Mental Health

[spirit]

Hi there

If anyone has a family member who has Bipolar or other related illnesses, such as anxiety , depression etc.. feel free to discuss and tell us how you coped.
Thanks...

[CatWoman]

I have bypolor disorder and my daughter does too. Right now Im in a depression and I dont feel like doing much of any thing. I take medication and have group theropy and one on one theropy. I have to force myself to get things done. I am on disability wich is a small income. I live by myself and my car is not running and I dont have the founds to fix it. Even if it is fixed the insurance and gas money would take up all my money after I pay the bills. This adds to my depression even more.I have no disire to clean the house like I used too but I force myself to do the dishes every day. Right now my Christmas tree is still up and I need to take it down. Its like I just dont care much about anything. when a person is depressed it is hard for them to find things that make them happy.

[teodad]

Hello. My wife suffers from depression and anxiety, and I don't know what to do to help her. She's the most beautiful and wonderful girl who has ever lived (no offensive meant to eveyone else). I've tried to get her into counseling, but she will not go. She's been to at least 5 counselors over the past several years, and always finds a reason to quit going. It's gotten to the point where I can almost not work, because I have to be close to home to help her - to just to simple things, like get her lunch. Our finances are horrible, because if I am gone for more than a few hours, she'll call me constantly about some "emergency." Then, when I get home, I find nothing is wrong. I'm constantly moving from the moment I wake up, until she goes to sleep - getting the kids off to school, working for a little bit, getting her lunch, running errands, cooking dinner, washing dishes, taking out trash, doing laundry, etc. And then she'll say I don't care about her, and never do anything for her. I know it is not her fault, its a disease, and she just can't snap out of it. The kids see everything, and how I, or we, do everything we can for her, only to her that we don't care about her and she just wants her life to end. I'm at the point where staying with her is really hurting my career and the kids, but leaving her is really not an option. I don't know what else to do!

CatWoman - thanks for your post. It helps those of us trying to help those we care about to know what it is like. Stay with the therapy, even if you don't feel like it. One thing at a time!! Hang in there - God has a plan for you too!!

[Brandon777]

First off, I have bipolar disorder. I've been hospitalized three times, once for several months because of severe delusions. The thing of it is, for me though, if someone explains that my delusions are just that and gives me reasons why I'm wrong then I'll believe you and be pretty much okay. But that doesn't happen. As soon as I talk in ways that don't make sense, people write me off. But I have rational in me even when I lose it. I'm not the only one who has noticed this. In my college years I studied counseling and psychology and there's a Christian psychologist that says that the worst thing you can do for someone who is mentally struggling is to say they're helpless. They're sick. They can't help themselves. That's NOT impowering! Pray Scripture every night with her and see how quickly she recovers! 1 Peter 5:7 "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." The Bible changes lives! You have to believe that Jesus is not dead, He still helps people today! Make a note card with that verse and tell your wife to bring it out and pray it out loud every time she becomes anxious. This is a real Christian counselor technique I read about. Have your church and pastor pray for her. Suicidal thoughts are nothing to play around with. They are nothing to be ashamed of either, because there is no condemnation for the saints (Romans 8:1) and in our weakness Christ is lifted up (2 Corinthians 12:9). I'm not depressed though. And I'm not anxious or fearful. I can't help that, I was just born with those good traits that help me naturally overcome my bipolar. I'm also naturally optimistic.

[spirit]

Dear all

Thanks for all you replies .nice to hear from you.
I have a mixed bad in the family really. It happened when I was 6 years old and realised my mother was not your average parent. It wasn't till many years later in my young adulthood that she has high fear and anxiety and sever passive aggressive traits , another words they cannot express anger healthily. My 3 younger brothers and myself lived like prisoners in our own home becacuse she was scared of everything and constantly negative. To this day she still trys to control you even though I haven't lived with her for 20 years .Maybe thats why I'm an anxious person as well

12 years ago I witnessed one of my brother in a pschosis at a local hospital and that was when we learnt what Biploar was. For those of you who have it , do not be intimidated and be blessed of who you are. My brother is doing mentally and physically well depite him being bankrupted (due to his illness). He is supported by his wife and one thing that keeps in going is he has always been a positive person from day 1. For those like TEOdad who has to live with others, let me say I understand your situation and is not easy. But you may not know it, but you are doing good becacuse you can only give them that emotional support that they need and unfortuntatley you are not meant to like it . A few years ago my sister in law told me her doctor told her she has some depression and her personality made her vulnerable to it. it is true that if you are more if a negative person which she is, you always think of the worse things that can happen b4 the good ones so FORCE yourself to change your pattern of thinking , not the other person. That is what I learnt. If you are doing your best to cope and the others are not happy, well that is NOT your fault. do not feel guilty and think you have to do more etc etc... YOU must look after YOURSELF before you can look after others and we have never been told that in our upbringing, thats why we are having unneccessary stress in our lives. Please keep in touch and let me know how you all are going . I am so glad I found this site.. Thank you......xx

[spirit]

[quote=spirit;619707]Dear all

Thanks for all you replies .nice to hear from you.
I have a mixed bag in the family really. It happened when I was 6 years old and realised my mother was not your average parent. It wasn't till many years later in my young adulthood that I realised she has high fear and anxiety and severe passive aggressive traits , another words they cannot express anger healthily. My 3 younger brothers and myself lived like prisoners in our own home because she was scared of everything and constantly negative. To this day she still tries to control you even though I haven't lived with her for 20 years .Maybe thats why I'm an anxious person as well

12 years ago I witnessed one of my brother in a psychosis at a local hospital and that was when we learnt what Bipolar was. For those of you who have it , do not be intimidated and be blessed of who you are. My brother is doing mentally and physically well despite him being bankrupted (due to his illness). He is supported by his wife and one thing that keeps in going is he has always been a positive person from day 1.


For those like TEOdad who has to live with others, let me say I understand your situation and is not easy. But you may not know it, but you are doing well becacuse you can only give them that emotional support that they need and unfortunatley you are not meant to like it .

A few years ago my sister in law told me her doctor told her she has some depression and her personality made her vulnerable to it. it is true that if you are more if a negative person which she is, you always think of the worse things that can happen b4 the good ones so FORCE yourself to change your pattern of thinking , not the other person. That is what I learnt. If you are doing your best to cope and the others are not happy, well that is NOT your fault. do not feel guilty and think you have to do more etc etc... YOU must look after YOURSELF before you can look after others and we have never been told that in our upbringing, thats why we are having unnecessary stress in our lives. Please keep in touch and let me know how you all are going . I am so glad I found this site..

Thank you......xx

[spirit]

[quote=spirit;619707]Dear all

Thanks for all you replies .nice to hear from you.

I have a mixed bag in the family really. It happened when I was 6 years old and realised my mother was not your average parent. It wasn't till many years later in my young adulthood that she has high fear and anxiety and sever passive aggressive traits , another words they cannot express anger healthily. My 3 younger brothers and myself lived like prisoners in our own home becacuse she was scared of everything and constantly negative. To this day she still tries to control you even though I haven't lived with her for 20 years .Maybe thats why I'm an anxious person as well


12 years ago I witnessed one of my brother in a psychosis at a local hospital and that was when we learnt what Bipolar was. For those of you who have it , do not be intimidated and be blessed of who you are. My brother is doing mentally and physically well depsite him being bankrupted (due to his illness). He is supported by his wife and one thing that keeps in going is he has always been a positive person from day 1. For those like TEOdad who has to live with others, let me say I understand your situation and is not easy. But you may not know it, but you are doing good becacuse you can only give them that emotional support that they need and unfortunatley you are not meant to like it .

A few years ago my sister in law told me her doctor told her she has some depression and her personality made her vulnerable to it. it is true that if you are more of a negative person which she is, you always think of the worse things that can happen b4 the good ones so FORCE yourself to change your pattern of thinking , not the other person. That is what I learnt. If you are doing your best to cope and the others are not happy, well that is NOT your fault. do not feel guilty and think you have to do more etc etc... YOU must look after YOURSELF before you can look after others and we have never been told that in our upbringing, thats why we are having unnecessary stress in our lives. Please keep in touch and let me know how you all are going . I am so glad I found this site..

Thank you......x

[spirit]

I apologise for the spelling errors and for some silly reason cannot amend !!!

[FrankensteinGirls]

I have bipolar disorder among other things such as ADHD

Thankfully I haven't been hospitalized because of it (unless you count the time they gave me lithium and I landed in the hospital with lithium toxicity)
but I do know that it can be almost equally difficult to have bipolar disorder and to live with someone who has these issues, I'm thankful I have such a great support system..Therapist, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, Case manager, Parents/Siblings, fiance. Honestly I feel like I wouldn't have made it this far in life without their help.

[janalee77]

I'm bipolar and so is my oldest son. I also suffer from severe anxiety/phobias. It's very hard to live this way and I find myself fighting for my faith through everything I have to deal with. My husband is supportive and loving, thankfully. I can't describe what I have to go through but it sounds like many of you already understand. This is one of the reasons I looked for a Christian chat, to find others with my beliefs and my problems. Thank you.

[Crimeny]

im curious but do anyone of you guys suffer from just i guess insanity or incoherence at times? i am not sure if this is mania since this happens sometimes

[student]

Hi Crimeny,

I was incoherent at one point. I have been diagnosed with schizophrenia. The symptoms - the banging, voices, messages terrified me until I grew strong in the Word and could get past the evil connotations. In one of these moments ... long moment ... lasted about 5-6 hours or more... I would not speak, drink or eat anything.

Your initial question...How did I cope? The depression that came with this illness is profound as well. I stay in the Word. It's been better...I'm committed to Jesus. I've quit drinking, quit smoking...I've overcome several things in learning to live my life as God wants me to, rather than in the eyes of the world.

Do I still get depressed? You betcha! I'm just overcoming a bout of depression as I write this. Many times it is helpful just to reach out to others. God puts us in their paths for that reason...what helps you, may also help me. God asked me to sing and play my trumpet and read scripture aloud tonight. Finally music is playing and I'm writing on my favorite subject...God and his beautiful mercy and grace.

I'm here if you want to chat.
Student

[janalee77]

I actually have a hard time with my faith because of my fears. One thing I am afraid of is death itself and yet I know that I have no fear because I know where my Savior will take me. It's something I am still working with and if any of you have something you think might help, please tell me ! I really do fight to keep my faith and I feel like if I can just become stronger in my knowledge of God's word then things would really change for me. I started a Bible study on my own but really JUST started that. I've been working with my Daily Bread and get emails for other small studies of the word. I'm raising 5 children and trying to find the time for it all sometimes feels overwhelming. Sorry, just hoping that God will have the right person read this who might be able to give me better insight/advice.