Me and Oprah. And the message board on her website.
the other day on da oprah show, they talked about bipolar disorder. sinead o'connor was one of them. the other was a guy named chris that really spoke to me without saying much at all. he got to speak with patty duke, and while she was giving chris a pep talk i may or may not have cried a little. here's what was said during the show.
http://www.oprah.com/tows/pastshows/200710/tows_past_20071004.jhtml
i guess i'm sensitive to it because i can identify so well. i just really wanted to help this guy.
so here's the topic i started on oprah.com. and so far 3 people have replied. but i still want to know that chris got a chance to read it.
the link that i was going to put right here will not work for you unless you are a member of oprah.com. hahaaha boohoo i am. i know. what? so now i have to copy and paste the whole thing.
A Group for Chris. The Man with Bipolar Disorder.
Where to start? I guess we could go at this like a group for Chris. So I'll kick it off. My name is Joshua, I'm 27 years old, and I'm bipolar. I've been bipolar since I was 16. I've been through 5 psychiatrist, probably 30-35 different medications, and 3 trips to a behavioral health center. That was for the first 10 years. I have been mentally and emotionally level now for around a year and a half. Understand that I'm on 6 different medications to keep this beast under control. Yes, it took 10 years to get me on the right track.
Chris,
What you're going through, I've been in very similar places. The depression so deep that it actually slows down your thought process to manufacture or complete a sentence while talking to someone. For the longest time, I thought I would never snap out of it and I would be completely alone for the rest of my life. I was always too chicken to try and kill myself, but the thought frequently visited my mind. I wouldn't dare walk outside to the mailbox to check the mail due to anxiety. Small tasks would confuse me and irritate me to the point that I would beat myself up and cry over it. My family was scared for my wellbeing, but they are the best support system I have. Just like you have a wonderful family on your side. You can and will come out of this. I believe it. Read and understand as much about the medications, and the disorder as you can. Good luck getting the right doctors with the right medication regimen and you get all the support you deserve. Because, I'm definitely on your side.
that's what i said and 3 other people have replied:
1. Re: A Group for Chris. The Man with Bipolar Disorder. Oct 4, 2007 4:57 PM
While families and friends can be a great source of support, they really need to understand the disease. Both NAMI and the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) offer great support groups for patients and their families and they're available nationwide. Also, don't forget to learn everything you can about your disease and your meds, whether from your local library or online.
Abuse
Click to view melfla's profile melfla 1 posts since
Oct 4, 2007
Reply 2. Re: A Group for Chris. The Man with Bipolar Disorder. Oct 4, 2007 9:29 PM
As a fellow sufferer I was amazed that so far no one has mentioned anything about finding an outlet to express yourself! Notice the "famous" bi polar people are famous for their art - whether it be acting, writing, singing, dancing, cooking, designing so on and on...it can be a place to get out all those spinning thoughts or your anger or sadness or utter manic joy..it is an escape....you will feel useful, as if you are contributing something............if you haven't found your niche keep looking - it saved my life!
Abuse
Click to view alcch71's profile alcch71 2 posts since
Oct 4, 2007
Reply 3. Re: A Group for Chris. The Man with Bipolar Disorder. Oct 4, 2007 9:40 PM
I can't thank you enough, Oprah, Chris and Pat Roeller, for discussing Bipolar on the show. It is great to finally see serious, helpful discussion about this illness on network TV. Patti Duke has been my personal hero, as I was diagnosed with Bipolar II 7 years ago. She has been such a positive influence on the Bipolar Community, giving folks like us courage and hope to never give up with taking on a life-long illness with so many peaks and valleys. I believe I am receiving successful treatment and have been on medication and seeing a counselor for the past 7 years. There is way too much negative discussion and stories around the world about the Bipolar Illness. My feeling is there needs to be more positive, constructive communication about the illness and to deliver the strong message to Biploar people (and their families) every where to never lose hope! The media also needs to show just as many successful people with the Bipolar Illness as they do with the ones who are currently struggling with it. I can definitely relate to Pat and Chris Roeller in that I, too, have had a difficult time finding other people to talk to who are bipolar. Over the past 7 years, I have only come across two people. If Chris and Pat still need other bipolar people to talk to, I would love to be their email or Instant Messenger pals. (I will forward my contact info to Oprah's staff if Chris and Pat wish to communicate with me.) I am extremely proud of the way I chose to handle my illness. I fight the "good fight" every day and have never once decided to go off my meds, because I always want a good quality of life. This illness has been one heck of a battle for me (and always will be), but I am not about to let it consume me and deprive me of the great things that life has to offer. Since I've been diagnosed, I've graduated from college twice with three different degrees, held a career as a web and graphics designer, recently celebrated our 12th wedding anniversary with a good husband and daughter, and even took care of the home front by myself when my husband was deployed for a year with the military to Kabul, Afghanistan. (My husband and I live far away from our families.) I hope that my message on Oprah's Board brings hope and encouragement to other Bipolar folks who are out there struggling every day just like me. Many thanks to Oprah, Sinead, Patti and the others for educating the public on this difficult illness.
A. C. In Washington State
that's it. i didn't mean for it to be sooooo long.
http://www.oprah.com/tows/pastshows/200710/tows_past_20071004.jhtml
i guess i'm sensitive to it because i can identify so well. i just really wanted to help this guy.
so here's the topic i started on oprah.com. and so far 3 people have replied. but i still want to know that chris got a chance to read it.
the link that i was going to put right here will not work for you unless you are a member of oprah.com. hahaaha boohoo i am. i know. what? so now i have to copy and paste the whole thing.
A Group for Chris. The Man with Bipolar Disorder.
Where to start? I guess we could go at this like a group for Chris. So I'll kick it off. My name is Joshua, I'm 27 years old, and I'm bipolar. I've been bipolar since I was 16. I've been through 5 psychiatrist, probably 30-35 different medications, and 3 trips to a behavioral health center. That was for the first 10 years. I have been mentally and emotionally level now for around a year and a half. Understand that I'm on 6 different medications to keep this beast under control. Yes, it took 10 years to get me on the right track.
Chris,
What you're going through, I've been in very similar places. The depression so deep that it actually slows down your thought process to manufacture or complete a sentence while talking to someone. For the longest time, I thought I would never snap out of it and I would be completely alone for the rest of my life. I was always too chicken to try and kill myself, but the thought frequently visited my mind. I wouldn't dare walk outside to the mailbox to check the mail due to anxiety. Small tasks would confuse me and irritate me to the point that I would beat myself up and cry over it. My family was scared for my wellbeing, but they are the best support system I have. Just like you have a wonderful family on your side. You can and will come out of this. I believe it. Read and understand as much about the medications, and the disorder as you can. Good luck getting the right doctors with the right medication regimen and you get all the support you deserve. Because, I'm definitely on your side.
that's what i said and 3 other people have replied:
1. Re: A Group for Chris. The Man with Bipolar Disorder. Oct 4, 2007 4:57 PM
While families and friends can be a great source of support, they really need to understand the disease. Both NAMI and the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) offer great support groups for patients and their families and they're available nationwide. Also, don't forget to learn everything you can about your disease and your meds, whether from your local library or online.
Abuse
Click to view melfla's profile melfla 1 posts since
Oct 4, 2007
Reply 2. Re: A Group for Chris. The Man with Bipolar Disorder. Oct 4, 2007 9:29 PM
As a fellow sufferer I was amazed that so far no one has mentioned anything about finding an outlet to express yourself! Notice the "famous" bi polar people are famous for their art - whether it be acting, writing, singing, dancing, cooking, designing so on and on...it can be a place to get out all those spinning thoughts or your anger or sadness or utter manic joy..it is an escape....you will feel useful, as if you are contributing something............if you haven't found your niche keep looking - it saved my life!
Abuse
Click to view alcch71's profile alcch71 2 posts since
Oct 4, 2007
Reply 3. Re: A Group for Chris. The Man with Bipolar Disorder. Oct 4, 2007 9:40 PM
I can't thank you enough, Oprah, Chris and Pat Roeller, for discussing Bipolar on the show. It is great to finally see serious, helpful discussion about this illness on network TV. Patti Duke has been my personal hero, as I was diagnosed with Bipolar II 7 years ago. She has been such a positive influence on the Bipolar Community, giving folks like us courage and hope to never give up with taking on a life-long illness with so many peaks and valleys. I believe I am receiving successful treatment and have been on medication and seeing a counselor for the past 7 years. There is way too much negative discussion and stories around the world about the Bipolar Illness. My feeling is there needs to be more positive, constructive communication about the illness and to deliver the strong message to Biploar people (and their families) every where to never lose hope! The media also needs to show just as many successful people with the Bipolar Illness as they do with the ones who are currently struggling with it. I can definitely relate to Pat and Chris Roeller in that I, too, have had a difficult time finding other people to talk to who are bipolar. Over the past 7 years, I have only come across two people. If Chris and Pat still need other bipolar people to talk to, I would love to be their email or Instant Messenger pals. (I will forward my contact info to Oprah's staff if Chris and Pat wish to communicate with me.) I am extremely proud of the way I chose to handle my illness. I fight the "good fight" every day and have never once decided to go off my meds, because I always want a good quality of life. This illness has been one heck of a battle for me (and always will be), but I am not about to let it consume me and deprive me of the great things that life has to offer. Since I've been diagnosed, I've graduated from college twice with three different degrees, held a career as a web and graphics designer, recently celebrated our 12th wedding anniversary with a good husband and daughter, and even took care of the home front by myself when my husband was deployed for a year with the military to Kabul, Afghanistan. (My husband and I live far away from our families.) I hope that my message on Oprah's Board brings hope and encouragement to other Bipolar folks who are out there struggling every day just like me. Many thanks to Oprah, Sinead, Patti and the others for educating the public on this difficult illness.
A. C. In Washington State
that's it. i didn't mean for it to be sooooo long.