What is Bipolar

In alot of ways bipolar illness is very mysterious to many people. They don't understand it. They either belive that belive that it's really nothing at all (which is not the case at all), or they think that it is an illness that is unmanageable, and that people with bipolar are some sort of crazy lunatics (which is also far from the truth.

I have what's called Bipolar I , as opposed to Bipolar II. I will explain the difference. Bipolar I is a more sever form of the illness with larger mood swings and mania that without proper life style and sticked adherence to medication, can lead to psychotic  episodes. It is however, highly manageable with proper medication. The mood swings with either bipolar types can cycle several ways, rapidly even over the course of a day or so, or over a period of weeks, months, or years.  Each time the cycle occurs it become more sever. Example: if you are high (Manic) and then you drop down into a low (Depression) you will go back up to a high that will be higher then the one before unfortunately your low will be much darker then before.

Chasing the highs is a common thing for people with bipolar to do, which is a major reason why many of us are non compliant with our medication. What people who do this don't realize is that their highs can turn psychotic and the lows can turn suicidal. I can not stress enough how important the roll of medication is in managing bipolar.

It is important to know that the meds used to treat bipolar example Lithium, will not turn you into a zombie like person. I still have all my sharp wit and sarcasm.

Bipolar II is very similar except the experience of mania is less intrusive and rarely turns psychotic. This is why some people with Bipolar II don't belive they have to take their meds. WRONG, mania is dangerous either way.

We ofcourse however will be celebrating mania in later entries

MEDS MEDS MEDS, TAKE YOUR MEDS

take care of you please, just take care of you my friend

Read all you can about your disorder, empower yourself with knowledge

ENDING NOTE: You can and will have, if you listen to your Dr., a meaningful, satisfying, fulfilling life, filled with more joy and happiness then mania could ever bring.