Quitting Everything!

I have days that are unmotivated, tired, where I feel the world is against me.  I also have great days where I feel motivated happy and ready for a new adventure!  In a way, we can all relate to feeling this way I think.  To have a day magnified by 100% of my bad day would be unbearable yet millions of people face this problem.  How do we support our loved ones going through this rollercoaster of emotions?  I know that there are many different solutions, what works for you?  I would LOVE some feedback on this.

I learned that alcohol effects people differently based on their brain chemistry makeup.  There's a huge difference in how many people react to alcohol and there seems to be a reason that is connected to bipolar and other depressive disorders.  I only know what I have experienced and I have read and by no means am any kind of authority on the subject.  I'd like to say that if you've been diagnosed with bipolar then stay away from any kind of stimulant!  I'd like it if anyone who was bipolar would actually follow that advice.  From what I've seen they always self medicate.  Their normal is a high we've probably never felt.  When they feel down they want to feel up when they feel up they want to feel more UP.  Its a never ending cycle.  The consequences are very severe.  Suicide, Verbal outbursts, Violence, and this is not always the case.  SO, if it only happens once in a while should it be ignored?  Of course logic says NO.  But this seems to justify most people so they can continue enjoying their stimulants whatever they use.  Pick your poison, Caffeine, alcohol, cigarettes, pain pills, gambling, food, work, and anything else you overindulge with. The best way to avoid the temptation is to stay motivated.  Stay busy.  Do things you enjoy.  Take healthy supplements that feed your brain.  Yoga, Tai Chi, and any kind of daily exercise feeds endorphins and helps release serotonin in your brain.  And that works on everyone regardless of who they are!  Following my own advice would be a great thing!  lol.. 
I'm so proud of David.  He has chronic pain and was given pain pills Oxycontin, methadone, lortab you name it they gave it to him in the truckloads!  It almost cost him his life.  Logic would say he has pain, then he needs something to cope.  He's unlucky that way.  With Bipolar it affects him in a completely different way than most of us.  It almost killed him.  He became an instant addict (as most bipolars do with stimulants)  I lost count of the emergency room visits we went on.  I thank god everyday he is off those.  Its truly a miracle and has now been 3 years.  He also quit drinking hard alcohol.  We've had quite a few experiences with that as well and this has taught him to stay away from this stimulant.  ALSO if thats not enough he has stopped drinking caffeine.  Coffee is his passion and with that comes lots of sugar and caffeine both bad! 
Next tackle is the cigarettes!  Almost 2 packs a day!  In fact TODAY we are getting the ecigarettes and will kill another vice!  Here's a book about them. And a link to where you can buy them.  Electronic Health Cigarette Deluxe Kit. 2 E-cigarettes, 2 Atomizers, 2 Rechargable Batteries, 10 Cartridges (equals a carton of Tobacco Cigs), 3 Chargers, one for Car, Wall and USB.
  I was excited to find this link because everyone kept saying it was 150.00 to get a starter kit and this was half that price!


  Well I'll keep you posted on this no caffeine, no alcohol, no sugar, no cigarettes, OH GEEZ!  NO Sugar!  That one will be tough.  We might find that we feel a lot happier healthier and all that great stuff!  So here's to DAY 1 with E Cigarettes!

Am I Alone?

As I sit here thinking "does anyone else ever go through this?"  I remind myself there are so many people with loved ones who are bipolar.  I don't know if anyone truly understand what its like to live with someone who is bipolar unless you do.  Their lows are unbelievably low.  My husband is unreachable.  He has no desire to eat or really do much of anything.  He doesn't even have a memory of anything that happened when he starts to emerge out of his dark coma.  Its so hard for me to actually understand what he feels.  I try to ask him to explain to me what he feels and he doesn't want to talk.  I desperately cram amino acids, vitamin B complex, inositol powder, and anything else I have handy to him to help him get energy and come back to me.  I've considered not writing in here anymore and realized someone out there might find comfort that they are not alone as I have surfing through the internet from time to time.  I will try to track down the "alternative" prescription we use for his bipolar and it does seem to help him quite a bit.  Watch for that later this week!
Have a super weekend!
Kim

Wayne Dyer Movie!

www.DyerMovie.com



This really helped me change my thinking in a positive way!  Inexpensive download watch it on your computer!

Art as therapy for Bipolar and/or Chronic Pain Sufferers

Art therapy is the practice of doing art as a way to gain inner peace.  

Some examples are music, painting, drawing, singing, drama, poetry, writing, or any other form of creating.  

People who experience illness, chronic pain, trauma or have depression of any form can benefit especially.  This is because art offers an escape for them.  This is a safe place to be to find a some inner peace.  It quiets your mind and brings you back to your center.  The unhappiness of the world around you will disappear if only for a while.  Sometimes that break is all we need to recharge our batteries and start a fresh new day.  Once you begin your project and you will lose the grip that all those problems you feel you have on your mind.  This is such a gift!  Some of the most amazing pieces of artwork my husband has done is because he is able to fully lose himself with his art.  What are you interested in?  Have you ever found a project you love to do and realize the whole day has passed and you don’t have a clue where it went?  If you find yourself in a “funk”  try drawing a picture or writing a poem.  Some people enjoy to crochet, knit, sew or scrapbook.  What do you enjoy?  What are you waiting for?  Using art as therapy is a great way to meditate.  Exercise will help as well. We get natural endorphins flowing in our body as we exercise.  Which leads me to talk about tai chi.  Yoga. Pilates.   Some consider martial arts an art.  All of these things have something in common which is becoming one with the source.  Do yourself a favor.  Do something you love to do!

Help for Sleep Problems

My husband has a hard time with his sleeping.  He stays up late and wakes up early.  Or doesn't sleep at all.  There are times when he sleeps for days at a time.  His symptoms are less severe lately.

Sleeping is very crucial for someone with bipolar (manic depression).  This can lead to additional symptoms as lack of sleep drags on.  The mood swings with bipolar can cause too much sleep or not enough.  Either way can precipitate an episode. Sleeping will help lesson the frequency of the episodes.

Some good tips are:

• Avoid caffeine, nicotine, sugar,  alcohol, cheese, chocolate, or other stimulants before bedtime. 
• Get regular exercise.  Search Amazon.com for exercise dvd
• Don't eat heavy meals late in the day.
• If you find your mind wondering to much try writing a to do list and put it aside until the next morning.
• Use your room for sleeping only.  Do not have a TV in your bedroom.
• Try reading a book for a while before falling asleep.
• Get a relaxing cd of a sound that relaxes you I personally like ocean waves or a meditation CD to keep my thoughts on a inspirational wave.Search Amazon.com for relaxation cd

These come in liquid form.  I've added some helpful links below also from Vitamin World.


Valerian Root:  Good for nervousness, ulcers, headaches, colic, gas, pain, stress, anxiety, insomnia, convulsions, muscle cramps, and spasms.  Improves circulation and acts as a sedative.  Reduces mucus from colds.


Melatonin: Your body has its own internal clock that controls your natural cycle of sleeping and waking hours. In part, your body clock controls how much melatonin your body makes. Normally, melatonin levels begin to rise in the mid- to late evening, remain high for most of the night, and then drop in the early morning hours.

Kava Kava:
Another time-honored herbal insomnia fighter and muscle relaxer.  This can help you sleep as well as help pain in some.



5HTP: 
A substitute for tryptophan.  (Ingredient in turkey that makes us so tired).  




Sleepytime tea:
This is for mild insomnia.  Not as strong as the above.  I also like tension tamer tea.

Celestial Seasonings 

Light affects how much melatonin your body produces. During the shorter days of the winter months, your body may produce melatonin either earlier or later in the day than usual. This change can lead to symptoms of SAD Seasonal Affective Disorder or winter depression.

Natural melatonin levels slowly drop with age. Some older adults make very small amounts of it or none at all.

Search Amazon.com for sleep disorders with bipolar

Some helpful natural remedies for a good nights rest.

Hops Valerian Complex
Lecithin Granules
Melatonin 3 mg
Hawthorn Berry Standardized Extract

Is BP a blessing or a curse?

 If someone like Van Gough, Beethoven, Edgar Allen Poe, Charles Dickens,  Jim Carey or Abe Lincoln can accomplish such great feats in life beyond anything the rest of us normal zombies can create, then how can any of us judge someone or say how they act isn't normal?  Its normal for them.

My husband was given drugs to regulate his mood swings which are very erratic.  This tends to make him feel maybe what we consider is normal or maybe a little less than normal.  If you’ve experienced the high’s he has,  and been able to create like he does would you stay on this medication?  That is a tricky question.   The lows are extreme also. 

David will normally just try to self medicate to feel normal.  The drugs he used to take would help temporarily until the consequences of his actions step in and take control of the situation by either suicide or a huge wake-up call and a big change of behavior.  He would live with constant guilt.  I always wish he knew how wonderful he is.  I wish everyone understood him like I do.  And to have the will power he had to detox off all those pain pills like oxycontin, oxycodone and methadone on his OWN!  Its an absolute miracle!  I'm very proud of him!

10 Key Marriage Tips for Bipolar

My husband came home from seeing his psychiatrist and he was told most bipolar sufferers don't stay married.  Being married to a man with bipolar I can understand how this happens.  I've observed within my relationship and other relationships that suffer with bipolar what works and what doesn't.  So, from my experience to you.  This is what I've learned.

• Spirituality is key.  A strong faith can get you far and help so much.  Hay House Radio is a good source that I use for inspiration.
www.hayhouseradio.com
• A spouse that understands your situation.  Reading books that help you understand what they feel is normal and how you act is normal.  I added a book that will help below.
• Exercise makes a big difference.
• Taking the right vitamins helps so much.  I've added a link below where I get my vitamins.
Save 20% - 50% on All Vitamin World Brand Items! Shop Now >
• Getting sleep.  This is a tough one.  A Bipolar sufferer needs their sleep.
• Giving them their space when they need it, which they seem to need a lot of. 
• Encourage your partner and show him/her you believe in them no matter what.  Patience!! 
• Addictions can be an issue.  Don't enable, do what you can to support them to stay off drugs and alcohol.  In my experience these only lead to death by suicide or more extreme mood swings.  Read book below.
• Join a support Group.
• We like to take long drives while I read to him.  I read him inspirational books like The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz. 

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Another trip to the ER

Just when you think your in the clear and things are going smooth, reality kicks in and reminds you that bipolar is a full time disease that takes no vacation.
I saw tears in his eyes.  I knew something was very wrong.  He wanted dinner but after his confession of yet another overdose the tears overtook his hunger.  I then learned that he had vomited most of the trazadone he had taken yet we took no chances and went to the ER.  Alcohol always seems to be the one thing that drives him over the edge of that cliff.
As I walked in the front door I felt like a ghost seeing all my past experiences in this place.  I walked by the room where my now passed mother stood with her arm around me as I was crying in fear of losing my husband the last time he overdosed.  Another room I walked by was the time he drank to much tequila, cut up his hand and took to many pills and was being stitched up while I angrily sat there wishing this nightmare would end.  Thank god my brother was there to play my hero that day.  To many memories and none of them warmed my heart except the love my parents gave me when I needed it.  I sure do miss my mother.
Earlier that day, before any of this had happened, he had several phone calls with doctors, bill collectors, ORS and others.  It seemed they all wanted to tell him he was forgetful and crazy.  It was as if they all joined a make David crazy group and made him feel like a freak.
I just want him and everyone suffering from this disease to see how wonderful and unique you really are.  I added a list on here of all kinds of famous amazing human beings that also have bipolar.  I am so proud of David and his talent he possesses.  If any of you have ever met a bipolar you know how gifted they are.  My husband is no exception.  Watching him draw is mesmerizing.  I rarely get to watch because he doesn't like an audience when he is creating.  He is full of life as well.  More so than the rest of us when he is feeling his ups.  Its contagious and so much fun.  I just wish his downs didn't have to be so hard on him.

Alternative therapies are out there for bipolar disorder!

Nothing worked.  David was nothing more than a zombie.  The doctors had him so drugged that he would sit for hours, days sometimes weeks and hardly move.   I was desperate to help him.  I researched books on depression.  Did internet searches looking for an alternative to the pills the doctor was giving him because he needed something that didn't cause him to feel worse and put him in a catatonic state.   A friend of mine told me someone she knew what working with Truehope.  She gave me their link.  The customer service department was amazing!  They told me to go to the vitamin store and purchase supplements that they suggested and didn't sell or some they did but showed me a cheaper route since my budget was low.  They called me once a week to see how I was doing.  I even talked to the owner from Canada.  He helped so much.  He even helped David get rid of Acid Reflux and Ulcers!

They are a nonprofit company.  The owners wife passed away from suicide, they had 10 kids and their children inherited bipolar ADHD.  The wifes father had passed due to suicide.  Check out their website at www.truehope.com and read about it.  He wanted to help their kids so that is what started truehope.

When we first got involved David was on a long miserable self detox.  He was getting off the oxycontin, oxycodone, methadone and xanex.  They told us to get Amino Acids 5000 mg (for detoxing), Inositol Powder 10K mg a day diluted in water,  Empower Plus, Omega 3 5000 mg a day.  This helped him a lot.   You would need to call and see what they prescribe for you specifically to your situation.  They even have a program if you need financial assistance.  I know we had our rough times and they helped us by sending free bottles of Empower Plus.  They were a godsend.  I added a youtube video below from someone who experienced relief from this program.

Definition of a Tortured Artist from wikopedia.

From Wikopedia!  I liked this article.

The tortured artist is a stock character and real-life stereotype who is in constant torment due to frustrations with art and other people. Tortured artists feel alienated and misunderstood due to the perceived ignorance or neglect of others who do not understand them and the things they feel are important. They sometimes smoke, experience sexual frustration and recurring heartbreak, and generally appear overwhelmed by their own emotions and inner conflicts. They are often mocked in popular culture for "thinking too much," being quixotic, or coming across as pretentiously adverse to happiness and fun. Other stereotypical traits vary between extremes - from being narcissistic, histrionic, and extroverted to being self-loathing, and introverted. Tortured artists are often self-destructive in behavior, and are often associated with mental health issues such as substance abuse, borderline personality disorder, depression, or bipolar disorder. Tortured artists are often prone to self-mutilation and suicide.

[edit]More Examples of Artists with Bipolar

• Jeremiah Clarke
• Darby Crash
• Ian Curtis
• Ernest Hemingway
• Frida Kahlo
• John Lennon
• Edgar Allan Poe
• Robert Schumann
• Elliott Smith
• Layne Staley
• Hunter S. Thompson
• John Kennedy Toole
• William Kurelek
• Virginia Woolf
• Sylvia Plath
• Al "Blind Owl" Wilson
• Michael Jackson

Famous People With Bipolar Disorders  A Must See Video