Bipolar success stories?

[Anonymous]

My 18yo niece has been diagnosed as bipolar. She's on meds and seeing a therapist but the outlook, from everything I'm reading, is rather dismal.

Is it possible to manage this successfully?

[Anonymous]

Yes. But, there may be "relapses" as with any chronic disease. See Kay Redfield Jamison and he books, one of the world's foremost experts in bipolar and a person with bipolar herself.

A Washingtonian to look at for an example of a bipolar person with a successful life and well-managed disease is Bob Boorstin, former White House aide in the Clinton Administration. He has written about his illness (and people as written about him) and he continues to advocate for mental health treatment.

Respurces: NAMI Family-to-Family is great. Bipolar person should have good paychaitrist knowledgeavle about bipolar specifically, as well as. a good PhD paychologist for therapy, support and patient education. Best outcomes occur when patient has a committment to medication. Also, therapy, exercise and stress management and maintenance of social rhythms and sleep is important (read about IPSRT - interpersonal social rhythm therapy)

All bipolar patients should have a healthcare proxy document that gives power to a family member to make healthcare decisions in certain circumastances as well as power of attorney for financial and other decisions and permission for sharing of health info and educational info. One common problem that parents (and orther caregivers) find is that although socially/culturally they feel obligated to provide care and shelter for an ill person, legally, the healthcare system is not permitted to share info. Same goes for universities. It's important to plan for contingencies now while the bipolar person is well.

[Anonymous]

^Forgot to add that it is actually great that diagnosis has come early. Many people aren't diagnosed for decades and meanwhile their life has gone so wrong, due to illness, that it is difficult to repair social/interpersonal damage.

[Anonymous]

I was diagnosed as bipolar at a very difficult time in my life. Long story short, I am NOT bipolar and worked with a VERY GODD psychiatrist to get off medication that I spent years taking. I have generalized anxiety disorder. After CBT and meditation, my life is amazing.

[Anonymous]

My niece was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in her late teens. She is now in her late 30s, and a successful professional.

She has had a couple of relapses, requiring hospitalization, over the years. But with medication, exercise, and stress management, she has been able to live an independent and neurotypical life. A strong support system--family, doctors, and therapists--has been key to her success.

[Anonymous]

I am bipolar. I was diagnosed in college. I was hospitalized for a bit, put on meds, etc. I was able to finish college but it was very hard. Medication to control bipolar can itself be life-changing in a negative way. I was no longer having extreme highs and lows, but I was also needing to sleep 14 hours a day, dealing with my mind not working "properly," gaining weight like crazy, and other side effects.

I went to law school. Got married. Sustained a career. Had children. Managed marriage, work, children. I'm still bipolar. I'm still significantly more likely to kill myself than someone without bipolar. I still have to deal with medication side effects. I have a life. I'm not on disability. I'm not in jail.

[Anonymous]

My ex is bipolar. Our manage imploded due to what was, in hindsight, first his undiagnosed manic highs, lows and anxiety and then his misdiagnosed and improperly medicated illness. Now on meds. Has had a good, if somewhat bumpy career. Remarried to what appears to be a stable professional woman, which I think is necessary for him; he does not do well alone and has no family of origin support. Decent relationship with kids. I maintain full custody but facilitate his frequent visitation.

Overall, not a bad outcome if he can maintain it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was diagnosed as bipolar at a very difficult time in my life. Long story short, I am NOT bipolar and worked with a VERY GODD psychiatrist to get off medication that I spent years taking. I have generalized anxiety disorder. After CBT and meditation, my life is amazing.

Hi, I'm not sure if you are around anymore. I think this could be like my 23-year old nephew. He always had some anxiety in teens/childhood- but not horrifying or medicated.

3 years ago at the end of spring semester he couldn't sleep, he started not making sense, was jacked up. He was in treatment tvfor a month. They did not give him a diagnosis then because they wanted time to observe.

He's never been depressed. That was his only episode "break".

This week (3 years later), he had something similar happen. He is an incredible kid--graduated college, going to grad school, paid internship, coaches track, works at a restaurant, runs seriously fast marathons. Healthy kid that does too much.

He found out unexpectedly they were ending the internship due to financing end of this month. He stopped being able to sleep again, stopped making sense, was manic-acting.

My sister and BIL took him immediately to the psychiatrist that treated him last time and he was able to give meds that seem to have him come back around very quickly.

My sister is worried to death. He's not violent or depressss when this happens and it does seem to happen when he is overworked and in a transitional or stressful time.

They are worried about a bipolar diagnosis. I am wondering if this experience sounds like yours and if it could be more an anxiety disorder.

Thanks so much. If anyone else has experience I welcome comments.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was diagnosed as bipolar at a very difficult time in my life. Long story short, I am NOT bipolar and worked with a VERY GODD psychiatrist to get off medication that I spent years taking. I have generalized anxiety disorder. After CBT and meditation, my life is amazing.

Hi, I'm not sure if you are around anymore. I think this could be like my 23-year old nephew. He always had some anxiety in teens/childhood- but not horrifying or medicated.

3 years ago at the end of spring semester he couldn't sleep, he started not making sense, was jacked up. He was in treatment tvfor a month. They did not give him a diagnosis then because they wanted time to observe.

He's never been depressed. That was his only episode "break".

This week (3 years later), he had something similar happen. He is an incredible kid--graduated college, going to grad school, paid internship, coaches track, works at a restaurant, runs seriously fast marathons. Healthy kid that does too much.

He found out unexpectedly they were ending the internship due to financing end of this month. He stopped being able to sleep again, stopped making sense, was manic-acting.

My sister and BIL took him immediately to the psychiatrist that treated him last time and he was able to give meds that seem to have him come back around very quickly.

My sister is worried to death. He's not violent or depressss when this happens and it does seem to happen when he is overworked and in a transitional or stressful time.

They are worried about a bipolar diagnosis. I am wondering if this experience sounds like yours and if it could be more an anxiety disorder.

Thanks so much. If anyone else has experience I welcome comments.

This is almost certainly bipolar. He could have an anxiety disorder as well. The safest course of action is for him to stay on mood-stabilizing drugs for the rest of his life

[Anonymous]

^^ they are leaning towards a diagnosis of GAD -generalized anxiety disorder (DSM-IV)

He doesn't have any depression or lows--never. Never had suicidal, self-harm thoughts.
He doesn't have any mood swings. In fact, always been the most stable emotion-wise, mellow. Zero extremes in that regard.
He has lots of friends long-term, romantic relationship, finished college in 4 years, highly motivated.

He had trouble sleeping as a kid/teen, but no related issues with that. Always had low level worry/anxiety. Never been fired, holds more than one job skipped school, etc.
No delusions of grandeur or risky behavior.

I would say more "Keyed up/on edge/restless", but not manic. Never violent.

It does sound like there is a lot of haziness in diagnosing these things and they tend to want to observe and monitor before smacking a label down which I agree.

I do know many kids in that age range that had various issues, that weren't life-long or lasting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^^ they are leaning towards a diagnosis of GAD -generalized anxiety disorder (DSM-IV)

He doesn't have any depression or lows--never. Never had suicidal, self-harm thoughts.
He doesn't have any mood swings. In fact, always been the most stable emotion-wise, mellow. Zero extremes in that regard.
He has lots of friends long-term, romantic relationship, finished college in 4 years, highly motivated.

He had trouble sleeping as a kid/teen, but no related issues with that. Always had low level worry/anxiety. Never been fired, holds more than one job skipped school, etc.
No delusions of grandeur or risky behavior.

I would say more "Keyed up/on edge/restless", but not manic. Never violent.

It does sound like there is a lot of haziness in diagnosing these things and they tend to want to observe and monitor before smacking a label down which I agree.

I do know many kids in that age range that had various issues, that weren't life-long or lasting.

Then I spoke too soon, and that could be anxiety disorder. There is a big difference between bipolar and anxiety disorder, but you'd have to have a complete medical history to figure it out. Also try to get a DSM 5 diagnosis, the descriptions of bipolar have changed and now includes anxious mania and mixed mania. I get anxious mania. It differs from ordinary anxiety in that it is far more extreme - I bounce off the walls, I can go for many days without sleep, I can't concentrate on anything at all, and if it goes on too long, it can morph into paranoia. I've never been violent though.

If it is GAD, then he can get through these anxiety attacks with a benzodiazipine, like Xanax. He should stay in contact with psychiatrist even when he feels fine, for at least a while. Bipolar may first manifest in your 20s. I did not get my first full mania until I was 28, but in retrospect, I had some prior hypomanic episodes that I didn't recognize and nobody else knew about.

[Anonymous]

^^thanks so much. Since I am not around him I can't really see how he is acting. I guess I am just hoping for the best. They will find out more tomorrow when the see his doctor again. He didn't give a diagnosis 3 years ago to see if it was isolated.

[Anonymous]

Yes it is as long as she takes her meds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^Forgot to add that it is actually great that diagnosis has come early. Many people aren't diagnosed for decades and meanwhile their life has gone so wrong, due to illness, that it is difficult to repair social/interpersonal damage.

Oh, my gosh, yes. My in-law got diagnosed late in life, but doing really well now. On disability but a healthy, fulfilled life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am bipolar. I was diagnosed in college. I was hospitalized for a bit, put on meds, etc. I was able to finish college but it was very hard. Medication to control bipolar can itself be life-changing in a negative way. I was no longer having extreme highs and lows, but I was also needing to sleep 14 hours a day, dealing with my mind not working "properly," gaining weight like crazy, and other side effects.

I went to law school. Got married. Sustained a career. Had children. Managed marriage, work, children. I'm still bipolar. I'm still significantly more likely to kill myself than someone without bipolar. I still have to deal with medication side effects. I have a life. I'm not on disability. I'm not in jail.

You are a hero. Seriously.