Exercise and Feeling Good

Started going to the gym again yesterday and it was great. I got to experience some exercise induced hypomania after my workout too. Doctors will tend to tell you that mania/hypomania is bad and you better take your medicine to keep it in check, but I think its good to feel some mania/hypomania sometimes. Its nice to know I can experience a nice high while i'm on my medication. I felt really powerful after my workout, however I did have problems sleeping as i couldn't seem to wind down at the end of the night. I'm not feeling too powerful today though as I am very sore in my upper body, but thats what happens when you're in terrible shape. Gotta look good for the summer, right?

Hope you're feeling well

http://www.depressiondodging.com/

Get A 2nd Opinion for Mood Disorders

Many people with mood disorders don't get a 2nd opinion when it comes to their diagnosis. Bipolar disorder and depession are difficult to diagnose and often difficult to tell apart. Bipolar disorder can be difficult to diagnose because patients are often highly functional and producitve and their highs can look like normal happiness. We often assume that the 1st doctor to diagnose us is correct and that doctors don't make mistakes.

Research has found that as many as 69% of initial diagnoses of people with bipolar disorder were incorrect. This can lead to bipolar patients getting the wrong medication, which can lead to deeper depressions and rapid cycles of highs and lows.

A lot of people also make the mistake of seeing a general practitioner when they should be seeing a psychiatrist for diagnosis and treatment. In my experience, GPs just don't know that much about mental illness. I had to see about 3 or 4 doctors before I got the correct diagnosis and correct medication. Only then did i start my recovery.

You can read the original article here:

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/218993.php

Hope You're feeling well

http://www.depressiondodging.com/

Half of Bipolar Patients Suffer Work, Social, or Family Disabilities

A study was done at the University of Granada on 108 patients with bipolar disorder. The study found that 50% of patients suffer from some type of work, social, or family disability and 20% of them suffer from disability in all 3.

Difficulty in performing normal job duties is associated with recurring manic episodes, hospitalization for high-intensity episodes, depression and low education levels. Also, nicotine dependancy tends to be more disabling to patients with bipolar disorder than patients with depression.

Social disability is difficulty establishing relations out of the family and this is associated with higher hospitalization rates, episodes of depression and active depression symptoms. Its important for these patients to recieve social support.

Family disability is difficulty in having good relations with family members and its associated with hospitalization, manic episodes, depression symptoms and addiction to alcohol. Alcohol is the most abused substance in bipolar patients and its important that alcohol abuse be treated in order to improve family relations.

Personally, I think I have work and social disabilities. I'm lucky enough to have a a very supportive/understanding family but I get stressed out easily with work and often have high anxiety in/about social situations. Its important that we seek help from the government if we can't make an income on our own. Its important that we find support groups and attend them if we have problems meeting new people and maintaining relationships. Its important that we treat our substance abuse so that we can get along with those who love us and support us most.

You can see the orignal article here:

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/221403.php

Hope you're feeling well

http://www.depressiondodging.com/

Catherine Zeta-Jones Treated for Bipolar 2 Disorder

Super hot babe and famous hollywood actress Catherine-Zerta Jones was hospitalized for a couple days and recieved treatment for bipolar 2 disorder. It is believed that her disorder was caused by the stress and trauma of dealing with her husband's (Michael Douglas) illness (throat cancer). Bipolar disorder can sometimes be causes by a traumatic event.

This totally makes sense. I'm pretty sure that my bipolar disorder was caused by traumatic events. At the end of the summer in 2008 I had 3 traumatic things happen to me at once. What they were i don't want to say. Before that I was normal, care-free and kind of an asshole. Though dealing with the illness has been very difficult I think i'm a better person now.

www.depressiondodging.com

A New Study on Bipolar Disorder

A new study on bipolar disorder done by psychologists at the Universities of Manchester and Lancaster followed 50 bipolar patients for a month. The study found that the patients' thinking and behavior predicted future mood swings. People with bipolar disorder who think they have no control over their mood or think they have to keep active to stay stable had more mood problems compared to other patients who let their moods pass as a normal reaction to stress and felt like they had control over their mood. A new form of cognitive behavioral therapy, known as TEAMS (Think Effectively About Mood Swings) is being developed at the University of Manchester. The aim of the new approach is to encourage patients to accept and manage a range of emotions like joy, anger, and fear.

This means that, despite our chemical imbalance, what we think and how we act affects our mood. So we can choose to have a positive attitude and do things that are constructive (like exercise, do art, socialize, volunteer, take our medication, etc) instead of destructive (like drink, do drugs, spend all our money, etc).

You can read the original article here:

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/222793.php

http://www.depressiondodging.com/

Mature or Manic?

This week i have just been getting this incredible urge to stop doing what i've been doing for the past year (music, painting) and just focus on helping people with depression and bipolar disorder. I can always do those things in my spare time right? I've been trying to be a rock star and an artist, but I think i'd rather just do something more useful with my life like help people that suffer. I'm not sure whether i'm just becoming more mature or whether this sudden influx of ideas and impulse for change is me being manic. Does it really matter though? I'm gonna do it anyways.

I've been looking for places to volunteer and i'm going to start tonight with a buddy of mine who has started a group for people with mental illness where we can help eachother. I've been looking for someone to make videos with for the site and I think i've found someone. Videos will allow me to reach more people with my message. I've also found a girl who wants to help people raise their self esteem and we might do something together. Self esteem is so important for quality of life. You can't hate yourself and be happy. I think that part of the reason i've has such a strong urge for change lately is that I don't feel satisfied just doing painting and music. I need to do something more important with my life to feel good about myself. I'm also thinking about going back to school for social work. There is only so much you can do without an education.

I really look forwrd to making some videos. I've been wanting to for so long, but i just haven't had anyone to help me. Should be fun and hilarious.

Hope you're feeling well

http://www.depressiondodging.com/

Treatment for Bipoler Disorder: A Glass of Wine

I went into a rage today because my mother accidentally ruined one of my paintings. So I decided to have a glass of red wine so that i could relax and think about the situation clearly. I started drinking a glass of one this week in order to relax after work, because work is often frustrating anf makes me edgy. After I had my wine i wasn't even mad at all. I went to the store to get some paint and i felt so calm and confident. I wasn't angry and i didn't have the anxiety that i often have when being around other people. My tolernace for alcohol is pretty high so i don't think I was drunk. It just seems like it relaxes my brain enough for me to think logically about a situation. When i think about the situation now:

1. Its just a painting and i could easily make another one.

2. That painting wasn't that great and i wouldn't mind doing it over.

3. My mother has done so much for me in my life and accidents happen.

So if if you're having problems with irritablity and/or anxiety try having a glass of wine. I don't think there is anything wrong with having one glass of wine a day. Actually, i think its good for your heart.

Hope you're feeling swell

http://www.depressiondodging.com/