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Welcome
Welcome to the National Bipolar Foundation BLOG. We will be be bringing articles of interest about Bipolar Disorder and its treatments. I hope you find this interesting, informative and helpful.
The National Bipolar Foundation recognizes that to speak of Bipolar Disorder, one must understand Bipolar Disorder, its course and treatment, as well as the relevant health care policies that so dramatically affect the availability of care. The National Bipolar Foundation will utilize proactive, highly intuitive methods to educate the public and advocate issues of concern. Today we set out on a journey to vastly improve the lives of tens of millions of people afflicted with Bipolar Disorder, and their families and friends. May we be joined by millions of others in helping…to
01:26, 31.07.2009
It is a honor for me to be part of The National Bipolar Foundation. There are many blessings. The service to people living with bipolar and their families. There is also the blessing of meeting and working with a fine group of people who can put aside their everyday problems and reach out to help others.
Note also that the signature lapel pin is making a splash across the country, not to mention that we have people writting in from 38 states that would like to volunteer. We are trying to match volunteers to jobs they know or want to learn.
Everyone is encouraged to read through the new web site, it is packed with info.
And always remember no donation is too small, and every volunteer is important.
We have a hope.
Thanks
Marc Kullman
13:41, 18.08.2009
All of the sites online are a great help to those like myself with Bipolar. I have an interest of opening and running a Bipolar home for four persons. I will need help on this venture. I have a son whom is also Bipolar and due to the fact of losing my own home because of Bipolar eposides we need help.
01:54, 05.09.2009
I think it is wonderful that the National Bipolar Foundation helping us send a message of hope to those living with bipolar disorder like myself. I really enjoyed this website. I’m a Peer Advocate for Project Return Peer Support Network an affiliate of Mental Health America. I dedicate my life to serving mental health and helping people with similar struggles. In my life bipolar effects every second of my life. I changes the way you think, feel and percieve. Thoughts of death flood your mind. Sucide symbolizes escape and when you are manic it causes a happy high but lethal behavior. With that are the psychotic symptoms like delusions and hallucinations. The only way I can explain it is that you are in another world far from sanity. The beauty of it all is that the true glory is in the person that knows they were always strong enough to survive the rollercoaster ride. Allow me to formally introduce myself, my name is Maricela Estrada. I am 29 years old. My full diagnosis is Bipolar, Manic, Depression with Psychotic Features. I’m sure you would all agree that with a diagnosis like that it is very easy to feel stigmatized. I spent four years in denial. I kept journals of my life for ten years. These journals became a memoir, a book titled Bipolar Girl: My Psychotic Self that was released in May 2009. Writing has kept me a live. If my story can touch one life then my battle has been worth while. I feel my purpose in life is to uplift, encourage, and help others like me. I call bipolar disorder “a gift of challenge.” It’s a gift that makes you triumphant, compassionate and strong. It’s a gift that challenges you everyday and it’s a gift that makes you very special. My God bless you to use your gift to help others and make you so strong you can canquer any battle. Let’s keep spreading hope and sharing our stories. They were destined to be told.
22:14, 11.09.2009
My daughter has bipolar (hypomania) and also severe depression.She is 18 and has had both of these for 6 years. I am desperate for someone to help her. No one has been able to as of yet. She talks about suicide daily and is very, very depressed. She is on
an anti-depressant but it isn’t working. She has tried all the mood stabilizer’s but had reaction’s to all of them and currently is not on one. She is so desperate for an answer as we are to. She just started college. Her dad and I would take her anywhere if we knew there was someone or somewhere that could help her. She talks about what she wants to write in her suicide note. She doesn’t want to go to a hospital.
She feels “rejected” by everyone. I don’t know how to help her anymore. Is there anyone out there who can help us or tell us where to take her for help? Thank you.
22:31, 20.09.2009
I am thrilled to have found this website. My father caught an article about NBF in the medic alert magazine – great idea to link with medic alert!
I’m 37 and have been diagnosed bipolar since the age of 13 shortly after one of my first episodes. For a long time, there was no help. I remember the high school counselor and principal taking me aside several times and asking if I was on drugs – misreading my behavior as a cocaine habit.
It wasn’t until college that I finally found help that understood. By then I had already been self-medicating with caffeine, sugar and alcohol. While on the verge of checking myself into a psych hospital for a while, I discovered that I could have some control if I just changed some things in my life. Drastic changes to get rid of the things that were not working. The doctors managed to get the right medication for me when migraines complicated things; the “magic blue pill.” It was the first step in lifting the cloud of depression and helping me find a way out other than suicidal thoughts or reckless/careless behavior. My college notebooks finally were filled with notes instead of ‘good-bye letters.’
Living with bipolar means knowing yourself, watching yourself and learning to adapt yourself to the changes both with-out and -in. Medication is only an aid to help lift the bindings of depression and mania so that we can better adjust to what life brings our way.
18:55, 02.11.2009
I have been bipolar forever. I was not diagnosised until in my early sixties and I am 68 now. I know my folks tend to live long acording to my geneology but I “ain’t” getting no younger. You guys have given me hope, a hope that I can somehow, someway, make up a little for all the lost opportunities of my life. I am the caregiver to my wife who has dementia, probably alzheimers, and take a lot of my time. So come on now I haven’t stopped living, use me and whatever meager talents I may have. Times a wasting.
Peace…
13:33, 02.03.2010
I showed signs of juvenile bipolar in the 1960’s. I had my first and only hospitalization with severe depression when I was 18. I was finally diagnosed properly with bipolar II at age 25. I am now 51, and with medication I have lived a life without “severe” symptoms of depression or mania. Nonetheless, it has affected my life especially with regard to employment. I work for a non-profit which has been supportive over the years. I have attempted a handful of times to work in an administrative role, but I am unable primarily because of poor judgement, impulsivity, and a too high degree of emotional involvement with employees under my supervision. I lack the ability to make the necessary boundaries between employee and friend. I attribute this to my bipolar, because my errors in poor judgement and impulsive behavior have been excessive and remain a constant. I quickly come under duress and stress when placed in a position where I am in charge.
I attribute my spiritual and religious upbringing as my greatest tool to aid me with an illness that, even with medication and counseling, allows me to go beyond surviving to living with bipolar.
12:16, 21.05.2010
I have a rapid cycling bipolar disorder with mixed cycles. I it very hard to medicate and hard to control. People find it so hard to understand that I still have problems even though I am on medication. I wish they knew that there were differen types of bipolar disorders. Dawn
16:12, 21.06.2010
This message is for Brenda. She left a comment on 11/9/2009. Brenda I am surviving bipolar disorder and depression. I have had three very serious suicide attempts. This last attempt made me realize I don’t want to die by my own hand. I suffered greatly. I feel if your daughter talks about suicide so far as to she knows what she would write on the note, then maybe she needs to be on a 51/50. Which is a 72 danger to self psychiatric hospitalization. I would also encourage her to call suicide prevention at 1877 727-4747. When I obsess over killing myself I know I need help, so many times I drive myself to the hospital so I can be safe. The beauty of it is there is so much HOPE for people like myself and your daughter. There are a lot of great anti-depressants that have very little side affects. Currently, I’m taking Wellbutrin and I no longer have suicidal ideations. I think maybe she needs to explore which medications works best for her. Other anti-depressants that I have been on are Cymbalta and Celexa. I think maybe she should talk to her psychiatrist about her medications options. I also think therapy would help her. Maybe the Department of Mental Health can help. I’m not sure what state you live in. I am so happy to be alive at this moment. I am very lucky and blessed that I have survived suicide. One of my boyfriends once told me, “Maricela if you were to kill yourself today you would never know if tomorrow would’ve been a better day.” What he told me is so true and I always think of what he said that’s why now I admit myself to a mental hospital if I have those thoughts, Brebda I would like to commend you. You sound like a great mother that cares and loves her daughter and is trying to get her help. May God bless you and your family. I published a booked titled Bipolar Girl: My Psychotic Self last year. I will be happy to donate a copy to your daughter. My depression started in middle school and my first attempt was at age 14. It sounds like your daughter wants to get help and that’s wonderful. If you ever need any type of support or need someone to talk to that understands your daughter feel free to email me at mestrada2006@yahoo.com. Always remember there is HOPE. I’m a suicide survivor and I am positive that suicide is not in my future. Take care of yourself and tell your daughter I said, she is not alone and she can get through this just as I did.
03:09, 27.06.2010
I was just diagnosed with bipolar 6 weeks ago and I’ve know I was for a couple years now. My dad killed himself 4 years ago (on June 12th) and all I knew at the time was he was a manic deppresant, which now I know is the same thing as bipolar. I started taking Topirimate 3 weeks ago and I was just wondering if anyone else has tried it? I do feel a bit better but haven’t noticed much of a difference. I haven’t recieved a whole lot of support from my mom which is making this process a little harder so finding this site tonight was awesome! I feel so much better already! Another question I have is does anyone know of a website that I could have my mom go and read about so that maybe she can understand what I’m feeling and going through? I’ve tried to explain it to her but I don’t really know what I’m feeling so it is hard to explain it to someone else?!
16:37, 13.07.2010
I wish people knew how things can set us off. The other day I had a major setback by people trying to control my mother’s estate. They made some comments to me that made my anxiety come up so bad I thought I would have to go to the hospital. It took several days to get past this. I still feel like it did some permanent damage to me. I have always shared with people that I am bipolsr. I don’t mean I say, “Hey, I’m bipolar.” Sometimes it just comes up in conversation and I tell them.
14:46, 18.07.2010
Hello to everyone,
I too was diagnosed with bipolar about 14 years ago…I am doing well at the present moment, but there are times when I wish I did not have this disease…It is not about accepting it but to try and live with it everyday. I have not lost a friend, but not all of my friends know that I have this…You wish you could tell the World about it, but you never know who could turn your back on you and suddenly stab you in the back! (Sort of speak)…I wo wish all the best to the new commers and never to disper because help is always there!
Hélène