Was wondering

[bonkers65]

My psy nurse thinks I may be bipolar 2 so she put me on a low dose of lithium (300mgs./day). It's been 2 weeks and I can't tell any difference in my depression/anxiety. Has anyone else ever taken lithium and did it help you?

[HopeforJustice]

Hello

I'm not a doctor and don't know anything about lithium since I've not taken it. But one thing I do know is that you are doing the right thing by reaching out to as many people to seek answers. Be proud of yourself, you have taken the right first step. What else is going on that is bugging you today? How did you get diagnosed for bipolar in the first place?

Hope

[bonkers65 in reply to HopeforJustice]

Just bored to death. Nothing is fun anymore because of my depression. I have to force myself to do just the basics, shower, wash clothes, water the plants etc. I'm grateful I have a little self-discipline. And I'm the one who suggested to my psy nurse that I may be bipolar 2, the lesser of the two, because although I am mainly depressed I have had a few times when I was full of energy, feeling really good, stayed up all night like I was on speed or something. But who knows.

[HopeforJustice in reply to bonkers65]

If you were not depressed, what would you be doing? What are you passions? What excites you? Do you live with others or alone? This can make a difference since someone can be bothering you and you may have underlying resentment. Or if you live alone, you need to walk outside for 5 minutes. Increase it by a few minutes a day. I understand about not wanting to accomplish simple tasks. I have a pile of clothes to fold, and I have no interest in folding them. So I will fold, one thing per day. Do one task today. And another tomorrow. Just because others are capable of doing a load of laundry does not mean you need to accomplish the same task in record time. If you need to take a shower, put on music and have a shower ritual, make a simple task fun. You have hidden talents, you have yet to uncover. I believe in you.

Hope

[bonkers65 in reply to HopeforJustice]

Thank you Hope. In my former life, as I like to call it, I used to spend a lot of time outdoors. And I still do some, but it's just not the same. I don't enjoy it as much as I used to. But I'm trying. And I live alone with one friend I see every now and then, who is kind of unreliable. And that's about it. So I do get lonely. So thanks for your support.

[HopeforJustice in reply to bonkers65]

Hello B,

Before depression hit me like a ton of bricks, I would go to the gym 6 to 7 days a week. I was in great shape and super healthy. I have never smoked and don't like alcohol. I got involved with a bad guy who destroyed everything good in my life and went into a deep depression, this was three years ago and I've been in fog ever since. I cannot snap out of it. It has gotten way worse. So over the past few years, it was a struggle getting to the gym. I would stall and run errands than before I knew it, I would make excuses, I'm too tired, it's too late, I need to feed the dog, etc. The hardest part of doing something is getting our bodies from Point A to Point B. Once I am at Point B, I am fine, it's just getting there. Sometimes it might be tough to get into the shower. Start by turning on the water, see how it that was, you are already at Point B.

If you like nature, get in your car in your pajamas and drive there. If you have enough energy or desire, get out of the car. And try again another day. On the days I did not want to exercise, I would put on my gym clothes and put on lipstick. For some reason I want to wear lipstick when I exercise, I live in Southern California, we are much more image conscious which I hate, but it's true.

Now that we are in isolation, I put on my gym clothes and put on my tap dancing shoes, I am taking an online tap dancing class that has scheduled Zoom classes. The best way to get yourself to do something is by paying for it in advance. I don't know about you, but I hate wasting money, I figured if I'm paying for it, I better show up. Take baby steps. Whatever you love, do one thing toward that passion. Put on your hiking boots and stretch. Maybe tomorrow, you'll want to stretch outside. Keep it simple and try. Before isolation, sometimes when I got to the gym, I had no energy to work out so I would socialize with all the employees in the smoothie bar. At least I could say "yeah I went to the gym" but nobody ever asks, did you exercise while there.

Start saying, today I'm going to hike or today I am going to ______ (fill in the blank) get in your car, bike, whatever your mode of transportation is and go there, you don't need to participate but at least get from Point A to Point B.

Today I am going to color my hair. Today I am going to block that mean person's number so that cannot contact me.

Try my A to B method, let know how it works.

Hope

[bonkers65 in reply to HopeforJustice]

I'm trying. Thanks