Update

We sold our house in Glenrock and moved to Casper. We sold, moved, and closed in 3 weeks. I think that is a record. So I've been a little busy. I managed to get one of my best friends mad at me, dig a 2 foot square hole in my back yard to pump the sewage, paint the floor in the laundry room, clean out a garage (with husband), and go back to Denver to see my doctor to change my medication a little bit. I also ran out of Ativan (helps me sleep) for 2 days. The first night wasn't to bad but the second night it wasn't until 4am that I got to sleep. Wow when I type it all out I realize how much I really did. So hopefully I will give better updates from now on. My goal is to share my experiances as I see them.

Home Sweet Home

I got home Friday. Spent some needed time with Matt and went to church on Sunday. One of my good friends told me that I seem really medicated. I'm not sure how I feel about that. I need the medication to regulate my moods, but I still want to be funny and have a good time. Maybe I wasn't as funny as I thought I was.

THANK YOU

Kiora and Adam for being here for us financially and emotionally!!!! I will never know the things you have had to sacrifice to take us in. I hope you know I appreciate all you do for Jack and I. You have saved my life and given Jack a steady safe home. I will never be able to re-pay you for all you have done for us. Don't hesitate to make us try. We will always be in debt to you. Thank You Beth and Doug for paying for my shrink and the meds that have stabilized my moods. Both together have gotten me on a steady course for recovery and given me tools for when the next mood hits. To my husband thanks for working hard to get the everyday bills that still need to be paid paid.

Remember

Bipolar disorder is something that you have,

but it is not who you are.

Acceptance...

"Why is the process of acceptance so painful? Coming to terms with having the disorder may mean admitting to a new role for yourself in your family, in the workforce, or in your personal relationships. It may require you to make some decisions about restructuring your life and priorities, which may mean viewing yourself differently."

The Bipolar Disorder Survival Guide

location 745

Personality Changes Before and After

Certaintly, a longstanding mood disorder-especially if it has not been treated-canprofoundly affect your attitudes, habits, and styles of relating to others. It can also require lifestyle changes that are a lot like changes in personality. But if you were really free of your mood disorder symptoms for a long period of time, would you go back to being the way you were before the illness began?

pg. 65 the Bipolar Disorder Survival Guide

It took 7 years from the time I was treated for depression to be diagnosed bi-polar. Do I need to re learn a new attitude, habits, and styles of relating to others?

Subtypes of Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar I Disorder

• At least one lifetime episode of manic or mixed disorder
• Although not required for the diagnosis, at least one lifetime episode of major depressive disorder

Bipolar II Disorder

• At least one lifetime episode of hypomaniac disorder
• At least one lifetime episode of major depression

Bipolar Disorder with rapid cycling

• Meets criteria for bipolar I or bipolar II disorder
• Four or more episodes of major depressive disorder, manic disorder, mixed disorder, or hypomanic disorder in any one year.

I'm lucky and have Bipolar I with rapid cycling .

If you are misdiagnosed as having depression alone, for example, your doctor might recommend standard antidepressant medication (for example Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, or Wellbutrin) with a mood stabilizer like lithium. If you are actually bipolar, this treatment regime could make you swing into mania.

Fortifying yourself with information makes it easier to manage your life and minimizes the disabilities that bipolar disorder can cause.

pg. 31-32 the Bipolar Disorder Survival Guide

Today

What a day.