Bipolar Author's Needed!

Manic Depressive Blog Needs You!

I have posted a new announcement in the column to the left. Manic Depressive Blog readers have become involved, posted comments, and shared helpful personal information about coping with bipolar disorder. Thank you all! Now, let's take this community to the next level. Booya!

I would like to bring some additional author's onto this blog. More posts can help more people. You don't need to be a professional writer, you just need to have something to share and contribute. I can give you the instruction that you need regarding posting, etc. Blogging is so easy that even the mentally ill can do it (he-he...a little Bipolar humor).

Also, you don't need to "come out" to do something like this. You can remain anonymous, with your user name as your pen name. Reveal as much or as little about yourself as you like.

If you are interested in volunteering to be an author on the Manic Depressive Blog; being able to post your own stories and articles, please email me.

Cold, Flu & Depression: Does Physical Illness Cause Bipolar Blues?

Another personal entry that I will follow up with a formal article. I just wanted to first find out if any others out there with bipolar get depressed during and after battling an infection, such as cold and flu. This seems to happen to me nearly every time I get an illness that makes me feel physically run down.

I have some theories about why this happens, and will look at the literature, see if there are any studies, and share what I find with you. Although there could be all kinds changes in brain biochemistry during illness that help to bring on depression, to me it seems that I get depressed because I am forced to slow down when ill. Normally, I am over-scheduled and frantic, running from one commitment to the next and complaining of being too busy. But if I ever have time on my hands, I fidget, am uncomfortable and think about the things I should or could be doing. Maybe staying on the move and too busy is a tactic that I use to keep depression at bay?

I called in sick yesterday because of a fever Tuesday night. I have been fever free for more than 24 hours, so am dragging myself back to work tonight to teach, although I still feel lethargic and depressed. Based on past experience, I'll bet you that I come home from work tonight wired, and with the depression banished. That's what teaching, or keeping busy does for me.

Please comment and share your experiences regarding physical illness and depression, or other bipolar symptoms. I will update you on how I feel after getting home tonight, to see if my theory is supported. And, as promised, I will look into the association between physical and mental illness, and post a research article on it within a week or so.

Stay healthy. Stay happy.

Mood-ie-meter

Manic 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 depresseD

Lawyer crap: This blog is for informational purposes only, it is not intended to be used for the treatment of mental illness. If you are having emotional troubles, please see a human mental health professional, not a computer.

Don't Let Your Bipolar Prescription Run Out!

A personal entry today. I made a bipolar rookie's blunder last week and came one pill from running out of Seroquel. No excuse for that one. I get my meds through a mail order, because it is 1/3 the cost of getting the prescription at a brick-and- mortar pharmacy.

If you also get your bipolar medications in this less expensive way, always remember to order far in advance of running out.

What It Took to Get My Rx:

1. I had to first contact my doctor to get a new prescription order.
2. The doctor's office mailed me the written prescription.
3. I then discovered that I had no more mail order forms to send the script in, and had to wait for forms to be sent to me.
4. Then I sent the prescription in to the mail order company and waited for it to be filled and mailed back to me.

This whole scenario took no more than a week and a half (luckily), but it was merely a case of poor planning. And yes, I could have just run the prescription order over the a pharmacy and paid extra, but decided to run the risk of mail order in order to save cash.

Your bipolar medications are vital to your mental health. Use my example as a reminder to always stay on top of your meds and make sure that you have plenty of time to order and receive a new prescription, especially if it is through the mail.

Mood-ie-meter

Manic 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 depresseD

Lawyer crap: This blog is for informational purposes only, it is not intended to be used for the treatment of mental illness. If you are having emotional troubles, please see a human mental health professional, not a computer.

Zoloft Causing Bipolar Mania

Personal entry this time. Since the days are getting shorter and cloudier, I started taking antidepressants on top of the Seroquel to prevent the seasonal depression that often occurs in people bipolar.

I've taken Zoloft (Sertraline Hcl) before, and I don't remember any problems. But this time...Wow! The stuff blasted me off into mania, or at least some pretty intense hypomania. I feel like I just drank two pots of coffee, all the time. Having trouble falling asleep at night, waking up very early in the morning, racing thoughts, pressured speech...classic symptoms. This was just after ONE pill!

The second night that I tried to sleep, after taking Zoloft, I took and extra 1/2 Seroquel (which ususally makes me VERY sleepy, a Advil PM, and nitetime cold medicine. That combo should knowcked me right out. Still couldn't sleep.

The drug did seem to make me feel happier and more social. So even with the sleep problems, I decided to try a 1/2 pill, instead of a whole one. Still feel totally beaned out and hyper. No more Zoloft for me!

Anyone else ever have anything like this happen? I know that antidepressants can induce mania, I've just never has it happen so suddenly and intensely.

Mood-ie-meter

Manic 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 depresseD

Lawyer crap: This blog is for informational purposes only, it is not intended to be used for the treatment of mental illness. If you are having emotional troubles, please see a human mental health professional, not a computer.

Bipolar and Seasonal Affective Disorder

Today's Topic: The Relationship between Bipolar and Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

With the sunlight-scarce months of autumn and winter fast approaching, many bipolar patients are ramping up the dosage on their depression medications. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) effects many manic depressives, and with the added stress of the holidays during winter months, depression is certainly something to be on the lookout for. But antidepressants also pose a risk to those with bipolar; too high a dose can fuel a blast off into mania. How can patients manage these seasonal fluctuations in mood?

To learn more about the latest research on the relationship between SAD and bipolar disorder, see the new article "Tips for Managing Seasonal Depression in Those with Bipolar Disorder"


Mooday

Still doing well. I would like, while feeling stable to try and do a better job managing my additive behavior. The drinking has got to decrease, although, when it comes down to it. I'm not very motivated. Wine every evening. Headache every morning. If any of you have done well managing your addictions, let me know how you did it. Lets start a conversation under the blog entry "Bipolar Disorder and Addiction."

Mood-ie-meter

Manic 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 depresseD

Lawyer crap: This blog is for informational purposes only, it is not intended to be used for the treatment of mental illness. If you are having emotional troubles, please see a human mental health professional, not a computer

Genetics of Bipolar Disorder

Today's Topic: Is Bipolar Hereditary?

There have recently been huge gains in our understanding of the genetics behind development of bipolar disorder. Since 2003, when the Human Genome Project sequenced all of the DNA in the human genome, it is now possible to compare the DNA of those with bipolar disorder to the DNA of those who do not suffer from a mood disorder. The discoveries are just beginning, but perhaps soon we will understand everything about the genetics that contribute to bipolar disorder and other mental illnesses.

See "Genetics of Bipolar Disorder: A Hereditary Mental Illness?"for a brand new article summarizing some of the latest discoveries.

Mooday

Still doing well. Fighting with my husband. I'm not that easy to get along with. Need to work on my communication. Writing is one thing, but actually talking...that can be hard. Still, my mood is pretty stable and well balanced.

Mood-ie-meter

Manic 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 depresseD

Lawyer crap: This blog is for informational purposes only, it is not intended to be used for the treatment of mental illness. If you are having emotional troubles, please see a human mental health professional, not a computer