Bipolar disorder

[thezenvirgo]

My older sister is bipolar. She is currently on 750mg of depakote along with two other meds. Depakote is the medication that stabilized her after she was manic for about two months... ughh to tell you all how difficult, stressful, sad these past two months were. We had to hospitalize her twice!! I quit my full time job. Now I’m the one mentally struggling. On the brightest side my sister is so much more stable now and day by day going back to her normal self. Anyone else have family members who are bipolar/schizophrenic? I know I am not alone

[Hidden]

I have bipolar disorder. My mom has it too

[thezenvirgo in reply to Hidden]

Woww would you say it’s a genetic thing?

[Hidden in reply to thezenvirgo]

I think part of it is biological but it is also how you grew up and your environment. I believe my Dad gets depressed too, but he copes by smoking. Wish he would quit but he won't.

[thezenvirgo in reply to Hidden]

Only he has the ability to stop. I hope he does soon I’m sure he will.

[Hidden in reply to thezenvirgo]

No, that's his problem, smoking cigarettes is his crutch .

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

now - so u have a condition.........no offense like cancer...dont let it rule your life..........start making normal plans , rewards oput your life back on track and dont let doctors make tooooo big a deal out of things

dont let ur condition take over ur life.........remmember your strenghts interests and go.........ur more capable and doctors and nurses dont know u ..........its part of life now...........adapt and u can comopensate just like amputees............a littel powerful word doctors dont know

compensate adapt prevail...........u

can

do

this..............

[mentalcase]

I have bipolar along with depression and other mental illnesses. I was given depakote once but found out that allergic to it. I haven't had the mania for many years. I tell my doctor I miss it because I'm unable to do any housework or whatever needs to be done. They won't let me have the mania though, just keep me depressed. I have no motivation nor energy to do anything, even shower. I'm so tired of the depression almost every day. What problems does mania cause to require hospitalization? I've never had that, just in the hospital many times for depression. I know for a fact that I will never be in another mental hospital.

[thezenvirgo in reply to mentalcase]

I’m so sorry you are depressed. I can only imagine how bad it is if you do not have the energy to shower or do any housework. But from personal experience it is a good thing you haven’t been manic for a few years. Perhaps talk to your doctor about trying out different medications? My sister just turns into a completely different person, her personality is the complete opposite of her normal self. She is very loud, talks a lot of nonsense and if you were to see her out in public you would think she was on heavy drugs. My sister does not do drugs. It is her mental illness. What helps her from not being depressed is staying active. Being in the sun, drinking lots of water, working out, yoga, meditation, a dog? I hope you heal. Life is too beautiful to be depressed ☹️

[mentalcase in reply to thezenvirgo]

Thank you and I hope the best for you.

[Hidden in reply to mentalcase]

feel for ur depression and your comment about hospitals amen good luck

[CL3V3R-G1RL]

I got 2 older sisters who both suffer from bi polar disorder. One sister is a type 1 and I believe so is the other. They both have different fathers. So maybe it’s something on our mother’s side. I suffer from generalized anxiety and ptsd (bad childhood).

My eldest sister who has type 1 bi polar disorder also has schizophrenic tendencies. She hears and sees things that aren’t there. But she’s been on meds for over 5yrs now and she’s a lot better off now, she even says that Saraquil (however it’s spelled) saved her life.

My other sister as far as I know hears things like “whispers”. They don’t say anything just noise. At least that’s what she says. That sister is also a liar. She likes to keep everybody in the dark about what’s going on with her. She has basically kept herself away from the family. Perhaps it’s because she has stopped taking her medication cause she feels she doesn’t need it. Cause supposedly her boyfriend is also “bi polar”...and he’s a cad. My sister is very easily manipulated. I have a feeling he convinced her that she doesn’t need those drugs cause he isn’t that bad. I get random text from her at different times like “she thinks she’s a bad person” to a alt right conspiracy theory website. So I suspect she’s stopped taking it. Last time she stopped it was because she got tired of taking all those pills. But saw the difference it made by day 3 of being off them and got back on.

My brother who passed in 2012 at 45 suffered from depression. He mostly drank his feelings. He never felt good enough nor was he confident in his own skills. He was great at drafting, he was a terrific cook, mechanic and handy man. Could have made any one of those things a profession but chose jobs that were easy like convince store clerk/manager or fast food clerk/manager. I think he was terrified of failing at something he loved cause it would only prove he was no good. So he never tried. Which is very sad.

[thezenvirgo in reply to CL3V3R-G1RL]

First of I want to say wowwww 2 sisters bipolar along with your mental illness and your brothers?... I can relate to you so much based off your response... my father along with my sister and younger brother are bipolar. I am happy to hear sister 1 is doing so much better! As long as she stays taking her meds as prescribed by her psychiatrist she will be okay. Sister 2 sounds so much like my sister. Sooo sooo much. My sister has heard voices and she describes it as hallucinations and intrusive thoughts taking over her mind... it’s so dangerous for her to stop medications... sadly this is going to have to be a lifelong thing. My sister has tried to come off meds as well and one case also manipulated by a guy that she didn’t need them. The effects on being off meds are so ridiculously dangerous and scary... to tell you I have had nightmares of my sister when she’s manic. This illness is so sad and traumatic for family. My sister thinks me and my family are controlling but we just work around the clock to make sure she’s safe. We care about her so much. They can’t be alone... as for your brother may he Rest In Peace. I fear my younger brother will turn out the same. He is only 19. Was hospitalized last Nov. due to him hallucinating, being paranoid, hearing voices. I want to think he took drugs and not accept he is bipolar too. It all feels like a bad dream. He is also a depressed insecure alcoholic. I fear for his future. May god be with us. I will keep you in my heart

[Hidden in reply to CL3V3R-G1RL]

sounds like u have learned a lot and are perceptive and learned from their mirrors..........bipolar is a condition like any other.........try not using the word mental illness.........its a condition like epilespsy or etc.........so what..........we adjust..........u wouldnt call a black man a N........because its insulting and demeaning...............so dont use the words mental illness...........those are clincial categories not street or family words

imagine someone being 52 and a guy ..he shorty........the first 100 tmes its funny..........afterwords............u get the point..........techically correect whats the problem? u know what the problem is

dont call someone a N or spik or whap either

dont call peple who are disabled disabled

the doctors are the last to read the memo

people learn to coope and compensate ............good word doctors know notign about........

adapt

compensate

watch nutririton

general health

condistion but dont let it rule your life

ask cancer or diabetes or etc.

[CL3V3R-G1RL]

Thank you for keeping in your ❤️. Yes it’s tough and what makes it even more tough is that my sisters are in their 50s. I’m in my early 30s. That means they are adults and can manage their own affairs. My eldest sister who takes her meds also has a myriad of health problems. But she is stuck in West Virginia. Where she has no family support. Wish I had the means to bring her home. She often calls our mom when she has a panic attack and cries saying she “doesn’t want to die up there alone”. I know it breaks our mom’s heart cause she’s retired and doesn’t have the means to do anything. Just offer comforting words over the phone.

My second sister who doesn’t want to accept she is bi polar. She lives here in the same city as our mom and me. However I take care of our mom. She couldn’t care less as long as she doesn’t get a phone call from me saying mom is dead or something. She never really wanted to be part of a family. she likes the idea of family but doesn’t want to be responsible for one. She uses family at her convenience. Since she is a grown woman at 50. Lives with her boyfriend there’s nothing we can do. Can’t make her take her meds. We can call and message her and they go unanswered. Until she feels the need to. She has been to the hospital put on a 72hr psych hold. She probably never wants to go there again, so she probably lies to her psychiatrist about how she feels. Since she’s going to a free service thing, they only give ya an hour, re-up her meds and out the door.

I’m sorry to hear your in the same situation. It’s hard watch family members self destruct. It makes you wonder if they are all self wire for self destruction. I hope your brother gets well and the help he needs. Hope your family situation improves. All we got is hope. And know you have a kindred spirit ❤️

[Hidden]

good job first responder in effect- great job ten thousand pats on the back

all coast guard people etc have to have self care- super man can not rescue exhuasted...........u must do this for yourself and your sister......

treat her level and as normal........all people dislike being patronized.......

have a thick hide........let things go in one ear and out the other if bad or try to listen and hear.......

avoid telling someone what to do........

dont treat her like she is ill or sick or play doctor.........insulting

dont over read.......dont play doctor....just treat her as anyother person.........peole with wheelchairs and etc.........we all have baggage so what........everoen wants the same opoortutinty and be treated just like anyone else..........forget the label.........

the depakote will make her famished...........thats a fact ask any pharmacist

bravo and keep upo the good work........get rest.......take care of yourself.........first

[Ryanphilip_9]

I'm not sure, but I believe my sister suffers from bipolar disorder. It's difficult for me to express that to her directly coz I don't want to harm her feelings. Please, someone, tell me how I may say that to her. I really wish I could take her to a specialist as well.Thanks