Medication Management

Whether you have just two or five meds, like me, managing your medication can be difficult.
Memory problems can affect anyone who is not familiar with a regular routine of taking medication. Even when we have been doing it for years it can be easy to forget.

In addition to remembering to take the medication, the timely phone call to the pharmacist for a renewal is also necessary. If I try to be efficient and go too early I am told I am not aloud my medication, per insurance policy.
(God forbid you loose any or take any extra in one month)
If I wait too long, I risk the doctor not receiving the faxed order and running out of medication.

Ahh, it is all a tricky game with the the drug lords.


tags
[Bipolar Disorder]
[Bipolar Medication]

Resolving to Live with the Storms and Stars

There is a place of cathartic peace I found when I decided to resolve to live with Bipolar Disorder and my mercurial life.

Resolve:
1. to come to a definite or earnest decision about; determine (to do something).
2. to separate into constituent or elementary parts; break up; cause or disintegrate.
3. to reduce by mental analysis.
4. to deal with (a question, a matter of uncertainty, etc.) conclusively; settle; solve.
5. to clear away or dispel (doubts, fears, etc.); answer.

I no longer find myself searching for ghosts in the closets as the cause of symptoms for my illness. I know what causes my mania, my rage, and the debilitating depression that can follow- my illness.

This is not to say I am settling to live a lesser life style.
On the contrary, the awareness provides the foundation for growing with the illness and learning each day how to make the next better.
My medication, my doctors, my desire to learn, and the tools I have gained over the years have kept me alive.

It takes my spirit and continued awareness too keep up with the Bipolar Continuum.

I long ago abandoned the notion of a life without storms, or a world without dry killing seasons.
Kay Redfield Jamison
An Unquiet Mind





tags
[Bipolar Disorder]
[Bipolar Symptoms]

The Masks of Mental Illness

NAMI's Metropolitan Baltimore Chapter held a fundraiser at the Jim Rouse Visionary Center American Visionary Art Museum, The Many Faces of Mental Illness Mask Project.

This article in the Baltimore Sun, by Sloane Brown, reported that masks created by artists and professionals were on display at the fundraising masquerade party. The masks represent each artist, business person, health professional or member of the community's thoughts on mental illness.

Derek Savage, NAMI board chair, is quoted to say,
"A lot of people are blown away by the mask display, I don't think they've thought about mental illness and its effect on the people involved. This gives you better insight, a better understanding."

Kudos to NAMI of Metropolitan Baltimore for a fantastic idea. It is only when cities and counties take mental health care seriously at a local level that any reform will even begin to show.

I sure would like to see these masks, but I searched to no avail.


tags
[Mental Illness]
[NAMI]

Life Triggers

Trigger Factor

There are triggers I try to avoid on a daily basis, things that can alter my moods or state of mind. It is my responsibility in life to do this. Each one of us have to learn what things trigger our Bipolar Symptom's.

The strongest symptom for me is my Bipolar rage. The medication and the behavior changes I have learned help. This rage, sometimes an unexpected blink of an eye, is the trigger I have to watch out for.

Then there are the life moments that we just can not avoid, because it is life. These can be anywhere from financial issues, job loss, health problems, family problems, to death. A standard form in a psychologist office asks a patient to check off what type of events have occurred in the past twelve months. Some of the above events are usually considered the top ten most stressful in a persons life. Experiencing more one or more can be traumatic for the average Josephine, let alone someone who needs to be avoiding all stress or traumatic situations.

So what do you do to prepare, if there is no time because you are thrown a curve ball?
I have to be prepared ahead of time, a disaster plan if you will. A plan that includes calling the doctor right away, discussing anticipating a crash in moods.
This also includes being very open and honest with my family about what my limitations are.

In these times it is easy to set my expectations for my self too high. This is a set up only to crash in a very untimely situation. Or to have a manic rage in an embarrassing public moment.

There was a time when I thought I had to avoid situations, like funerals, because of the trigger factor. I have learned now how to deal with the family, the people, in smaller doses; to lower my expectations. I have learned how and now I know it is risky, but I can handle it.

Life happens, and we can not avoid all the storms...just be ready for them.

tags
[Bipolar Disorder]
[Bipolar Triggers]
[Bipolar Rage]

Mind Over Matter (Body Rather)

Which would you choose, a healthy body or a healthy mind?

I was asked this question once in an email survey of sorts. Other people that I knew responded and not one wanted to loose their mind.

I found this interesting.

I do not know if it would be the general, mentally healthy, person's answer.
I am guessing yes.
So many are afraid of loosing their mind.


tags
[Bipolar Disorder]

Walking with Fire

Hypo-mania can be a friendly visitor, if not destructive.

Taking advantage of a fiery energy to produce, create, and get things done is so easy, and sometimes not too harmful. (Not to mention an earful of annoyance to my husband.)

Far too often this fire burns me out or there is some other terrible consequence.
I have learned to not let this yummy fun get out of control without at least making mention to my doctor.

Gosh darn, it takes self-control though.


tags
[Bipolar Disorder]
[hypo-mania]