Question:
Everyone I worked with watched me melt down when it was at its worst before I was dx’d and medicated. I knew everyone well, had worked there some as a college student and we are very much the family. There wasn’t anything I could hide or say or do. I’m rather comfortable now with things, and if it feels safer for you not to say
Same here. I really lost it in front of everyone before I was diagnosed. I work at a really big company, so instead of getting fired, I got sent to employee assistance, and they got me to a psychiatrist where I was Dx bipolar. Everyone I work with has taken it rather well and is quite understanding. I feel quite lucky, as I understand that it does not always work out that way. — Bob B.
Response:
Bobby, I read your other post too. It sounds like you are very fortunate to have good efficient mental health care. I hope your hospitalization goes well. Get the most you can out of the therapy sessions when inpatient. It is an opportunity to get a break from pressure and gain some stability. Post when you get home. I’d like to know how you are doing. c
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Everyone I worked with watched me melt down when it was at its worst before I was dx’d and medicated. I knew everyone well, had worked there some as a college student and we are very much the family. There wasn’t anything I could hide or say or do. I’m rather comfortable now with things, and if it feels safer for you not to say Same here. I really lost it in front of everyone before I was diagnosed. I work at a really big company, so instead of getting fired, I got sent to employee assistance, and they got me to a psychiatrist where I was Dx bipolar. Everyone I work with has taken it rather well and is quite understanding. I feel quite lucky, as I understand that it does not always work out that way. — Bob B.
Response:
Everyone I worked with watched me melt down when it was at its worst before I was dx’d and medicated. I knew everyone well, had worked there some as a college student and we are very much the family. There wasn’t anything I could hide or say or do. I’m rather comfortable now with things, and if it feels safer for you not to say anything, then don’t.
That’s great that you feel that comfortable with the people you work with there. Even though I have been on my job for over 5 years we have a big turnover of employees and some of us are not as close as we used to be. I have also been more aware of just how paranoid I actually am, especially at work, so I am learning to keep things to myself. Well, we didn’t have the staff meeting on Monday like we were supposed to but a memo made its way to my desk saying it’s going to be on Thursday. At this point, I am not going to hold my breath. She acts as if she’s gotten away with everything, and truth be known, she has. I was asked to write down things for the agenda, and my laundry list was pretty much similar to everyone else’s with a lot of other things in my favor. When it first hit the fan, I was hoping we’d have a meeting and Kid would walk out the door. Now, I don’t care. I just sit at my desk, do my work, and go home when I’m done for the day. Things’ll get better. I need to swing the other way a little more first.
That’s a wonderful attitude to have Heather! I really hope things work out for you on the job and this girl ceases to be a problem but in the meantime you are showing that you are the bigger person. Bonnie
Response:
I need to do something like this where I work but somehow I feel too much like a chicken. I tend to be overly sensitive to things people say to me and I even get paranoid about certain looks they give me so I’ve learned to keep a lot to myself in self-protection.
Everyone I worked with watched me melt down when it was at its worst before I was dx’d and medicated. I knew everyone well, had worked there some as a college student and we are very much the family. There wasn’t anything I could hide or say or do. I’m rather comfortable now with things, and if it feels safer for you not to say anything, then don’t. From the things you have said about this girl I think she is jealous of you. It also sounds as if she has quite a few unresolved issues. She may be using you as her personal scapegoat.
Well, we didn’t have the staff meeting on Monday like we were supposed to but a memo made its way to my desk saying it’s going to be on Thursday. At this point, I am not going to hold my breath. She acts as if she’s gotten away with everything, and truth be known, she has. I was asked to write down things for the agenda, and my laundry list was pretty much similar to everyone else’s with a lot of other things in my favor. When it first hit the fan, I was hoping we’d have a meeting and Kid would walk out the door. Now, I don’t care. I just sit at my desk, do my work, and go home when I’m done for the day. Things’ll get better. I need to swing the other way a little more first.
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Today I had the opportunity to give work a little education on bipolar disorder, and in a way that really shocked the hell out of them. The bosses were out of the office, and like we do when there’s just a few of us in the office, we were sitting around and talking. What started out as a session to discuss the grievences we’re going to air out at the staff meeting next week, someone commented that Kid was overheard on the phone commenting about how I was really grumpy and she was afraid of me going "psycho hose beast". I laughed, and then explained to the girls that I threaten her with that just to get her goat and that in reality I am rather harmless. And then I said, you pass by bipolar/manic depressive people all the time on the street and you never know it. You watch them on TV every night and you have no clue unless I tell you. And I proceed to start listing famous people like Robin Williams and Drew Carey as being bipolar. They were shocked and surprised, to say the least. They always thought Robin was on cocaine, and while I said he was at one time, I can assure you he was sober (but probably unmedicated) when he did his show in New York a few months ago. You should have seen their mouths drop.
Good for you for helping to teach some others about this condition. There are quite a few famous people that are bipolar and it does help to use those example with others. By the way, Robin Williams is one of my favorites! I also explained that some of the things they have said not to me but in front of me and what I’ve overheard have bothered me, but I explained that it was the stigma society puts on mental illness. I also explained that up until a few years ago, depression wasn’t considered a treatable illness and was rather taboo to discuss. I also explained the difference between me and someone who is "schitzo" as well as explained that a lot of what society will tell you (and the media and TV does as well) is not entirely accurate, and I keep referring to Sally Fields’ character on ER to give them an idea (and yes, before you get irritated, it was the best example I could think on the fly and one that I could live with using) of what it is like.
I need to do something like this where I work but somehow I feel too much like a chicken. I tend to be overly sensitive to things people say to me and I even get paranoid about certain looks they give me so I’ve learned to keep a lot to myself in self-protection. I also explained that my harassing kid like I do is because she’s so ignorant. I play upon her fears because she makes it a point to be so ugly to me. And yes, it is rather childish that I don’t take the high road and just ignore her and pretend she doesn’t exist. And yes, sometimes what she says gets to me. She’s jealous of me for some reason, and I haven’t quite figured out why. I also know that she and I butt heads the hardest, and a large part of it is her attitude and my desire to knock her hard off her high horse.
From the things you have said about this girl I think she is jealous of you. It also sounds as if she has quite a few unresolved issues. She may be using you as her personal scapegoat. Some people, no matter how hard you try, you just can’t reach so they’ll spend the rest of their lives wallowing in ignorance. I used to have a gal like that at the office. She won’t ever change. And I pity her a lot.
That is the best thing to do in the long run. Some people either can’t or won’t change and there is nothing we can do about that but remember it is their problem and not ours. I hope things get better on your job Heather. Bonnie
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – One of my biggest complaints about all this in this country is the stigma that still goes with much of this. I suppose this may be better in some areas than others but for me I keep my diagnosis to myself. Only my immediate family and all of you know about it. Too often I hear people making snide remarks about various types of mental illnesses and I’m not yet willing to subject myself to that. The people I work with know I deal with depressin and take an antidepressant but I won’t tell them about the BP because I’ve heard too many remarks about such illnesses that makes me keep it to myself. I know maybe I could help change that if I did share my full diagnosis with them but I don’t feel emotionally able to deal with that. Today I had the opportunity to give work a little education on bipolar disorder, and in a way that really shocked the hell out of them. The bosses were out of the office, and like we do when there’s just a few of us in the office, we were sitting around and talking. What started out as a session to discuss the grievences we’re going to air out at the staff meeting next week, someone commented that Kid was overheard on the phone commenting about how I was really grumpy and she was afraid of me going "psycho hose beast". I laughed, and then explained to the girls that I threaten her with that just to get her goat and that in reality I am rather harmless. And then I said, you pass by bipolar/manic depressive people all the time on the street and you never know it. You watch them on TV every night and you have no clue unless I tell you. And I proceed to start listing famous people like Robin Williams and Drew Carey as being bipolar. They were shocked and surprised, to say the least. They always thought Robin was on cocaine, and while I said he was at one time, I can assure you he was sober (but probably unmedicated) when he did his show in New York a few months ago. You should have seen their mouths drop. I also explained that some of the things they have said not to me but in front of me and what I’ve overheard have bothered me, but I explained that it was the stigma society puts on mental illness. I also explained that up until a few years ago, depression wasn’t considered a treatable illness and was rather taboo to discuss. I also explained the difference between me and someone who is "schitzo" as well as explained that a lot of what society will tell you (and the media and TV does as well) is not entirely accurate, and I keep referring to Sally Fields’ character on ER to give them an idea (and yes, before you get irritated, it was the best example I could think on the fly and one that I could live with using) of what it is like. I also explained that my harassing kid like I do is because she’s so ignorant. I play upon her fears because she makes it a point to be so ugly to me. And yes, it is rather childish that I don’t take the high road and just ignore her and pretend she doesn’t exist. And yes, sometimes what she says gets to me. She’s jealous of me for some reason, and I haven’t quite figured out why. I also know that she and I butt heads the hardest, and a large part of it is her attitude and my desire to knock her hard off her high horse. Some people, no matter how hard you try, you just can’t reach so they’ll spend the rest of their lives wallowing in ignorance. I used to have a gal like that at the office. She won’t ever change. And I pity her a lot.
Response:
One of my biggest complaints about all this in this country is the stigma that still goes with much of this. I suppose this may be better in some areas than others but for me I keep my diagnosis to myself. Only my immediate family and all of you know about it. Too often I hear people making snide remarks about various types of mental illnesses and I’m not yet willing to subject myself to that. The people I work with know I deal with depressin and take an antidepressant but I won’t tell them about the BP because I’ve heard too many remarks about such illnesses that makes me keep it to myself. I know maybe I could help change that if I did share my full diagnosis with them but I don’t feel emotionally able to deal with that.
Today I had the opportunity to give work a little education on bipolar disorder, and in a way that really shocked the hell out of them. The bosses were out of the office, and like we do when there’s just a few of us in the office, we were sitting around and talking. What started out as a session to discuss the grievences we’re going to air out at the staff meeting next week, someone commented that Kid was overheard on the phone commenting about how I was really grumpy and she was afraid of me going "psycho hose beast". I laughed, and then explained to the girls that I threaten her with that just to get her goat and that in reality I am rather harmless. And then I said, you pass by bipolar/manic depressive people all the time on the street and you never know it. You watch them on TV every night and you have no clue unless I tell you. And I proceed to start listing famous people like Robin Williams and Drew Carey as being bipolar. They were shocked and surprised, to say the least. They always thought Robin was on cocaine, and while I said he was at one time, I can assure you he was sober (but probably unmedicated) when he did his show in New York a few months ago. You should have seen their mouths drop. I also explained that some of the things they have said not to me but in front of me and what I’ve overheard have bothered me, but I explained that it was the stigma society puts on mental illness. I also explained that up until a few years ago, depression wasn’t considered a treatable illness and was rather taboo to discuss. I also explained the difference between me and someone who is "schitzo" as well as explained that a lot of what society will tell you (and the media and TV does as well) is not entirely accurate, and I keep referring to Sally Fields’ character on ER to give them an idea (and yes, before you get irritated, it was the best example I could think on the fly and one that I could live with using) of what it is like. I also explained that my harassing kid like I do is because she’s so ignorant. I play upon her fears because she makes it a point to be so ugly to me. And yes, it is rather childish that I don’t take the high road and just ignore her and pretend she doesn’t exist. And yes, sometimes what she says gets to me. She’s jealous of me for some reason, and I haven’t quite figured out why. I also know that she and I butt heads the hardest, and a large part of it is her attitude and my desire to knock her hard off her high horse. Some people, no matter how hard you try, you just can’t reach so they’ll spend the rest of their lives wallowing in ignorance. I used to have a gal like that at the office. She won’t ever change. And I pity her a lot.
Response:
(respectfully snipped part pf post) I’m begining to understand that it is all very individual, and that there are no easy answers. Which probably sounds like kids talk on this NG, but thats possibly where I am in comparison to people here and to my partner.
That is not kid’s talk at all. You are absolutely correct in understanding that this is all very individual and there certainly are no easy answers. What works for one person (including meds) may not work for another. Even the pdocs I think will admit that it is a test by trial in finding the right combination. Incidentally I live in the UK and have been doing a bit of reading/research over the last year, it seems that people in the US are decades ahead of us in the UK with regards to mental health issues, do US citizens on this NG recognise this as a fact or is it one of my stereotypes?
Honestly I don’t know enough about how the UK deals with mental health issues to comment on this. I do know I had an email friend in Germany that was BP1 and had dealt with some serious pyschosis and the treatment he described to me that he received sounded good. I know that is Germany and not the UK and I don’t know if there could be any similarities in treatment options. As far as how the US handles mental health issues goes, I think I have mixed opinions. Certainly compared to what we had not too many years ago we have advanced tremendously because there was a time when many of us here would have been locked away and not given a true chance for improvement. There seem to be new meds coming out all the time and hopefully that will help more of us to find the right combination of meds. One of my biggest complaints about all this in this country is the stigma that still goes with much of this. I suppose this may be better in some areas than others but for me I keep my diagnosis to myself. Only my immediate family and all of you know about it. Too often I hear people making snide remarks about various types of mental illnesses and I’m not yet willing to subject myself to that. The people I work with know I deal with depressin and take an antidepressant but I won’t tell them about the BP because I’ve heard too many remarks about such illnesses that makes me keep it to myself. I know maybe I could help change that if I did share my full diagnosis with them but I don’t feel emotionally able to deal with that. I know this is not really any help to you but I appreciate your comments and what I learn from you. It helps us all to understand one another, our similarities and differences, when we share these things. Take care, Bonnie
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My feeling is that BP is biochemical in origin but stressful events can predispose one to the disorder. I’ve survived the death of my father when I was six, and emotional abuse from a not-to-nice uncle. (Severe boundry violations.) My maternal grandmother was BP as best as we can tell. This set the stage for my BP. I remember having depressions from about 12 yrs old. My first manic episodes happened in my early 20’s. These were induced by amphetamine abuse. When I was 27 I had post-partum mania. As I have aged (UGH!!) the episodes are coming closer and have become more severe but are of a shorter duration. Therapy can help your SO learn coping skills and come to terms with childhood traumas. The BP is not going to disappear because of the therapy. It does get easier to manage. Sometimes doctors will also diagnose mood disorders with someone who has experienced early loss or abuse. This diagnosis should only be made after extensive therapy as the symptoms can overlap with BP. The important thing is to develop the skills necessary for living with a chronic lifelong illness. For some people Lithium keeps moods stable for years at a time. I hope you have that kind of luck. For some it works for a while and then poops out. Having a pdoc that you feel comfortable with and can talk to is essential. This illness has many nuances and faces, however, it can be lived with. It just takes work. Hope things keep going well.
Hi Colleen My partner has been diagnosed BP for 5 years but only started treatment a year ago, the first PDOC visit will be in February, so we are trying to get organised for that. She has been to a Councilling Psychiatrist for the last year or so (sorry but this is the UK – I do not know if there is an equivalent elsewhere in the world). Additionally she (Laura) has been taking medication for Clinical Depression for about 10 years. I think that the childhood traumas have been faced before we were together, she has confronted some of the people who were responsible and has forgiven them or at least tried to understand why they happened. Interesting that you mention amphetamine abuse, as this is something that we haven’t really put into the timelines/diary of events that we have been doing, yet it is something that occurred. Thanks for the response, it’s hard to ask a question that hasn’t been asked before, it’s taken me over 2 hours to write the above two paragraphs, and in the process I have come to understand an awful lot that I didn’t understand before. Mowie
Response:
Hey Group A while back I posted a request for some information about my partner just starting on lithium, she suffers from BP. Well since that occasion things have been very calm. We are well passed the 10 days probation for the drug to start work, and have had a very stressful christmas holiday which has passed very peacefully and calmly. I am keeping a diary (as suggested) of my partners moods/actions and also what sort of situations they arose in if relevant, though I am sure it needs to be more comprehensive. Sideaffects of the drugs so far seem to be a lowering of sex drive and nausea, also the odd dizzy spell. On the positive side, rapid cycling has not occurred (noticeably) and with little encouragment we have produced lists and dates of significant events in her childhood that require further exploration. My partner was sexually and physically abused by her immediate family and step-parents, particularly by her mother, obviusly this has a great affect on her life now, but what we need to discuss further is that BP has been passed down to her from her parents and that my partners childhood events all happened under a cloud of depression and what affects this had on her and the events through which she lived. Does anyone else recognise BP in themselves as children that also suffered abuse, and how this affected the abuse? I have also spent some time reading posts on this NG, your knowledge of the mind etc. is beyond my comprehension, through your posts you have brought me to tears and to laughing out loud, and I feel richer for having posted! Thanks
Response:
I think we still have many miles to go reagarding mental health care. I know your system is more accessible than ours. Most people I know who have chronic mental illness end up on disability. These leaves us living at near or below poverty levels. The person who doesn’t have private insurance or disability is sunk. This has happened to a friend of mine. He can’t find work because of the illness and lost his social security because of a job, which he lost, which raised his income slightly above the limit which cancelled his insurance etc. etc. etc. A lot of people I know are one step away from being on the streets. It’s a tough spot to be in. I’m lucky. I have a good network of support around me. c
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello Mowie, I’m glad to hear that your partner is doing better. She is very fortunate to have someone like you that cares so much and is willing to help as much as you do. As far as a person’s childhood goes I think it has a huge effect on mental illnesses they have both as a child and as an adult. A bad childhood can cause severe depression problems not to mention many other problems that can stay with a person for life. I’m not so sure that a bad childhood can actually cause BP but it certainly does have a lot to do with it. In my case I grew up with numerous serious family problems with both my parents being alcoholic and my mother extremely suicidal. I did have to deal with various types of abuse growing up as well. My therapists and my pdoc have all agreed that plays a huge role in my depression and obviously in the PTSD that I also have. I believe that where BP fits in there is that one or both of my parents were BP and although they were never diagnosed I believe they attempted to self medicate with alcohol and also in my mother’s case valuim. Because they dealt with their problems in such a manner is (I think) the primary reason I had the painful upbringing that I had. I believe that BP can be inherited – my son has it as well and I tried very hard to not give him the kind of childhood I had. I know I’m just kind of rambling on here but basically I do believe that a person’s childhood has a very big effect on their mental state as an adult. I hope your partner continues to improve – she is lucky to have you helping her! Bonnie Hi Bonnie I too have my issues, I unfortunately have the inability to empathise (only recently ‘discovered’ after probing my extensive defensive mechanisms) due to an emotional empty childhood . We have had some very testing times, my partner may not agree with you on how much use I am! But I am trying to Living with depression at such an early age must cause a lot of conflict with parents/siblings, unless of course they are aware of the childs problems and are helping them. Not having been physically abused as a child nor do I suffer from any recognisable form of depression, it is almost impossible for me to understand what affect a combination of the two would have on a childs childhood or indeed family life as a whole. I’m begining to understand that it is all very individual, and that there are no easy answers. Which probably sounds like kids talk on this NG, but thats possibly where I am in comparison to people here and to my partner. Incidentally I live in the UK and have been doing a bit of reading/research over the last year, it seems that people in the US are decades ahead of us in the UK with regards to mental health issues, do US citizens on this NG recognise this as a fact or is it one of my stereotypes? Thanks Mowie
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello Mowie, I’m glad to hear that your partner is doing better. She is very fortunate to have someone like you that cares so much and is willing to help as much as you do. As far as a person’s childhood goes I think it has a huge effect on mental illnesses they have both as a child and as an adult. A bad childhood can cause severe depression problems not to mention many other problems that can stay with a person for life. I’m not so sure that a bad childhood can actually cause BP but it certainly does have a lot to do with it. In my case I grew up with numerous serious family problems with both my parents being alcoholic and my mother extremely suicidal. I did have to deal with various types of abuse growing up as well. My therapists and my pdoc have all agreed that plays a huge role in my depression and obviously in the PTSD that I also have. I believe that where BP fits in there is that one or both of my parents were BP and although they were never diagnosed I believe they attempted to self medicate with alcohol and also in my mother’s case valuim. Because they dealt with their problems in such a manner is (I think) the primary reason I had the painful upbringing that I had. I believe that BP can be inherited – my son has it as well and I tried very hard to not give him the kind of childhood I had. I know I’m just kind of rambling on here but basically I do believe that a person’s childhood has a very big effect on their mental state as an adult. I hope your partner continues to improve – she is lucky to have you helping her! Bonnie
Hi Bonnie I too have my issues, I unfortunately have the inability to empathise (only recently ‘discovered’ after probing my extensive defensive mechanisms) due to an emotional empty childhood . We have had some very testing times, my partner may not agree with you on how much use I am! But I am trying to Living with depression at such an early age must cause a lot of conflict with parents/siblings, unless of course they are aware of the childs problems and are helping them. Not having been physically abused as a child nor do I suffer from any recognisable form of depression, it is almost impossible for me to understand what affect a combination of the two would have on a childs childhood or indeed family life as a whole. I’m begining to understand that it is all very individual, and that there are no easy answers. Which probably sounds like kids talk on this NG, but thats possibly where I am in comparison to people here and to my partner. Incidentally I live in the UK and have been doing a bit of reading/research over the last year, it seems that people in the US are decades ahead of us in the UK with regards to mental health issues, do US citizens on this NG recognise this as a fact or is it one of my stereotypes? Thanks Mowie
Response:
Hello Mowie, I’m glad to hear that your partner is doing better. She is very fortunate to have someone like you that cares so much and is willing to help as much as you do. As far as a person’s childhood goes I think it has a huge effect on mental illnesses they have both as a child and as an adult. A bad childhood can cause severe depression problems not to mention many other problems that can stay with a person for life. I’m not so sure that a bad childhood can actually cause BP but it certainly does have a lot to do with it. In my case I grew up with numerous serious family problems with both my parents being alcoholic and my mother extremely suicidal. I did have to deal with various types of abuse growing up as well. My therapists and my pdoc have all agreed that plays a huge role in my depression and obviously in the PTSD that I also have. I believe that where BP fits in there is that one or both of my parents were BP and although they were never diagnosed I believe they attempted to self medicate with alcohol and also in my mother’s case valuim. Because they dealt with their problems in such a manner is (I think) the primary reason I had the painful upbringing that I had. I believe that BP can be inherited – my son has it as well and I tried very hard to not give him the kind of childhood I had. I know I’m just kind of rambling on here but basically I do believe that a person’s childhood has a very big effect on their mental state as an adult. I hope your partner continues to improve – she is lucky to have you helping her! Bonnie
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hey Group A while back I posted a request for some information about my partner just starting on lithium, she suffers from BP. Well since that occasion things have been very calm. We are well passed the 10 days probation for the drug to start work, and have had a very stressful christmas holiday which has passed very peacefully and calmly. I am keeping a diary (as suggested) of my partners moods/actions and also what sort of situations they arose in if relevant, though I am sure it needs to be more comprehensive. Sideaffects of the drugs so far seem to be a lowering of sex drive and nausea, also the odd dizzy spell. On the positive side, rapid cycling has not occurred (noticeably) and with little encouragment we have produced lists and dates of significant events in her childhood that require further exploration. My partner was sexually and physically abused by her immediate family and step-parents, particularly by her mother, obviusly this has a great affect on her life now, but what we need to discuss further is that BP has been passed down to her from her parents and that my partners childhood events all happened under a cloud of depression and what affects this had on her and the events through which she lived. Does anyone else recognise BP in themselves as children that also suffered abuse, and how this affected the abuse? I have also spent some time reading posts on this NG, your knowledge of the mind etc. is beyond my comprehension, through your posts you have brought me to tears and to laughing out loud, and I feel richer for having posted! Thanks
Response:
My feeling is that BP is biochemical in origin but stressful events can predispose one to the disorder. I’ve survived the death of my father when I was six, and emotional abuse from a not-to-nice uncle. (Severe boundry violations.) My maternal grandmother was BP as best as we can tell. This set the stage for my BP. I remember having depressions from about 12 yrs old. My first manic episodes happened in my early 20’s. These were induced by amphetamine abuse. When I was 27 I had post-partum mania. As I have aged (UGH!!) the episodes are coming closer and have become more severe but are of a shorter duration. Therapy can help your SO learn coping skills and come to terms with childhood traumas. The BP is not going to disappear because of the therapy. It does get easier to manage. Sometimes doctors will also diagnose mood disorders with someone who has experienced early loss or abuse. This diagnosis should only be made after extensive therapy as the symptoms can overlap with BP. The important thing is to develop the skills necessary for living with a chronic lifelong illness. For some people Lithium keeps moods stable for years at a time. I hope you have that kind of luck. For some it works for a while and then poops out. Having a pdoc that you feel comfortable with and can talk to is essential. This illness has many nuances and faces, however, it can be lived with. It just takes work. Hope things keep going well. c
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hey Group A while back I posted a request for some information about my partner just starting on lithium, she suffers from BP. Well since that occasion things have been very calm. We are well passed the 10 days probation for the drug to start work, and have had a very stressful christmas holiday which has passed very peacefully and calmly. I am keeping a diary (as suggested) of my partners moods/actions and also what sort of situations they arose in if relevant, though I am sure it needs to be more comprehensive. Sideaffects of the drugs so far seem to be a lowering of sex drive and nausea, also the odd dizzy spell. On the positive side, rapid cycling has not occurred (noticeably) and with little encouragment we have produced lists and dates of significant events in her childhood that require further exploration. My partner was sexually and physically abused by her immediate family and step-parents, particularly by her mother, obviusly this has a great affect on her life now, but what we need to discuss further is that BP has been passed down to her from her parents and that my partners childhood events all happened under a cloud of depression and what affects this had on her and the events through which she lived. Does anyone else recognise BP in themselves as children that also suffered abuse, and how this affected the abuse? I have also spent some time reading posts on this NG, your knowledge of the mind etc. is beyond my comprehension, through your posts you have brought me to tears and to laughing out loud, and I feel richer for having posted! Thanks
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