Mental Illness 101

[naamah_darling]

A friend encouraged me to post this in a longer format to my journal so that everyone can see it. To that end, if you find value in it, consider linking to it. You have my permission to link!This is all stuff that I wish people had said to me just before and after I'd been diagnosed as bipolar: very basic advice for dealing with the time right

Comments

[poptartodoom]

Someday, I want to write a book, full of stuff like this, and journal entries on what it feels like to be bipolar, from other bipolar people, so I can give it to clients and say "You're not alone. Srsly. So very not alone

[poptartodoom]

...Long reply was long. Sorry. ^_^;;;

Also, do you mind if I print this out and show it to clients? Just the body, not the contact info.

[elialshadowpine]

This is amazing. If I hadn't said it before (and I'm sure I have), you're awesome and I adore you

[terrie01]

While the title is cringe-worthy, "The Feeling Good Handbook" by David D. Burns, M.D. has a very nice appendix with information on antidepressants. It lays out side effects, drug and food interactions and other basic information.

[snowcoma]

This. So much this. I heard so many horror stories when I went on Effexor XR (Venlafaxine ER). I understand that people were trying to help me, but it ended up being a huge source of irritation and stress. I knew the potential side-effects, and had dealt with bad medication effects before (both my own, and the many, many, many reactions my mother had to a wide variety of medications. I discussed everything with the doctor, knew what to look for, and was completely fine.

It's now three years later, and my new primary care physician ran down a list of over twenty potential side-effects with me, and I was able to say "nope" to all of them. Now that I'm on new medication for my bipolar, it continues to be just fine. So I will toss this out there for other folks:

I have had a great experience with Effexor, and as long as you're smart and know to contact your doctor if anything goes funky, you'll be just fine trying it. Go Team Crazypills!

[soubrettic]

There is a lot of really good, useful stuff here. Bravo.

And I love the horse.

[mdlbear]

Thank you -- this is stuff I wish somebody had told me 2 years ago -- or 20 years ago, when I really needed it.

[the_vulture]

Good-on-ya for sharing this. :)