Bipolar

[Foxhelp]

The lack of response has left me feeling somewhat depressed.. it is ok to joke a little bit?

[Alan Medic]

Humour has to be good.

[cuteclaire]

how does someone know if they have the bipolar,i have anxiety attacks and panic attacks is this similar in anyway at all,i hope you don't mind me asking you.x

[DanKeeley7]

Hi all/Foxhelp/Alan Medic...

Hope you're all well.

No, no one's met up yet to my knowledge. Perhaps one evening in a few weeks if anyone's interested? Perhaps w/c 17th June? or even the weekend of the 15th/16th.

Pugwash I'm so sorry to hear of your husband suffering so terribly with his depression, and of course the effect this must be having on you also. I too battle my demons on a daily basis. If he too would like to meet up to just chat about bipolar over a cup of tea I would be more than happy to head round or meet somethere in East Dulwich?

Please feel free to either PM me or just reply on here to meet up. Always keen to meet with others who undertand or want to learn from this awful condition.

Thanks all

Dan

[Saffron]

cuteclaire Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> how does someone know if they have the bipolar,i

> have anxiety attacks and panic attacks is this

> similar in anyway at all,i hope you don't mind me

> asking you.x

No, that sounds quite different from bipolar disorder. Bipolar individuals alternate to varying degrees between mania and depression - in other words extreme highs and lows.

Panic disorder and Generalized Anxiety disorder are two distinct disorders not associated with bipolar. Also some people just have more anxiety than others but not a disorder.

If it's upsetting you or interfering with you life, definitely worth seeking some advice from sympathetic GP or other professional. Xx

[Pugwash]

Thanks Dan. Hubby is talking about going to his Bipolar Club on Weds Evening in Beckenham. He was actually up and dressed when I got home from work at 7.45. he had changed and washed the bed linen and taken a walk in Dulwich Park - fingers crossed he will get up tomorrow.

I do alot of voluntary work in the East Dulwich Community Centre - do you think there would be enough people who would wish to get together one evening to talk about their experiences. Maybe a one off mini social?.

As part of my professional training I was on placement at a counselling agency and dealt with many people with various degrees of mental ill health from anxiety to suicide prevention so I have a good understanding of most things and I believe that this gives me the strength to weather the depression storm. I am considered quite 'extrovert' at work and most colleagues who know me well can judge my husband's state of mind by my behaviour. My workaholic attitude is usually associated with his depression and so is my desire to keep on working until well past retirement age.

[DanKeeley7]

Hi Pugwash

Great to hear your husband was up and about yesterday, as well as do a few jobs around the house! The smallest things can be so hard so I hope he felt proud of himself yesterday evening.

I hope there would be enough people interested in a one off mini social. Perhaps if we put a date out there on here then see what the interest is like that could work well?

I too should be going to the bipolar group at the beckenham centre tomorrow evening. I would be happy to give your husband a lift if he would like? Just let me know, very happy to to.

You attitude is fantastic. My fiance's the same, always so positive and working hard to make life as easy as possible for both of us. I really admire people in your situation being so strong with a partner who needs the support.

Please do let me know what you think on a) putting a date out there to all meet at the community centre and b) if your husband would like a lift tomorrow evening.

Thanks Pugwash

[lindylou]

Hi pugwash. So pleased to hear something positive. Re beckenham group - i went on a number of occasions but found it as helpful as a chocolate teapot. i.e everyone talking about how they used to be...not how they are now. The two women who ran the meeting were friends who had met up years ago and all they talked about was personal stuff, yadah,yadah,yaday. Well, personally, i would like to meet up with similar bipolar sufferers and try to make friends, move on and learn to enjoy ourselves.

[Alec1]

Wouldn't it be good to have a local group rather than go to Beckenham? I too have bi polar. I don't go to support groups but have often thought about it. I don't medicate now, long story. It is tough. I have been 'well', i.e no major lows for about a year now. I have a lot of highs though. Thankfully not dangerous, just tiring. I have a lot of what I call low blips where I feel really crappy for short times. I would be happy to meet up. :-)

[Pugwash]

I would be happy to book the small hall in the east Dulwich Community Centre ( I am on their committee and also a Trustee of the charity) if people feel they would like to explore the possibility of having an informal meeting and then play it from there. would people prefer an evening ( during week or weekend) or a couple hours on a Sunday afternoon or early Saturday evening. What are people's thoughts - either reply here or pm me

[Alec1]

I would really like to take part in that. :-) I would prefer weektimes to be honest. Evenings are good. Weekends I wouldn't be able to do regularly and I think continuity, for me at least, is good!!!

[malumbu]

What's CBT please? Yes I know I can Google it.

I've had lots of contact with people over the years suffering depression, bipolar etc, and medication has often been lithium to 'restore balance' - I see this has already been discussed on the thread.

They used to use ECT when I was briefly doing a summer job in a pyschiactric hospital which appeared inhumane but apparently does some good,

[Alec1]

CBT is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. I had a short amount of this but found it unhelpful for my bi polar. Person centred counselling I found far more beneficial. ECT can be used but I think, think only in extreme cases. My father had it back in the 60's. He was left with tinnitus and memory issues.

[Alan Medic]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/

This touching documentary was on last night. Still on I Player.

[Pugwash]

managed to get part of this on Alan's link before it froze.

Our youngest daughter (27) was always aware of her dad's illness and like Rachael Bruno was embarrassed when younger.

She now talks openly about her experiences and has done presentations at her college. Recently she discovered that a lecturer friend husband had been diagnosed bi polar and her friend was worried about the effects on the children. Daughter was able to provide her with some insight. Daughter is very much a Daddy's Girl - he is the first person she will call - so far they have phoned each other 4 times in 3 days ( Hubby is on a high at the moment).

Apart from a couple of people on EDF- nobody has expressed an interest in having a meeting at ED Community Centre - I am still willing to go ahead with this if we could get at least 6 people and meet on a week day evening in August

(Most of the regular groups are on holiday during August so we have a greater choice of days).

[Saffron]

This was a very good recent article on ECT by BBC News Health: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-23414888.

Modern ECT is given under general anaesthetic as a therapy of last choice for severe depression (with or without bipolar disorder); however, it remains controversial. While some patients derive great benefits from it, others have reported side effects such as profound memory loss. It will probably remain controversial until there is a better understanding of the effect of electrical brain activity on mood disorders.

[Alec1]

My father had ect back in the late 60s early 70s. He has tinnitus (sp) and short term memory loss. He also has drug induced parkinsons after all the drugs he had to take....some of which have been long since withdrawn.

[Alec1]

I am disappointed that noone else has come forward to enable the possibility of a local meet. Have been going through a long period of low and struggling still. Meeting others and being able to talk in a non judgemental group would be I think beneficial. Anyone?

[LadyDeliah]

For me it's not really something I'd want to do for a number of reasons.

I'm not really a sit around talking about problems kind of person, I don't get a lot of spare time, I find my own ups and downs exhausting and don't really have any extra energy for other people's ups and downs, when I'm up I want to party and when I'm down I don't speak to anyone I don't absolutely have to.

There are support groups but maybe they are a bit more formal than what you are looking for:

http://www.bipolaruk.org.uk/

http://www.bipolarsupportgroup.net/home/index.php

[Alec1]

thanks for the reply, I know what you mean. I have tried online ones but find them too intrusive...sounds odd I know, but there are indirectly in my home via a screen! I wanted to see if a 'real life' one would be better. :-)

[Alan Medic]

Wonder if anyone has any views on this situation. My niece (who was the reason I started this thread) would appear to have no problem in draining my brother's financial resources (he's retired). He's also dealing with his wife having cancer and appears to me to appease his daughter simply to maintain a relationship with her. Not too long ago she wouldn't even speak to him and accused him of some horrible things on Facebook.

Part of me wants to tell him that he shouldn't be doing this (the fact he has mentioned it suggests he can ill afford it), but I suspect he is unwilling to do that for fear of 'losing' her. She is in her mid thirties. Have any of you come across a similar situation? I'm particularly interested in views of how my BP niece might react to being told the well is dry.

[Alec1]

personally speaking her reaction will be the same regardless of BP. It sounds like she is incredibly selfish and quite juvenile and despite having BP is taking the p*ss. Having BP is no excuse for behaving badly. There is no other way to word this other than telling her, that's it. There is nothing more, if you want more go and earn it. She might well kick off and it might trigger some episode, but that is what Drs and Psychs are for. It sounds like you and your brother have more than enough to deal with. Telling her that she is loved making sure that aspect is reinforced but that he can no longer support her financially is all that can be said. How she takes that news is her problem and her responsibility, not anyone elses. How she deals with it is also hers. Take care of you and your family.

[Alan Medic]

Thanks Alec1 for your reply. The fact is I don't know if I should say to by brother he should consider refusing to do it. He knows her best in some respects but perhaps there is an element of fear too that she may take off and he may never see her again. It's possibly too easy for me to offer advice when I'm in a different country and don't have to deal with the reality of the situation. She is not my daughter and I hardly know her. He has a lot on his plate with his wife's condition and my instinct is to tell him to stop subsidising her whims.

[Alec1]

potentially I wonder if you brother might resent your interference? I don't know how strong your bond is and I think it will be a case of damned if you do, damned if you don't! You need to find a way of gently suggesting it, not telling him what to do, but asking him how he feels about it all, try to help him find his own solution rather than pushing what you think and believe.

[Jah Lush]

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