Bipolar anyone out there living a normal life

[Jann3]

Please I’m desperate for answers. I have been down so many avenues to no avail. I’m hanging in barely. My panic and anxiety through the roof and I feel I cannot take it

[Stilltrying_]

Hi and welcome. I'm not able to leave a long reply at the moment but please do look through other posts on here. You can use the "search" button. There is much good advice and understanding given in this group.

You don't give much information. I'm aware it's the weekend but maybe tomorrow contact your GP practice (or physician if you are in the US) and if you are desperate right now please make yourself available of the helplines that are listed in the Pinned Posts on here.

Kindest wishes gemmalouise. x

[Satsuma]

I do not think it ever goes away. We have to manage ourselves by taking control of the things we can .. We can control our thoughts and feelings .. If we change our thoughts, then we can change our lives .. We can learn to master our mind and not let it master us

[Jann3 in reply to Satsuma]

Satsuma, are u diagnosed as well and if so do u take anything that’s helped. My mind is very overpowering and I’m stuck and cannot function. It’s the panic and anxiety that take over. Thank u for your words

[Satsuma in reply to Jann3]

Yes I have various diagnoses .. I do not use meds having had many years trying so many .. I use my own power and it seems to be working well .. You too can conquer this

[Wangari in reply to Satsuma]

Wow. I'm usually bowled over by people who manage without antidepressants or other drugs especially with Manic Depression and Anxiety I meditate, breathe, take walks I don't think I could ever do it.

[Satsuma in reply to Jann3]

I use these to instill calmness .. Meditation .. Yoga .. Regular Exercise combined with the use of Essential Oils which I burn in a diffuser and I mix the oils in with Coconut Oil for my skin .. All these induce relaxation for me .. Having a relaxed body helps to relax the mind I find

[Jann3 in reply to Satsuma]

I’m not sure how to meditate and haven’t tried yoga. Which essential oils do you use and are your diagnosises similiar to mine. You give me hope so thank u for any info you can give. What type of exercise do u do...and are there supplements u take every day...anything special about your diet. I want to try this alternatives as I’m having no luck also after many years of meds. There has to be a way I can conquer this too.

[Satsuma in reply to Jann3]

Here is a link for meditation ..

gaiam.com/blogs/discover/me...

[Satsuma in reply to Satsuma]

Here is a link for Yoga ..

youtu.be/v7AYKMP6rOE(Not working as expected?)

[Satsuma in reply to Satsuma]

Here is a link for Essential oils ..

globalhealingcenter.com/nat...

[Satsuma in reply to Satsuma]

My diagnoses are that of Cyclothymia which is a form of bipolar .. I have Highs .. Lows and Middles .. I rapid cycle too .. And I have Borderline Personality Disorder along with Anxiety Disorder plus a few more diagnoses mobility wise .. I also have IBS .. I am a Vegan and I am intolerant to Gluten .. I exercise in the gym on the machines to build my body and I also partake in MMA .. A few years ago i did nothing except pop pills and now I don't pop pills but I do many other things .. I have discovered many talents I did not know I had

[Jann3 in reply to Satsuma]

My panic and anxiety are so high that the IBS starts first thing along with other symptoms and I have to rush out of bed. I don’t want to be stuck like this forever. I need to get relief. It’s a daily upset stomach and hard to function. What is MMA? It’s been a struggle to get out of the house just to take my girls to school.

[Satsuma in reply to Jann3]

Yes .. I understand .. That's why I suggested meditation as when our body is relaxed then our mind follows .. MMA is Mixed Martial Arts

[KarenG194 in reply to Satsuma]

We are so alike!! I used to compete as a figure athlete and I loved doing MMA but the fatigue I’ve been suffering with makes it impossible for me to train at all and I haven’t been able to do any steady state cardio without ending up with worse fatigue in 18 months.. I’m really hoping that I get sorted soon as I want to get back in the cage and fight!

[Satsuma in reply to KarenG194]

Maybe we could have a spar sometime .. I'm just recovering from Appendix removal just now so am unable to train unfortunately .. But my mind is in a good place due to daily repetition of positivity

[LovelySnow in reply to Satsuma]

Yoga with Adriene! Her videos are great.

[KarenG194]

I totally agree with Satsuma. I have ADHD and Bipolar (although I had to stop taking meds after 5 years of no improvement and awful side effects on all meds I was given to try) Meditation really helps along with Journalling and clean eating Nutrition. I have also found Ashwaganda, Rhodiola, Phosphatydlcerine and Phosphatadylserine have helped too.

Try guided meditations on You Tube - Jason Stephenson is brilliant. Start with just 5 minutes and build it up. I do an hour am and pm and my ADHD is better for it for sure. Journalling over the past few years really helps so you can pin point mood cycles and also vent frustrations and set goals.

I used to be a meat eater but after watching a documentary called ‘What The Health’ on Netflix last year when I was stuck on the sofa depressed it made me question everything I had learned as a PT/Sports Nutritionist and I didn’t realise how many hormones were pumped into the meat we consume even if it’s organic! So i decided to give Plant based eating a go and I haven’t looked back. Now despite all these things I’m suffering with fatigue that prevents me doing anything I love and once I stopped taking meds that made me worse I was able to think straight and I’ve been researching hormone imbalances and Bipolar and now I am awaiting blood test results and speaking to Endocrinologists about the possibility of damage to the Pituitary Gland caused by meds that inhibit dopamine production (Bipolar meds’ predominantly).

I’m hoping finally after years and years of suffering that I might be on the right track to getting my life back. I’ve learned to question everything and do plenty of research and not just take doctors words for it. I’m lucky I’ve found a GP who listens to me and is working with me to try to get to the bottom of the underlying cause of my mental and physical health.

Do everything in your power to support yourself by means of meditation, nutrition and exercise if you can. Rule out anything that you can control, find a doctor who isnt in the pocket of Pharmaceutical company’s and who actually wants to help you. I know I have bipolar but I believe that something underlying is causing it because it all started after 2 ectopic pregnancies when I was 21 and 23 and I’m 38 now and just existing not living a fulfilling life. Don’t give up. People with Bipolar can lead happy healthy lives it just takes effort on their part to do it. I wish you all the best 🙏

[Satsuma in reply to KarenG194]

Jason Stephenson is so cool ....Michael Sealy too is another good one

[Wangari in reply to KarenG194]

Hi I'm also Bipolar and 3 years ago started having anxiety which I never used to have. If I can tell my story to anyone after living 10 years with it which includes having my 20s go by in a haze because I was drinking and partying a lot to deal with it and all through still somehow being able to hold down a job and being very good at it I still really don't know how. What I hate with anxiety is the memory loss, loss of coordination and confusion it really sucks. I've also slowly realised my body is rejecting protein I don't know why and whether its related to my mental health, I'm allergic to chicken and recently found out milk too so i'm also changing to vegetarianism which has been easier than I thought. The meds have been an issue but i'm praying to get a combination that works. I've also been a gym bug but with the gyms closed due to Covid i've taken up running which gives me a high.