The Importnace of friends, and Family

I have to give credit to my family who has been incredibly supportive throughout this ordeal as I touched on above. I'm extremely fortunate to have a family that cares as much as they do, and has done everything in their power to help me get better. People who dont suffer from depression, or bipolar sometimes find it extremely difficult to understand the diseases, and all it's complexities. Most people who suffer from depression, or Bipolar, look completely normal physically however, mentally nothing could be further from the truth inside of the tortured head of those affected by the disease. Society has come along way over the past fifty years, and is now finally starting to recognize psychiatric illnesses as a serious medical condition affecting millions literally throughout the world. However if individuals with Bipolar, or depression don't have a strong support group, whether that be family, friends, or group therapy, recovery can be extremely difficult almost impossible. Medication will only take an individual so far suffering from any type of medical illness, cognitive therapy in my opinion is equally as important.. While I was in the Hospital the staff on my Birthday gave me a book which changed my life. The books is titled Feeling Good, by David Burns. I'm going to include a link on this page to his website for anyone interested in purchasing the book, or many of his other fabulous books I have since read. Please I beg anyone reading this to purchase the book, it's the "Depressed persons Bible". It has helped me look at the world, and myself in a completely different light.

Although family as I stated above can be extremely supportive, they can also be detrimental to the success of the individual afflicted with this disease getting better. There's a huge difference between empathy, and sympathy. Your family may be able to sympathize with you, and what your going through, however empathy is "Actually walking in the Bipolar persons shoes, or state of mind". This for me has probably been the most difficult aspect of my recovery. I fully understand my family means well, and there intentions are only soley to help me get better. However, sometimes I feel like I'm sure many of you do that members of my family look at me differently now. I dont know maybe I'm reading between the lines to much, or I'm just acting paranoid, it's simply just the way I feel sometimes.

Until the Bipolar patient is fully acclimated to the drugs he or she, has been taking which usually takes around a month, and in some cases much longer, there are many things physically which are extremely difficult for the bipolar patient. For me this was sleep, either I would sleep to much when I was depressed, or when I went through my Manic phases I would sleep very little. It took time for the drugs in which I was taking to really start working. I started taking Depacote 1000mg a day along with 100 mg of Wellbuterin. I was also taking Klonapin for anxiety, and Resteraol for sleep. To date this is the best"Pharmacology Cocktail", which has done wonders for me. Family need to be patient during this process, and realize every one heals at a different pace. The cognitive therapy aspect cant be mitigated, for it too has a tremendous impact on the recovery of most Bipolar people I talk too. Group therapy is extremely important it's here where you'll find the EMPATHY you need from others coping with the disease. Talk to your doctor, therapist, pshyatrist, and ask them for a list of support groups in your area. Believe me this is extremely important and is not to be overlooked!

During manic periods, and extreme Low periods depressed people can be extremely difficult to deal with. If symptoms cause an individual to become aggressive, or unable to fulfill their responsibilities, their relatives may well become angry. Typically, these relatives also experience feelings of extreme guilt after the individual is diagnosed. After I was Diagnosed my Mom who bared the brunt of my diagnoses had a hard time dealing with my illness. Moreover, much literature and other media content in the past few decades has supported the incorrect notion that parents may in some way be responsible for producing mental illness in their children. This is totally untrue and there is no validity to this theory whatsoever.They often experience a sense of loss due to the awareness that, in severe cases of recurrent bipolar disorder, the individual may never again become their 'normal' self. I'll be very honest with you guys, after my diagnosis I thought my life was over. I honestly believed I was going to end up in some Mental Hospital where I would be strapped down to some gurney for the rest of my life. Anxiety may be constantly present, as family members wonder when the next manic phase, or low apathy phase will happen? I fully understand as I write this why. Family members often feel exhausted by the effort spent on issues relating to the illness.