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USMCBIPOLAR7
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Default Aug 28, 2019 at 10:37 AM
  #1
For 30 years I have been Bipolar. I worked in psychiatric hospitals for 17 of those years as a counselor and was successful and achieved 2 degrees with honors and was rated 30 % disabled by the military. Then after 20 years of struggling but achieving my condition got worse. I became 100% disabled by the military and social security. So for the last 10 years my condition has been extreme highs in the spring and extreme lows in the fall / early winter. To top it off they have tried me on antidepressants twice and they shot me into manias. In one mania I spent 35,000 dollars on scratch offs in 3 days. My marriage of 17 years almost ended. So as a last ditch effort I used all I’ve learned to get my mental health back. I used a light box, a sleep apnea machine, took medicine exactly as prescribed ( which I had been doing) stopped all alcohol, stopped smoking, stopped energy drinks, decreased my work load( as I had tried to make up for my condition by working extremely hard around the house and at my moms. I’ve tried to not dwell on the past , not worry about the future and just focus on my health today. After a month I saw huge results and now it’s been 2 months and I feel great and am doing Awesome. My health is so much better and since I’m not impaired now my choices are Awesome as well. Of all I have achieved better health is the pinnacle. With it the sky is the limit. So focus on your health and you’ll be so much better and having stable moods is all the success I’ll ever need because with it doors will open. Good luck
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Smile Aug 31, 2019 at 12:50 PM
  #2
Thanks for sharing your success.

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Default Aug 31, 2019 at 12:57 PM
  #3
Truly inspiring.
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kiminey65
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Default Jan 08, 2020 at 01:00 PM
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[QUOTE=USMCBIPOLAR7;6616842]For 30 years I have been Bipolar. I worked in psychiatric hospitals for 17 of those years as a counselor and was successful and achieved 2 degrees with honors and was rated 30 % disabled by the military. Then after 20 years of struggling but achieving my condition got worse. I became 100% disabled by the military and social security. So for the last 10 years my condition has been extreme highs in the spring and extreme lows in the fall / early winter. To top it off they have tried me on antidepressants twice and they shot me into manias. In one mania I spent 35,000 dollars on scratch offs in 3 days. My marriage of 17 years almost ended. So as a last ditch effort I used all I’ve learned to get my mental health back. I used a light box, a sleep apnea machine, took medicine exactly as prescribed ( which I had been doing) stopped all alcohol, stopped smoking, stopped energy drinks, decreased my work load( as I had tried to make up for my condition by working extremely hard around the house and at my moms. I’ve tried to not dwell on the past , not worry about the future and just focus on my health today. After a month I saw huge results and now it’s been 2 months and I feel great and am doing Awesome. My health is so much better and since I’m not impaired now my choices are Awesome as well. Of all I have achieved better health is the pinnacle. With it the sky is the limit. So focus on your health and you’ll be so much better and having stable moods is all the success I’ll ever need because with it doors will open. Good luck[/QUOTE)

This post really spoke to me as I see a lot of parallels with my husbands disorder. He is 58 years old and has recently been what I will call officially diagnosed with bipolar. He appears to be resistant to medicines working for him and his extreme highs and lows are long winded and seem to swing (high) in spring/summer) to low (winter) for months at a time. This is very difficult for me to cope with.

My husband works construction and is very physically busy when our NY spring/summers are here. He is laid off during the winter and depression for him can be paralyzing. For him it is very "anxiety" based. Especially in recent years where after experiencing a few major depressions (Most are not major) where once he was feeling better, he would become full of energy, ideas, anger, general chaos and could not be reasoned with. It included 2015, where he purchased 3 Ford Mustangs to the amount of $115k! That same year he went to several auctions and amassed over $20k in debt for all kinds of junk! He also has developed hoarding which then causes him great anxiety in winter due to the magnitude of all the "stuff" has has collected.

I am curious of what meds you may have taken that help you? He has a therapist that is now working with his Psychiatrist which in actuality is a NP specializing in Mental Health. This has been a very volatile journey for me, and I am desperate for resolution and answers in all of this. Your post has given me a snippet of hope. Thank you.
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Default Jan 08, 2020 at 07:13 PM
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hi kiminey65. Welcome to Psych Central. I am sorry your husband seems to be exhibiting some of the symptoms what I guess might be mania. Professional help might be a good way to go.

These may be of interest
https://psychcentral.com/disorders/manic-episode/

https://psychcentral.com/lib/bipolar-disorder-helping-your-loved-one-manage-a-manic-episode/

https://psychcentral.com/blog/strategies-for-reducing-signs-of-mania-in-bipolar-disorder/

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Default Jan 08, 2020 at 07:21 PM
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Kiminey65 , I take lithium, ability and Zoloft , I use a light box in the fall and use a sleep apnea machine to keep from not getting good sleep. I avoid alcohol, energy drinks, stressful things and fatigue. Hope your husband does well with his condition
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Default Jan 11, 2020 at 03:35 PM
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My husband does take lorazapam as needed for his anxiety. Seldom more than twice/day, and a small dose (.5) He is urrently not taking an anti depressant, but is taking Lamictal and newly prescribed Latuda to piggy back with it. He will see the Psychiatrist (NP) Thursday to hopefully talk with her to see what else out there for his relief. We both wonder about Gabapentin. One drug that hasn't been tried. He has spoken to a few people who say it helps lessen their anxiety and also relieves their sore joints. Both are symptoms that would help my husband feel better if he could find relief.

He also is trying to work on his self awareness of things and situations. He needs to get to the root of why he hoards objects so loyally. The mess paralyzes him in winter as he ruminates over the sheer volume of his messes! In summer, he wakes up & cherishes all his ideas again... I fear his inability to think of anything but HIMSELF will not iron out anytime soon. It's like he is his own worse enemy. And simply not an ounce of fun to deal with.

I am sorry to hijack this happy thread. I wish he could get to where you are!
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Default Jan 12, 2020 at 11:40 PM
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Kiminey65 thanks for your desire to understand and help. It’s difficult but the payoff is great.
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