I was also manic, a.k.a. bipolar. It has been in my experience that people are very unaware of mental illness and its many disorders and forms. The very words mental illness provokes fear and confusion in the minds of many. I think the best way to clear the "stigma" of bipolar disorder is to educate people and talk with them about it. I want to raise awareness of it and to tell my side of the story. Some of you know and some of you have no idea that I live with this illness everyday. It's not curable, but it is treatable. Bipolar disorder is an illness of the brain which also affects the body and nervous system. Certain chemicals are out of whack, or imbalanced which creates an extreme change of moods. From the extreme high known as mania, to the extreme low severe depression. In a manic mood you could believe you could change the world, and have the energy and confidence to do so. Other symptoms include: delusions, hallucinations, sleepless nights, frantic activities, racing thoughts, pressured speech, inappropriate behavior, and having the belief that one has super powers. The total opposite of being manic is being severly depressed. Where you have no energy, you may have suicidal thoughts, and you can't get motivated to get out of bed for days or weeks. No matter how much you want to do things it's almost impossible sometimes because of the imbalance in the brain. This is a reality for me and the countless others with have this condition. Three out of a hundred adults supposedly have bipolar disorder, which means over two million americans. Bipolar doesn't discriminate either. It affects every race, gender, and religion in all occupations. No one really knows yet what causes this imbalance in brain chemistry. The factors involved though are family history and stress which drives this illness. It is nobody's fault! I've heard people chalk it up to having too much caffeine, worse that I just need to make better decisions, and the worst that God is punishing those who have it. What a load of crap! Fortunately there's help, with the proper medication and treatment you can get back on your feet and live a happy, productive life. There's always hope. Bipolar disorder is a bitch, but I've learned to accept it and I'm unashamed. This is my story...
I thought I was a prophet...appointed by God to tell everyone that the world was ending. I couldn't keep my mouth shut for anything or anybody. I was a man on a mission to spread the word that Christ would soon return and that the end times were finally here. What else could it possibly be? Little did I know that it was just my world being turned upside down and that my life was in chaos. I was 17 and my brain was getting very sick. I couldn't tell the difference between what was real and what wasn't anymore. What I saw with my eyes, what I heard with my ears, who was my friend and who was my enemy. I felt higher and better than I ever felt before. My confidence was through the roof. I was closer to God than I've ever been, and I didn't need to sleep much anymore. Yet I was terrified beyond my wildest imagination, literally. I was delusional...
I was also manic, a.k.a. bipolar. It has been in my experience that people are very unaware of mental illness and its many disorders and forms. The very words mental illness provokes fear and confusion in the minds of many. I think the best way to clear the "stigma" of bipolar disorder is to educate people and talk with them about it. I want to raise awareness of it and to tell my side of the story. Some of you know and some of you have no idea that I live with this illness everyday. It's not curable, but it is treatable. Bipolar disorder is an illness of the brain which also affects the body and nervous system. Certain chemicals are out of whack, or imbalanced which creates an extreme change of moods. From the extreme high known as mania, to the extreme low severe depression. In a manic mood you could believe you could change the world, and have the energy and confidence to do so. Other symptoms include: delusions, hallucinations, sleepless nights, frantic activities, racing thoughts, pressured speech, inappropriate behavior, and having the belief that one has super powers. The total opposite of being manic is being severly depressed. Where you have no energy, you may have suicidal thoughts, and you can't get motivated to get out of bed for days or weeks. No matter how much you want to do things it's almost impossible sometimes because of the imbalance in the brain. This is a reality for me and the countless others with have this condition. Three out of a hundred adults supposedly have bipolar disorder, which means over two million americans. Bipolar doesn't discriminate either. It affects every race, gender, and religion in all occupations. No one really knows yet what causes this imbalance in brain chemistry. The factors involved though are family history and stress which drives this illness. It is nobody's fault! I've heard people chalk it up to having too much caffeine, worse that I just need to make better decisions, and the worst that God is punishing those who have it. What a load of crap! Fortunately there's help, with the proper medication and treatment you can get back on your feet and live a happy, productive life. There's always hope. Bipolar disorder is a bitch, but I've learned to accept it and I'm unashamed. This is my story...
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AuthorI was diagnosed bipolar 1 in March of 2005. It's been a challenge to say the least to live with this disorder everyday. There has been some major ups as well as downs. It's just something I have to deal with. Everyone has their own problems and struggles to sort out and this is just one of mine. I'm not asking for anybody to feel sorry for me. I just want to educate those who don't know much about it, and if it helps out somebody along the way even better. Archives
May 2017
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