin, 90 Valium, 90 Xanax, and various muscle relaxants (names of which I don’t know). She refused to stay in the hospital for the tests to determine the extent of her brain, lung, liver, kidney, heart damage once she recovred from the coma. Or for the follow-up psyciatric care & follow-up rehab. Now, she’s gobsmacked that she finds her shoes in the freezer and that she lights candles when the house smells of natural gas in the night and and that she takes her husband’s heart meds & then hides the prescription bottle in the freezer. I know that most people here only have the condition, most don’t have ADDICTION. My sister has been an addict for her whole life, and I’ve wanted someoe to understand the connnection, while she hints that my father, the most spiritual human I’ve ever known, sexually molested her, while she blame me for being her older sister with better grades and such a “prude”., the “blamees” are endless.

]]> By: rhinoplasty http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarsurvivorblog/suicide-awareness-week-and-my-bipolar-sister/297/comment-page-1/#comment-609 rhinoplasty Thu, 24 Sep 2009 06:08:46 +0000 http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarsurvivorblog/?p=297#comment-609 Nice site! Nice site!

]]> By: Michele http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarsurvivorblog/suicide-awareness-week-and-my-bipolar-sister/297/comment-page-1/#comment-604 Michele Tue, 15 Sep 2009 22:41:46 +0000 http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarsurvivorblog/?p=297#comment-604 Teresa -- Come here to vent any time. You'll always find someone who can relate to what you're going through. When I was still trying to work, I had the HR Dept keep a FMLA (Family Medical Leave Act) on file so that I could leave when I needed to without penalty of losing my job. You miight want to look into that, since your boss is willing to work with you. The problem with fatigue might be something physical (like low thyroid) or the depression of bipolar disorder. You might want to get checked out physically. Blessings, Michele Teresa –

Come here to vent any time. You’ll always find someone who can relate to what you’re going through. When I was still trying to work, I had the HR Dept keep a FMLA (Family Medical Leave Act) on file so that I could leave when I needed to without penalty of losing my job. You miight want to look into that, since your boss is willing to work with you. The problem with fatigue might be something physical (like low thyroid) or the depression of bipolar disorder. You might want to get checked out physically.

Blessings,
Michele

]]> By: Teresa http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarsurvivorblog/suicide-awareness-week-and-my-bipolar-sister/297/comment-page-1/#comment-603 Teresa Tue, 15 Sep 2009 21:34:27 +0000 http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarsurvivorblog/?p=297#comment-603 I was diagnosed with Bioplar II several years ago, and I was wanting to know if someone can get worse as they get older? I take my meds like i'm suppose to. But they're are days when it takes everything I have to get thougth each day. I never had to use Xanax to make it through the day. Now it is getting more and more frequent. I work a full time job, but fear I might lose it due to the fact that I can't even make it through the day. The manager knows I have bipolar and wants to work with me on it. I would like to have someone just to talk to about what I go through but I can't afford to miss work and also the money to see a therapist. Just needed to vent. Thanks for listening. I was diagnosed with Bioplar II several years ago, and I was wanting to know if someone can get worse as they get older? I take my meds like i’m suppose to. But they’re are days when it takes everything I have to get thougth each day. I never had to use Xanax to make it through the day. Now it is getting more and more frequent. I work a full time job, but fear I might lose it due to the fact that I can’t even make it through the day. The manager knows I have bipolar and wants to work with me on it. I would like to have someone just to talk to about what I go through but I can’t afford to miss work and also the money to see a therapist. Just needed to vent. Thanks for listening.

]]> By: Michele http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarsurvivorblog/suicide-awareness-week-and-my-bipolar-sister/297/comment-page-1/#comment-602 Michele Sun, 13 Sep 2009 20:32:48 +0000 http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarsurvivorblog/?p=297#comment-602 Teresa -- Sometimes, with a new medication, a dullness of emotions can be a side effect. Keep watching it, and if it goes on much longer, talk to your psychiatrist, as your dosage may need to be lowered. Our best medication should not dull our emotions - mine don't. They let me still feel what I need to feel and be who I am. But in the beginning of any new medication, dosage adjustments may need to be made. As far as not feeling that spiritual connection with God, whether you "feel" it or not, it is still there. Stand on the promises of the Bible, even if it's only in your head for now, and not in your heart. He said, "I will NEVER leave you nor forsake you." The Scripture I use for my bipolar disorder is, "I do not have the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a SOUND MIND." Hope this helps. Blessings, Michele Teresa –
Sometimes, with a new medication, a dullness of emotions can be a side effect. Keep watching it, and if it goes on much longer, talk to your psychiatrist, as your dosage may need to be lowered. Our best medication should not dull our emotions – mine don’t. They let me still feel what I need to feel and be who I am. But in the beginning of any new medication, dosage adjustments may need to be made. As far as not feeling that spiritual connection with God, whether you “feel” it or not, it is still there. Stand on the promises of the Bible, even if it’s only in your head for now, and not in your heart. He said, “I will NEVER leave you nor forsake you.” The Scripture I use for my bipolar disorder is, “I do not have the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a SOUND MIND.” Hope this helps.
Blessings,
Michele

]]> By: Melissa http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarsurvivorblog/suicide-awareness-week-and-my-bipolar-sister/297/comment-page-1/#comment-601 Melissa Sun, 13 Sep 2009 19:56:36 +0000 http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarsurvivorblog/?p=297#comment-601 I have attempted to take my life about three times when I was younger. ten yrs ago I got a call from my Uncle. We had just buried my father, his brother, five months earlier. Uncle had decided to end his life. I went searching for him to stop instead I witnessed his death. I decided at the moment in time, like Michele, that I would never kill myself. When you lose a loved on to this horrible thing you lose a part of yourself. A part of me died that day holding my Uncles hand waiting for the police and paramedics to arrive. I beg an plead with anyone thinking this to please seek help. Please do not leave your family with so much termoil and grief after you die. I still to this day ask why. Why he left, why he waited till I showed up to do this, why he watched his brother, my father, fight for fifteen months for every breathe he took, for every extra minute he could get from the cancer, and then he just gives up and takes his life. My uncle did not have bipolar disorder. He was extremely depressed. I begged him to seek help many times. Suicide is not the answer. Suicide has never been the answer. Talk to someone please. Get the help you need so you can live a productive and happy life. It is possible with Bipolar to be happy and productive. It is possible to live a good life. It is possible to be stable and at peace with yourself and with the world. It takes two step. Step 1: You have to decide and want to live this kind of life. Step 2: Call and make an appointment to see someone who can help you acheive this. That is all it takes. Please do not hesitate one more minute, one more second. reach out today. Your Friend Melissa I have attempted to take my life about three times when I was younger. ten yrs ago I got a call from my Uncle. We had just buried my father, his brother, five months earlier. Uncle had decided to end his life. I went searching for him to stop instead I witnessed his death. I decided at the moment in time, like Michele, that I would never kill myself. When you lose a loved on to this horrible thing you lose a part of yourself. A part of me died that day holding my Uncles hand waiting for the police and paramedics to arrive.
I beg an plead with anyone thinking this to please seek help. Please do not leave your family with so much termoil and grief after you die. I still to this day ask why. Why he left, why he waited till I showed up to do this, why he watched his brother, my father, fight for fifteen months for every breathe he took, for every extra minute he could get from the cancer, and then he just gives up and takes his life. My uncle did not have bipolar disorder. He was extremely depressed. I begged him to seek help many times.
Suicide is not the answer. Suicide has never been the answer. Talk to someone please. Get the help you need so you can live a productive and happy life. It is possible with Bipolar to be happy and productive. It is possible to live a good life. It is possible to be stable and at peace with yourself and with the world. It takes two step. Step 1: You have to decide and want to live this kind of life. Step 2: Call and make an appointment to see someone who can help you acheive this. That is all it takes. Please do not hesitate one more minute, one more second. reach out today.
Your Friend
Melissa

]]> By: Teresa http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarsurvivorblog/suicide-awareness-week-and-my-bipolar-sister/297/comment-page-1/#comment-600 Teresa Sun, 13 Sep 2009 19:10:39 +0000 http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarsurvivorblog/?p=297#comment-600 I was wondering if it was normal to not feel any emotion with meds. I have been on this combination of meds for about a month now and I guess my body is starting to adjust to them. But I can't seem to have emotions at all. At church today I and the week before I can't even get moved to show emotion about the service. It bothers me! I have always been an emotional person at church, it makes me feel as though i'm not connecting with God. I was wondering if it was normal to not feel any emotion with meds. I have been on this combination of meds for about a month now and I guess my body is starting to adjust to them. But I can’t seem to have emotions at all. At church today I and the week before I can’t even get moved to show emotion about the service. It bothers me! I have always been an emotional person at church, it makes me feel as though i’m not connecting with God.

]]> By: Cindy http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarsurvivorblog/suicide-awareness-week-and-my-bipolar-sister/297/comment-page-1/#comment-599 Cindy Sun, 13 Sep 2009 13:30:34 +0000 http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarsurvivorblog/?p=297#comment-599 I, too, have been plagued with suicidal thoughts over the past several years. I ended up in the hospital because of them last year. They are very difficult to deal with, but by taking my medication I can keep them at bay for the most part. So, my advice to everyone is to take your medication, see your therapist, see your doctor and talk with your friends and family. Be open about your thoughts and seek help. Best of luck to all. I, too, have been plagued with suicidal thoughts over the past several years. I ended up in the hospital because of them last year. They are very difficult to deal with, but by taking my medication I can keep them at bay for the most part. So, my advice to everyone is to take your medication, see your therapist, see your doctor and talk with your friends and family. Be open about your thoughts and seek help. Best of luck to all.

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