Mental Health - Illness, Medication and a Prayer
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I have been a Manic Depressive for over 20 years. Lithium and counselling have help me live a normal life.
ILLNESS - Manic Depression / Bipolar Disorder
Manic Depression refers to mood swings from overly "high" - Manic, to overly "low" - Depression. Another name for Manic Depression is Bipolar Disorder. Manic Depression can affect both men and women. It can start at any age, it usually begins in late adolescence. It is found among people of all ages, races, ethnic groups, rich & famous, writers & actors and poets & composers.
Here are some famous people that have Manic depression: Patty Duke - actress, author and mental health advocate; Jean-Claude Van Damme - actor ; Robert Downey, Jr - actor; Mel Gibson - actor & director; Margot Kidder - actress, Lois Lane in Superman; Adam Ant - musician and Catherine Zeta-Jones - actress.
Margaret Trudeau - Canadian celebrity and ex-wife of former Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau. Shes now travels Canada and other countries speaking out against the stigmas on Mental Illness.
SYMPTOMS
Manic - High
Extreme Irritability; Racing Thoughts, Flight of Ideas; Decreased need for Sleep; Poor Judgement; Excessive Energy; Unpredictable Emotional Changes; More creative than usual; talkative; more sociable.
Note: Computer, T.V.& video games on a manic high can be obsessive. I cannot be on a computer with a Manic High: if I am watching music videos on the computer, I will watch them over & over again and lose all track of time.
Depression - Low
Crying Easily; Sleep Problems; Despairing Mood; Feeling of Uselessness; Slow Thinking; Forgetfulness; Loss of Interest in Work, Hobbies, People; Change in Appetite; Excessive Concern about Physical Complaints........Suicidal Thoughts
Note: When a person is in a High or Low Stage: Talk with them; keep them relaxed and call a Doctor. It is a condition that needs to be dealt with by care and compassion.
MEDICATION - Lithium
Lithium is a natural salt. It is one type of medication which helps prevent symptoms.
Does Lithium cure Manic Depression - N0, but it is the most effective way to control it. There is presently no cure for this illness and it remains a mystery. For a person suffering from this illness Lithium may help in two ways:
1 - Lithium can help a person out of a state of manic back to a normal state.
2 - Lithium can help prevent episodes of manic and depression from recurring.
If a person stops taking their lithium, these episode are likely to recur.
Controlling rather than curing a disorder with a specific drug is actually a common practice. A well known example is the use of insulin to control certain forms of diabetes. It helps control symptoms so that the diabetic person can live a more normal life - if insulin is stopped, symptoms of the illness will reappear.
Regular Blood tests are an important part of lithium treatment. If you do not take enough lithium, it will not be effective. Too much lithium will take have variety of side effects such as vomiting, slurred speech, drowsiness, diarrhea, trembling and muscle weakness. In this event one must call a Doctor.
A well balanced diet is usually enough to maintain normal salt levels in the body. Drinking the normally recommended 6-8 glasses of water a day continue to hold true for a person on lithium, moderate amounts of coffee and tea.
While lithium helps prevent symptoms of the illness, life problems unrelated to Manic Depression can be helped by a Counselor. Note: Australian psychiatrist John Cade, published the first paper on the use of Lithium for Manic Depression in 1949. 1957 - Danish psychiatrist Mogens Schou campaigned to bring Lithium to World Attention. 1970 - Lithium started to become more firmly established as an effective treatment.
PRAYER
A Prayer is admitting our needs or hopes with God. When I have down days, I have my medication to help me. The Serenity Prayer gives me hope and comfort.
God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can and the Wisdom to know the difference.
Below: The Serenity Prayer and a photo that I took on a 2 week trip to Switzerland.
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Hi! Tarheel
Thank you for your nice comment. I have had alot happen in my life: I was a single mom for a few years and raising 2 great children, my son accident and Manic Depression. I have used the serenity prayer for many years. Canook
Hi angie, thanks for sharing this, i will keep you in my prayers and thoughts so that you may have more better days than bad ones !
Be well and take care
Hi! Kashmir56
Thank you for the nice comment and prayers. Trusting that the Lord will make all things right, I may live a happy life. Angie
I am truely touched by your HUB today. I want to help in a small way. In that you keep a scrapbook, I have a diary that will be published later this year. It may help you. IF you want it sent to you in email, you could use it for inspiration. You would be first ever to view it. It's based upon the novel "Seeds from Heaven" You do not need to do this--it is a hand reaching out to you.
Hi! Reynold
Thanks for you nice comment and support. Angie
I didn't hardly know anything about lithium treatment, thanks for the education.
Hi! Phil I have been on Lithium for 20 years and I live a good life. Thank you for your nice comment. Angie
God Bless You! Thank you for sharing your situation. I will pray for you to be comforted and healed.
James
Hi! James Thank you for your nice comment and prayers. Angie
Hi Angie! May your courage and spirit lead you to happiness as you manage your health and your family. With great respect, please allow me to contribute to your informative Hub on a serious issue, in layman’s fashion, if I may (and please excuse my verbiage).
I believe most people do periodically experience similar symptoms normally ascribed to a Manic Depressive condition, albeit less pervasive and intense. It is no doubt difficult to be at ease during these times. Prudently, the condition must be taken seriously, and treated pragmatically. Without proper diagnosis and treatment, Manic Depression and other Mood Disorders can ravage the psyche and well-being of its hosts. An educated and caring support group can help the ones who intermittently but regularly suffer from its symptoms. With your Doctor’s knowledge, prescription and advice, a thorough and careful “holistic” approach is probably best, in my opinion. You seem to be doing just that, as I can glean from you various Hubs.
I have not been diagnosed with Manic Depression, but I do have relations with someone suffering a “Personality Disorder”. Having said that, here is what I have discovered is helpful in managing times of “inordinate distress” (including my own):
When things get too fast and furious, or when things get too slow and melancholic, some may suggest a “more concentrated” search for, acknowledgement, and counting of “our blessings”. Other times we may receive advice to retreat, retrench, and “harness our emotions”.
I have considered these moments this way:
- Sometimes we may comfort ourselves with all the blessings we have, occupying our thoughts for the moment, like a child sometimes can be comforted from the absence of a parent by playing with his gifted toys in a warm dry house. This is the comparative approach, i.e.: Ok. We’re not as bad off as we could be … look at the ones in worse shape - I should be thankful. We are encouraged to count ourselves lucky and blessed. Our “comfort” is then basically imagined, or specifically “directed” into our conscience. For a time we don’t focus on what we are lacking (for instance, peace) - we see all that we have but, we don’t see or feel what we are searching for (Divine assistance) - I see stuff, but … WHERE is HE??
- Other times we may be inclined to “blame ourselves” for being ill-at-ease (notwithstanding our accountability, if any), and correspondingly treat our symptoms with the “chore” of reorganizing our thoughts - metaphorically "cleaning house" - If I do this, then that will happen, but … WHERE is HE??
As difficult as it may sound in one’s moments of “dis”-ease, I believe (and have found during my own bouts of less-intense symptoms) that meditation - and especially prayer - is a tremendous and beneficial technique to find relief. Noting that I am not medically educated, any type of a guru of meditation techniques, nor a theologian by any means, I have nevertheless found truth and great efficacy in the scripture “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalms 46: 10).
By meditating and communing with God (and not just in times of distress) we are not frantically searching for comfort and blessings, nor are we “manning-up” and forcing ourselves to come down a notch … we are simply surrendering to the solitude and reality of our selves, and in doing so I believe we naturally, and “gently” come into God’s good graces, even if it is still a conscious effort.
The venerable Serenity Prayer is also a great stabilizer; I am glad you have included it in this informative Hub; no doubt, it is a treasured part of your scrapbook. All the best, Angie! Peace and good tidings.
Hi! Timothy
Good to hear from you. The past few days I have been away.
Thank you for reading my story and I enjoyed reading your comment.
When I am on a Manic high, I am very sick..when I am fine..I live a normal life. I believe in God and go to church every Sunday.
Peace and good tidings to you. Hub Friend Angie
Hi Angie! Glad you know how to manage your illness. Be patient all the time and you will go through with it everytime. I see you have a dog. Having a dog is a blessing. Dogs are good companion and cares a lot a 100x more than what you give. Hope you enjoy every minute you spend with your dog. Regards.
Hi! carolp I have good days and bad days but my friends, family and my pets keep me busy. Hupbages has help to - reading and writing stories. I agree with you, dogs are the best..Marsha is my companion. Thank you for the nice comment. Regards Angie P.S.The photo with the Serenity prayer, I took in Switzerland :-)
Alastar Packer Level 8 Commenter 11 months ago
Oh, Canook, your a very brave lady & have my admiration for all you've been through. I know, there's a half- sister that's Manic-Depressive & I've seen it in others. My heart is with you & I'm glad you put the serenity prayer on here, it has great power. Tarheel.