It is so easy to focus on the negative. I am guilty of it at times. But I have learned to be aware of this negativity and turn it around to be positive. When I start to think negatively about being diagnosed with bipolar disorder, I make a list of reasons I am grateful to have bipolar disorder. There is no reason to think negatively about our diagnosis. In fact, we should wear it as a badge of honor. But, today I caught myself thinking negatively about my diagnosis. To counteract this I have decided to share my list. 1. Creativity People with a diagnosis often times carry a great ..read more

Many new homeopathic medicines are become more and more readily available. The new CBD movement has been gaining momentum after the recent legalization of Marijuana in my home state. I had never really given it much thought as a medicine for me because had associated it with pot. With being in recovery for substance abuse for so long it was absolutely out of the question for me. Until one night talking to a family member, they had explained to me some of the benefits that CBD had helped them with. They have known that I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder for some time and they just brought u ..read more

So I hear this a lot from clients and their families. What is Dual Diagnosis treatment? I tell them that the simplest answer for that question is that it focuses equally on Mental Health and Substance use recovery. It boils down to this “which came first the chicken or the egg.” Was the substance use first or was the mental illness first. This has been the treatment model that providers have taken in the past, to start treating one or the other It is hard to get a grasp on your substance use when it helps to cope with symptoms and your struggling with impulse control. In turn, it is al ..read more

* Contains Some Adult Content* Mania is a condition that is characterized by an extreme “up” or euphoric state. It effects impulse control and can induce horrible bouts of paranoia. So, here is what mania is like for me. Please remember that everyone will have a different experience with mania. This is just what mania is like for me. The Beginning of Mania It feels great at the beginning stages of mania. I am more productive at work. I am more outgoing and can articulate my thoughts better. Going out in public is easier due to the lack of anxiety. I need less sleep and feel more refre ..read more

This has been at hard subject to talk about. For my people with the illness, having bipolar disorder and dating today can create self-loathing and despair. For me, the concept of having bipolar disorder and dating felt hopeless and unattainable. Until, one faithful night changed my lie forever. I was not at a high point in my life. I was unmediated and strung out on heroin and crack. We were both at a local concert and she came up and started talking to me. I had been so far removed from society at that point that I doubt I was able to hold a conversation. She must have found it endearing b ..read more

My first experience with inpatient hospitalization was when I was 20 years old. It was shortly after my first attempt at getting off heroin after being on it for a few years. I don’t exactly remember how I ended up there but it was a foreign place to me and I was scared. The staff didn’t seem to be all that accommodating or even care at all that I was confused. I was asking a lot of questions like “where am I?”, “how did I get here?”, and “what pill is this?” On two separate occasions I was put into restraints and was forcefully injected with the ever so famous Haldol and Ativan cocktail. I ..read more

Lithium side effects vary from person to person. While this mood stabilizer works well for me, it still comes with some downsides. Most mood stabilizers are going to have some side effects. This is something that you and your prescriber will have to determine if the benefits outweigh the risks of these. After all, you are going to have to live with these side effects on a day to day basis. Lithium side effects may go away after your body becomes adapted to the drug. When I first started taking Lithium I was put on 1800mg. A pretty high dose to start out at but it was during a bad manic epis ..read more

So, what is bipolar disorder? The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM–V), bipolar disorder is a treatable illness marked by extreme changes in mood, thought, energy, and behavior. It has previously been known as manic depression because a person’s mood can alternate between the “poles”—mania (highs) and depression (lows). The change in mood can last for hours, days, weeks, or months. These highs and lows often times negatively affects the afflicted individuals life. Who it affects Bipolar disorder is found among all ages, races, ethnic groups, and social classes. A ..read more

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