Let`s talk about Bipolar

[Jynx]

Oh how frustrating!! @bipolarbunny It's hard to say whether it's an issue on your phone or something going wonky on our end. Only other thing I can think of is to reset your broswer's settings to default, or even see if you can load the website in a private browsing window.

If you want to you can email feedback@sane.org and let them know what's going on - it's always good for us to have an idea of any issues or potential bugs that might be barriers to folks accessing the service.

[bipolarbunny]

@Jynx Just tried on my iPad and the same thing is happening. It has to be my internet connection. That's the only thing I can think of. NBN should be called NBW, never bloody works! Ugh. 

BB 🐰❤️

P.S. Just turned wifi off to go on 4G on the phone and it's working, so yes it's my connection. How frustrating and weird. 

[Jynx]

@bipolarbunny  Glad you're able to get on, and thanks for the chuckle! NBW, classic

[Sophie1]

Hi @Shaz51 

Thankyou for your response re working from home - yes I think your comment on routine is a good one - I will be gentle and gradual with any changes to our routine 

I think one day a week I will try only when MsS is stabilised anxiety and migraine treatment completed later this year .. any changes now may be too risky for both of our well-being 

[Mazarita]

Hi @Former-Member thanks for answering about your journey with unmedicated bipolar.

Totally agree that bipolar is really complex and much more than the ups and downs often depicted in the media. My experience of it over decades has been very variable with all sorts of unexpected trouble at different times, as well as the usual obvious signs that fit the text book descriptions.

My anger shatters me now at 58 if it manages to escape my ongoing attempts to keep it in check. I actually went on anti-psychotics for some years when I couldn't stop myself verbally abusing people I loved. Keeping myself and others safe from that destructive behaviour is a major reason for taking meds. At this point in my life, my anger has become more dangerous to me than anyone else. Out of control, it shatters my identity and can trigger three day vomiting migraines.

Aside from that I believe it likely I would have suicided by now due to the pain I was in all the years I resisted the meds. For me, life was just not worth living in that degree of acute pain, confusion and damage.

I do admire people who can do without meds though and wish that I was one of them.

[HenryX]

@Shaz51 

Hello Shaz

Good night wherever you are. I had been reading through posts and lost track of time. In most other parts of Australia, it is now about 1.15 or 1.45 pm. Here it is about 10.45 pm

And here I was, thinking it was around 7.30 pm (when I originally started this post), talk about losing time!

This message was intended to go out last night but got hit by the following message

["Correct the highlighted errors and try again.

Post flooding detected (community received posts of a unique message more than 1 times within 3,600 seconds)"] 

I also received "504 Error" Despite receiving these messages my responses had been posted. In the future, I will check before attempting to repost after any sort of error message.

I'll have to put this into my “Beware of ...” suggestions

However, anytime is coffee time

Shaz, You have asked questions about food and emotions.

1. My normal food is a combination of Protein, a Supplement, and Milk Powder (3 dessert spoons each in 1 litre of water) shake, twice a day: and rice with vegetables, a small amount of meat or fish, often in a curry style dish. I also enjoy quite a lot of seasonally available fruit.
   

   Unfortunately, this combination has not reduced my weight as desired, However, with some more exercise, I may well accomplish that goal.

   I can at least say that I have retained a decent amount of muscle tissue as a foundation for future activity and development.

2. Emotions are regulated by controlled exposure. For example, I do not watch tv programs that depict graphic violence or include viciousness or assaults - no news.

   If something comes on unexpectedly, the remote is close at hand and volume muted or change channel. I don't watch much tv.

   Most of my time is spent on the computer and a few outside community activities during the week.

   I am looking forward to getting the motorbike out this week, so if exhilaration is counted, I should be in for some of that.

   In fact, I hope the motorbike will be the reason for me to get outside and enjoy the wind in my face (behind the helmet).

   I definitely think I need that dose of exhilaration.

I have a small external house wall that I need to insulate and to which I need to fix new external cladding. There is a small garden from which I have to remove couch grass before planting with ???, around a couple of shrubs and a nice rose – when the rose is pruned and reshaped. This is in a fairly dry part of the country so plants have to be fairly resilient.

In other spaces (posts) I've referred to difficulty knowing the difference between thoughts and feelings so I guess feelings and emotions are things about which I'm still learning,

at the wrong end of life. However, I'll get in as much as I can.

I have enjoyed posting comments and reading posts on this forum, so the pleasure of reading those posts, of offering ideas as I feel appropriate and the enjoyment derived from reading responses has been a special addition to my repertoire of feelings and emotions during the last ~couple of months, since rejoining the forums.

Hope for me yet !!!

Thank you all and

Best Wishes

HenryX

[greenpea]

@Olga  Hi Olga yes I have the same experience re emotions. Maybe I get a touch more annoyed and depressed but my happiness has been squashed due to meds. Also my sexual drive is zero too (maybe that is because I am a middle aged woman who knows :p). I just miss the magic that I used to feel. It has gone.

[Olga]

I have read about a research that they explore the treatment of bipolar with calcium channel blockers. These are usually used to treat high blood pressure.  I assume the side effects would be much milder. Has anyone heard anything about that?

[greenpea]

@OlgaHi Olga I have never heard of calcium channel blockers. Can you tell us a bit more about them please.

[Olga]

@greepea
All I know is that they are one subgroup of blood pressure tablets. John McManamy mentions them in his book "living well with depression and bipolar disorder". He talks about stuff that happens in the states but usually Australia is not far behind, right? I gess we just sit and wait. It probably won't be approved for a long time...