Living with Bipolar Disorder- Web MD

[di_lo]

I'm not sure if any of you get  the Web MD Emotional Health Newsletter, but I thought I'd post this article just in case some of you don't.

Living with bipolar disorder - WebMD

WebMD Medical Reference provided in collaboration with The Cleveland Clinic

Living a Healthy Life With Bipolar Disorder

Living with bipolar disorder involves seeing your doctor

Comments

[poo]

I was just about to post about my alcohol/drug compulsions. Once I am around either alcohol or drugs (type depends), it takes all the will I have to refrain from participating. More often than not, I do to excess. And I have noticed how badly it fucks me up and makes my mood worse afterwards. Funny.

[alicetotle]

thanks, i liked reading it, it reminds me of all the thing my mom always tells me will make me better :\

diet, exercise, no coffee, meditation, regular schedule.

all of those being extremely hard for me to do.

well, except maybe the coffee thing... i know my limit, and i only take it, if my meds are really interfereing withme getting something done.

i've also recently disccovered the power of aromatherapy, it's been helping quite a bit so far.

[di_lo]

What scents have you been using?

I found pink grapefruit to help energize me when I'm feeling depressed and vanilla was good for calming mania.

[alicetotle]

yes grapefruit is great!

i really like lavender for calming as well, but not too much of it. i also keep peppermint or spearmint with me a lot in case of nausea. i will put it on a handkerchief and smell it (or just right out of th ebottle, if i have the bottle) before/after i take my meds. my meds make me gag pretty much every time i take them. minty things help make the nausea go away i guess.

vanilla is sooo nice too... it's one of the most relaxing things i find if i put it in a diffuser, then put on some soothing music and just try to do nothing, or light reading. i have a LOT of trouble relaxing, but if i know i'm able to relax, i will take full advantage of it and just really give in to it.

i hear that lime is also quite good for 'perking up' :)

[celticwitch99]

I used to be horrible with alcohol. I could not drink just to get a buzz; I drank until I was stumbling drunk (which took an unholy amount when I was manic). I was drinking heavily when I was diagnosed and for a while afterward until I realized I was only making it worse and harder for myself. I quit drinking cold turkey. Unfortunately I lost some friends doing that, as I discovered for a while I couldn't be in any of my old haunts without naturally wanting to be social...but for me to be social, I had to drink (I'm kinda shy normally). So I stopped going out. I can now drink a small glass of wine or some beer if I choose...but I rarely choose. I just really hate being out of control of myself like that anymore. The illness is enough without adding more problems to it.