I have been diagnosed with bipolar recently and since the diagnosis I am finding it very hard to cope with the lows. Sometimes I am just very depressed and sometimes I just want to end it all. Unfortunately the later of the two is becoming more common. I have a lot of health conditions and my mobility is very restricted most of the time, meaning , I can't just get away from it all when I want to , I have to rely on someone to help me get around. I am not in a wheelchair just yet, but unfortunately, that time will come.
Can anyone out there give me any advice on how you cope with your lows.
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Chriskay
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Hello Cris
We all seem to go through highs and lows it is part of who we are Personally I have a chronic pain condition and that can also effect my mood and outlook as my condition is a multi chronic pain condition and it can and does lead onto a Reactive Depression
My life over the years, I am sixty four, has been hard and I was medically retired a long time ago.
Sad to say I tried taking my life and believe me it does not work and if you fail people will beat you over the head because of your attempt.So I support living life in the best way possible and take no notice of those who will do you down. That seems to be the best way forward as we are here on earth as learning college so we can pass to higher plains. Scientists say there are eleven of these worlds so if we take the final sanction all that happens is we just go through the whole problem once more again
Like you I have a wheelchair, although I find the thing more useless than a benefit so I restrict my activities and somehow manage to do my life chores. You could adapt your home possibly to make life easier it is expensive although you get the VAT back and the OT will assist and make the kitchen, bathroom and living room better to get around in and they will supply aids to help also. We down sized and now I am in an adapted bungalow where I can get around much more easy than before at my old address I was living in a semi detached house and I was unable to use the downstairs so I had to live upstairs where I had my Spar and bathroom and in all intents and purposes a living room from a bedroom so there I was with wife and dog.
Discuss with your GP is you are worried about your clinical condition. There are many ways society can help and even some very small actions can help you get more out of your life.
My low mood is a problem and I feel when I am in a high mood I will knock doors out of windows. Then sad to say when high mood is high the low mood can hit you like a sledge hammer. We are all different and I will generally play with the dog or have a piece of chocolate, we are all different, I also like a ginger beer. Or at night a whiskey and a bottle of strong beer. We are all different. We all can make our lives a little bit more enjoyable if we think about it
Do not worry, we all need to live our lives in a more progressive way, See your GP he may be able to arrange a Pain Management Course. That will assist you in control of your pain etc
You say things in such a calming way,like a breath of fresh air. You sound wise and friendly .
Depending who it is you are replying to it's to them personally and not at all repetitive or generalised.
My depression was diagnosed over ten years ago ,my needs became more specific due to my Stoma. Our bed room has always been in the attic which when I was well I could manage the stairs and never expected anything different. The room is ensuite.
I get so ashamed of myself living from my bedroom,it seems to carry a stigma and my Dad especially says to me do you still shut yourself away upstairs all day sleeping and watching daytime TV. It really offends me as the need to justify comes along.
I am not feeling great about myself but I'm alive,my younger children do their homework,spellings and reading. I am so close to them and I can tell them things and they help me put on pyjamas,socks etc.
It's unconditional love as they know I can't buy them this or that and take them out and they still choose to be with me.
I never lie in bed anyway as I can't lie down due to scar adhesions inside and outside of my waist down.
During the day I will sit on the bed and I also have an arm chair I sit in depending what I an doing as I do many crafts and read.
I had tea making facilities upstairs out of the way and in a safe area and I was made to feel like a lay about that much I got rid of it.
Now I have to intercom downstairs to ask if someone would be kind enough to make me one.
It was more independent as I had to get up and walk across the room and make my own. I think my dad thought don't let her get too comfortable up there and she will come down.
In the evening about 9 PM the boys and I watch a programme that must finish at ten at the latest ( they are already for bed ) we have a cup if tea maybe some biscuits or chocolate, we always share even if we have our own,it's just a thing we do and with having twins if ever there has only been one of something they have always said half each.
The point I am saying is I am not hurting anyone,or committing an offence but such a big issue is made out of it.
I would love to down size as the boys start to drift away to their own lives.
I just wish I could get my self together again everything is beyond my control.
Your a good listener Bob and it is nice to have a gentlemans point of view and feelings.
It is always a good idea to have words with your GP, they will have Social Services and Occupational Therapist look at the way you are living. It may be depending on your financial situation be able to fit a Stair Lift so you can get down the stairs, and they may also be able to adapt a downstairs toilet so you can remain with your family. Grants are available for various works. My property here had bathrooms that were to small, now I have a main bathroom off my bedroom that gives access to a shower via wheelchair.
Generally it can be easier to adapt, than move out of your home as the NHS and Social Services would prefer to make your home more plausible for your needs
Hi I'm Michelle and if I could send you my best wishes and say," you will be better soon"
I would do it right now but there is no getting better. Better days believe me you will get a few of them and if like me you only see what a good day is when you have to have a bad day then that is a factor to make you fed up alone.
Firstly you will realise after repeatedly having the thoughts of suicide you will see it is harder for you to organise and do than getting on here finding someone alike ( there are many ) to talk/text with. We can always have a laugh my best jokes are about myself.
You have admitted that you are in crisis by following it through to diagnosis and then telling people like me, who if it helps will listen to you and know where you are coming from.
I have Depression that's gone everywhere and done everything with me for the last 10 years plus = many thoughts on ending it and to be honest it is obstacles put in our way that stops us because you and I know even if it's just a neighbour someone will get upset and even question their own lives and if theirs is worth living for.
The worst thing I am suffering with at the moment being depressed is the heart burn the anti depressants give me ,it serves me right because if I was not so lazy I would get the prescription changed. I will try anything once as long as they are prescribed drugs of course.
I tell you this as well all the cautions and risks the patient information list gives us we are quite brave people waiting to see what number side effect from none to normally fifty odd we will suffer with or even how many!
I got stuck in the bath the other day like a beached whale. Apart from cold,naked,vulnerable and totally p***ed off my husband made me laugh and it was not funny!the roof would have to come off and the cherry picker the fire services use would need to be called. It was only about twenty minutes later sat in the chair with a cup of tea I could see the funny side of it. My husband said I will go and get the man next door to help out next time and I said the side of the bath gets cut off before that one ever happens.
I have had some lovely strip washes since then,I never even liked that bath anyway I always thought the colour was a bit wishy washy!
so no love lost there!!!
My husband will remember Valentines day on Sunday, do I care,yes I damn well do,will that get me anywhere other than in a strop no,so I'm ready for it.
I have that many medical problems like you and chronic pain does me no good either, we could probably sink a ship with our medications and if I got on it as well that's sure fire to sink it!
By the way I am chronically obese you never would have guessed according to the doctor I just call it fat.
Serious now I'm michelle aged 40 yrs ( I don't believe them I am sure I am only 30 yrs but I go along with what they tell me) I have six boys aged 22 yrs to 12 yrs.
I have two Granddaughter and they are the only girls my husbands side apart from a sister for hundreds of years. The oldest Granddaughter 14 months is beautiful and my husband fetched her this morning so I could have half an hour with her. Seeing her face is better than seeing a hundred pound. I tell her Nanna loves her and she rests her head on mine and we both have exactly the same colour hair strawberry blonde and blue eyes,she has been brought up beautifully and she is a joy,I could watch her for hours.
Back to where we were my mobility is getting worse. I am so frightened of falling over I have fallen a few times and it's been bruises and scrapes,nothing worse thank god.
Is your mobility part of your medical condition or has it had a knock on effect?
I don't want to laden you down with all my rambling on but if you want at all I can tell you what goes on with me meds etc in further posts.
Chriskay, bipolar cannot be cured but it is treatable and finding out as much as you can about the condition will help you manage it better. In addition you have other compounding health conditions so you have a lot to cope with.
I've found a couple of websites. One is the samaritans which you have no doubt heard of but I have found them very good with e-mailing when in a crisis. There is a very good page on the site about feeling suicidal . I've also found a story on there about someone with bi-polar which could help you. Another is a general website about how to manage your moods if you are bi-polar.
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