David,
I have often wondered if I have bi-polar episodes. I know my mom had a “chemical imbalance”. I know that the blood of Jesus washes away all our shame and we are “new creations in Christ”( for those who receive Him as Lord and Savior). So I’ve come to the conclusion that with constant prayer and keeping my focus on the Lord, instead of my circumstances, I am able to “overcome” my mood swings. Its tough if I try to do this in my own strength but I know that this possible chemical imbalance is just a way for Satan to keep me in bondage and for me not to have a joyous life here on Earth. I appreciate your “awareness” on dealing with your moms situation and giving those specific guidance on dealing. I guess what I am saying is that you need Jesus and so does your family if you truly want to see a miracle in your moms life. I’ll be praying for you guys.
Cindy

Keep on keepin on David. Don’t let the naysayers pull you down to their level. Surly they have a choice to press the delete button if they are overwhelmed with too many e-mails. One doesn’t have to read them all. What I do read i always walk away more knowledgable for it. I appreciate your work and the efforts you pour into our lives. Thank you so much, Robin

SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME. My son is only taking meds and I don’t know how to get him to treat with anyone. Cut his wrists in June and November and I am out of my mind with worry. I eat, drink, not much sleep about him. I don’t know how to get him to understand ehe needs someone to talk to. He won’t stay with me all the time but hates to be alone so he goes home only to have friends over and drink and when he has had enough of that he goes to my moms or back with me. I am paying bills in two houses to keep his going while waiting for SSI to tell us a decision in four months an I applied as his POA for Social services to help him temporarily. This morning he says he is a loser, scumbag and hates his life and it will never change. Its not just a bad time he is going through his whole life is a bad time. I am so worried and so scared. Please someone tell me what to do or make some suggestions. He is so hard to talk to when he is like this. He is very agitated at this time. I love him dearly and I don’t want to lose him.

David
My mother too is effected by the holiday season. She seems to know this before hand, yet when in the middle of an episode, she does not. I went out to live with her and help, on her request, about year after my son was born and two and half years after I got married. My husband had to remain on the east coast and I on the west coast to be with mother. Needless to say, my son’s pediatrician told me not to go. She said she knew someone who did this and it almost ruined her. She said my son and husband are my primary responsibility and that I needed to focus on that. She was right for the most part. I spent a year there and it was horrible! The fighting, the threats, the family to which there are tons near her – never helped. They said they did, have, would, – yet all I see is them take her money and offerings of such things as cars, home improvement, stuff etc., she is not made of money. After I spoke with all of her doctors, she has a host of medical issues, and home care my sister and I arranged for her before I got out there, nothing seemed to stick. Her doctors told me to go back home that she was old and could live her life the way she wanted. That she was allowed to make mistakes like the rest of us. I could not believe it. She does not make mistakes like the rest of us, she makes BIG mistakes, dangerous mistakes, etc. No one helped and while I was extremely reluctant to have her declared incompetent, her therapist (non bipolar dr.) said he would help her not me in that effort should I decide to go that way. Mom fired everyone several times, including her cardiologist to the point where someone said to her that there are no more cardiologists in her state and she would have to settle with someone.
Her medications were a mess, she would leave the stove on, eat spoiled food, not clean up after accidents, I could go on and on.
I tried so despartely to create a system with my family and her doctors. I could not do it. She refused to take medication to help her bipolar disorder (sometimes she admits she has this sometimes not) and her doctors did nothing after that. I finally went home, defeated and feeling guilty- I FAILED! I tried so hard. I put my own immediate family at risk, my son and my husband. My marriage. It seemed people were willing to help as long as they were comfortable – there is nothing comfortable about this disorder. My mother is an amazing woman, Extremely smart and creative. She was successful for about 25 years of her life with business. Not her family. I feel so defeated. I can barely talk to her now, I don’t want to. The only reason I have any relationship with her at all is that I don’t want my son to loose out on his grandmother.

Dave,
Our daughter starts her winter episodes just after Halloween every year. This has been true since she was a teenager. She usually gets things together after Christmas.

She usually starts another episode in late April or May. Until I found your site I did not know other people had the same circumstances. You and your mother are in our thoughts and prayers.

Terri AKA Mysticwine:

I am so sorry for your losses. I pray that your Creator, be with you and yours during these difficult times.

Love and Peace,

The Princess

Dave,

You have tremendous insight. I appreciate you for how you are always there to give us what we need when we need it. Some may not need the information at this time, but will need it eventually. That is how BiPolar works. Its subtle and incidious and you cannot have enough armorment. I wish you and your family well. Thanks for all that you do. Don’t forget to have your staff get back to me.

LaLa

Yes, Dave, you are SO right on!! When a crisis comes up in my life-either good or bad – I can weather it all right while I’m in it, or it’s happening. Like, when my Dad died in my arms, I went through the funeral choices, the wake, the gravesite eulogies. I even helped my Mom to pack up for our move from IL to VA that summer.

But – I gradually went hypomanic the next year. I had a good job and my own apartment. I was involved with a local playhouse, acting in “The Odd Couple.” I literally could do no wrong.

Then – I collapsed at work, and the doctor in the ER asked me, “Can you function?” I realized at that moment that I could not. He transferred me to the Psych Ward at the local University Hospital, and I was ultimately the “sickest” I have ever been.

It sounds as if your Mom can handle such crises very well WHILE THEY ARE HAPPENING, then fall apart afterward – same as me. I don’t know if this is typical bipolar reactions or not. But – it sounds pretty crazy to me!! Like, why didn’t I fall apart when my Dad died? Why didn’t I fall apart when we had the tremendous move? This is just ONE example of stressors being “easy” to go through, and then they “catch up” with me, and I go through a manic episode.

I guess the chemical imbalance just had toooo much to handle all at once, and to compensate for all the BAD stuff that was happening, I glossed over it, and became “Superwoman.” This was 37 years ago, so I don’t remember whether I was on the “right” meds or not. But it sure was scary when I was doing all the “right” things, and STILL got sick.

It IS a good warning to us all to assess our stressors, especially here at Holiday time. I take my meds religiously, get the sleep I require, eat well, and hope to God I don’t get sick this year.

BIG HUGS to all those who have bipolar disorder and the ones who love them. My prayers are with you.

Terri,

You are a wonderful, loving, giving, starlight soul. Why are you wasting such beauty on Rocky; a man who does not appreciate you as evidenced by his professed adoration of Callie Strokus?
Now, Rocky and Callie have at least 2 things in common:
1. Both are addicted to playing Kingdoms of Camelot; and
2. Both selfishly abandoned their children to pursue their own selfish, carnal interests.
You don’t have to answer.
I understand bipolar disorder only too well having dealt with this affliction my entire life.
You are too young, spirited and beautiful to continued to be attached and affiliated with such losers as Callie and Rocky.