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Bipolar Disorder

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Pepe
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26 Nov 2020, 12:55 am

HighVamp913 wrote:
Yeah ik, but I have sweet tooth. I usually go straight to chocolate (caffeine). I'm trying to switch the sweet tooth to something like apples. I doubt it will work but still gotta try.


It is hard, IK.

I used to lust over Pepsi.
I still have an open 2-litre bottle in the fridge that has been sitting there for more than a month.
I can't bring myself to tip it down the sink. 8O

And I have 2 massive blocks of chocolate that have been in the cupboard, for the same amount of time.
I'm literally too scared to open it because of the emotional consequences.

I virtually went kold turkey when I gave up caffeine. 8)
I do cheat, every now and then, but it is one of those small chocolate bars that don't have sold chocolate. :mrgreen:

Sugar is bad too, but I guess you can equate it with methadone to help wean you off caffeine "amphetamines".
After the sugar high, you can get a depressive low, I have read, however.
So, you want to get off that too.

I gave up coffee altogether, even decaf, and drink milk instead, since it is almost summer, here.
I must have saved around 400 spoons of sugar, in a month, because of that. 8O
That helps weight loss/maintanence, also. 8)



Pepe
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26 Nov 2020, 1:03 am

HighVamp913 wrote:
Yeah ik, but I have sweet tooth. I usually go straight to chocolate (caffeine). I'm trying to switch the sweet tooth to something like apples. I doubt it will work but still gotta try.


Try "candy" bars that have less chocolate in them.
If you can handle the taste, go for sugar-free chocolate bars with only small amounts of chocolate.
Not something I do, but I wish I could.

Or get rid of chocolate altogether and have different types of confectionery.
What non-chocolate "candy" bars do you like, btw?
I like "Milk bottles", but can't find them any more.

Also, instead of chocolate, I enjoy apple turnovers and custard tarts.
Lots of alternatives to caffeine-infused foods. 8)



Redd_Kross
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26 Nov 2020, 1:36 am

Pepe wrote:
So even with meds, he still gets the manic/depressive cycle.
But it only becomes a problem if he stops taking them.
Interesting.


Yes he'll go through phases of being a little up or down, but within reasonably normal parameters. However major stress or stopping the meds has an avalanche effect, whereby day-to-day minor inputs suddenly cause disproportionate actions/reactions and it escalates from there. There's a point of no return where it kind of starts feeding itself, if that makes sense?

My main point there was, we're used to taking extra care of ourselves when we feel rubbish. Bipolar is tricky because it lures you into false confidence when you're feeling good. "You don't need the meds, they slow you down, dull your senses, keep you trapped." I've got Type 1 Diabetes and I sometimes get a little energy rush when I'm on the verge of hypoglycaemia. I'd imagine that feeling x100 is an alluring, permanent temptation, but of course it has life-wrecking potential. Quit your job, hit the credit cards....

The whole point of the various treatments and self-help exercises is to tread a middle path. So a big clue is if EVERYTHING suddenly feels either terrible or fantastic. I guess that's why meditation is so important - it's a chance to step back and think, how am I really feeling? And is that appropriate? And exercise is a way of burning off both negativity and excess energy, as well as being another chance to focus and reflect.



HighVamp913
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26 Nov 2020, 3:25 am

I love sour gummys. Things like sour patch kids, hairibo twin gummy snakes, and Mike & Ike.


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Pepe
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26 Nov 2020, 3:34 am

HighVamp913 wrote:
I love sour gummys. Things like sour patch kids, hairibo twin gummy snakes, and Mike & Ike.


Sounds good.
If you can substitute that, rather than have caffeinated products, you are probably better off. :wink:



HighVamp913
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26 Nov 2020, 4:01 am

I have one question. How am I supposed to recognize when mania is approaching. I mean I can guess but that's about it. I won't "fully know" until it hits me smack dab in the face.


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HighVamp913
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26 Nov 2020, 4:10 am

Red_Kross I can relate to the animal thing. I try and stay healthy so I can keep working with them.


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Pepe
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26 Nov 2020, 6:26 am

HighVamp913 wrote:
I have one question. How am I supposed to recognize when mania is approaching. I mean I can guess but that's about it. I won't "fully know" until it hits me smack dab in the face.


Asking people around you to keep an eye on you, if you are getting manic, might help.
I can tell when my friend, who has bipolar, is getting over-excited.

We are assuming you have bipolar.
From what you said it might be the case, but you need to have that professionally diagnosed.
Then you might be prescribed medication to help with your mood swings.
I don't know who you can approach, with that, but maybe your parents can find out, or your doctor would probably be a better bet?

BTW, did you to the bipolar test?
https://www.mind-diagnostics.org/bipolar_disorder-test



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26 Nov 2020, 6:37 am

Redd_Kross wrote:
The whole point of the various treatments and self-help exercises is to tread a middle path. So a big clue is if EVERYTHING suddenly feels either terrible or fantastic. I guess that's why meditation is so important - it's a chance to step back and think, how am I really feeling? And is that appropriate? And exercise is a way of burning off both negativity and excess energy, as well as being another chance to focus and reflect.


I don't get major mood swings, now that I am off caffeine, but I still prefer "to keep an even keel".



HighVamp913
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26 Nov 2020, 9:44 am

I can't take the test today because family coming over. No electronics today. This device the link doesn't work. :(


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26 Nov 2020, 3:58 pm

HighVamp913 wrote:
I can't take the test today because family coming over. No electronics today. This device the link doesn't work. :(


I'd be interested in seeing your score, once you have the opportunity. 8)



Redd_Kross
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26 Nov 2020, 4:52 pm

HighVamp913 wrote:
I have one question. How am I supposed to recognize when mania is approaching. I mean I can guess but that's about it. I won't "fully know" until it hits me smack dab in the face.


Keeping a diary journal is a good start. Allow yourself 30 minutes to be calm and still, and contemplate where you think you are in the world, then write that down. Firstly because it forces you to stop and think "How am I, actually?". Secondly because if you then flick back across the previous few weeks (maybe longer) you will see trends emerging. If you want to get really geeky about it you could give yourself an up and down score every day and chart them :-) You'd expect most days to have good points and bad ones. If everything you write is highly emotive and all one way - either TERRIBLE or AMAZING - then something is up. If you're constantly writing about the same thing, that's also a clue. And if you're too down or too preoccupied to write at all, that's a major warning sign.

This is also good advice for dealing with the ups and downs of autism, for example interests getting a bit too obsessive, or spotting a burnout coming.



HighVamp913
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26 Nov 2020, 10:32 pm

Ok Red_Kross I will start a journal.

And Pepe I will try to do the quiz tomorrow if Im not grounded.


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HighVamp913
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28 Nov 2020, 6:13 pm

Pepe that website doesnt seem to work on this device, but this one does.

Check it out and tell me what you think-

https://screening.mhanational.org/scree ... ls/bipolar


:)


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HighVamp913
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28 Nov 2020, 6:19 pm

Or this one

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/test ... ssion-test


^5-8 minutes


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Pepe
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28 Nov 2020, 6:27 pm

HighVamp913 wrote:
Pepe that website doesnt seem to work on this device, but this one does.

Check it out and tell me what you think-

https://screening.mhanational.org/scree ... ls/bipolar


:)


The funny thing with this test is I answered some questions as though I had a snoot full of caffeine, but *still* didn't get a bipolar rating. I got a 7.
Without caffeine, I think my score would be around 5.

So, I am not bipolar, for sure.

What was your score?