A Series on Mental Health... part 1

Due to several incidents over the last month -- personal experience, issues loved ones are going through and issues with loved ones-- I have been musing over doing a post about my experiences with Depression and Mental Health issues. But the more I have thought about it the more I realize that it would most likely take up far too much space for one post. So, this is the first in a series... not sure when the next part will appear but I am pretty sure it will be at least 3 parts.

This particular post is coming out of the realization that I have not been giving my husband enough credit. As most, if not all of you know, A struggles with bipolar disorder. It has been an incredibly frustrating, heartbreaking and mindnumbing experience coming to terms with and trying to get his condition treated properly. I have often made posts about the frustration and the worry that it has caused.

What I have not mentioned nearly often enough is the progress that he has made against this very difficult disease. I have read that it can take up to 8 years for a bipolar patient to be properly diagnosed and treated. We are just over 3 years and we are getting pretty close to being on stable footing. There have been many weeks in the last 6 months where he was very close to his old self, despite the stress of not having a job.

He has worked very hard to try and recognize the moments when he is being manic and do something about it. He has done a lot to try a prevent depression episodes from getting really bad. Medication was a particular trial and it took a lot to find the right ones to help the problem. This issue being made worse by the negative reputation many bipolar meds have. But he stuck with it and he found a therapist that he could do some good work with to bring about change.

The man that is my husband has been around a lot more along with a new vitality and sense of self that wasn't there before. He is more adventerous and outgoing than he had been before. And more interested in trying new things. His creative side, that had lain dormant for many years has returned in his photography, his web work, candle-making and his poi.

All is not perfect--there are still moments when depression especially will take over, but given the circumstances we are under right now, that is certainly understandable. And I am sure that there will be many more moments where I will want to tear my hair out. But the important thing here is that he is making progress. Slowly, steadily, he is learning to keep himself safe and whole. There are many people out there with these kinds of issues who will not even recognize there is a problem, nevermind doing anything about it. It is much easier to say that "I am right and the rest of the world is screwed up". I am very glad to say that my husband is not the kind to just sit in denial. Instead he has been getting up and doing something about it.

Additional posts will be about my own personal experiences, both in dealing with my own depression and in living with his issues. Feel free to share your own experience, ask questions, make comments. I will also include links on the subjects discussed.

Bipolar Disease:

www.DBSAlliance.org
www.manicdepressive.org
http://www.nami.org/template.cfm?section=bipolar_disorder
http://www.nmha.org/infoctr/factsheets/76.cfm

A Series on Mental Health... part 1

Due to several incidents over the last month -- personal experience, issues loved ones are going through and issues with loved ones-- I have been musing over doing a post about my experiences with Depression and Mental Health issues. But the more I have thought about it the more I realize that it would most likely take up far too much space for one post. So, this is the first in a series... not sure when the next part will appear but I am pretty sure it will be at least 3 parts.

This particular post is coming out of the realization that I have not been giving my husband enough credit. As most, if not all of you know, A struggles with bipolar disorder. It has been an incredibly frustrating, heartbreaking and mindnumbing experience coming to terms with and trying to get his condition treated properly. I have often made posts about the frustration and the worry that it has caused.

What I have not mentioned nearly often enough is the progress that he has made against this very difficult disease. I have read that it can take up to 8 years for a bipolar patient to be properly diagnosed and treated. We are just over 3 years and we are getting pretty close to being on stable footing. There have been many weeks in the last 6 months where he was very close to his old self, despite the stress of not having a job.

He has worked very hard to try and recognize the moments when he is being manic and do something about it. He has done a lot to try a prevent depression episodes from getting really bad. Medication was a particular trial and it took a lot to find the right ones to help the problem. This issue being made worse by the negative reputation many bipolar meds have. But he stuck with it and he found a therapist that he could do some good work with to bring about change.

The man that is my husband has been around a lot more along with a new vitality and sense of self that wasn't there before. He is more adventerous and outgoing than he had been before. And more interested in trying new things. His creative side, that had lain dormant for many years has returned in his photography, his web work, candle-making and his poi.

All is not perfect--there are still moments when depression especially will take over, but given the circumstances we are under right now, that is certainly understandable. And I am sure that there will be many more moments where I will want to tear my hair out. But the important thing here is that he is making progress. Slowly, steadily, he is learning to keep himself safe and whole. There are many people out there with these kinds of issues who will not even recognize there is a problem, nevermind doing anything about it. It is much easier to say that "I am right and the rest of the world is screwed up". I am very glad to say that my husband is not the kind to just sit in denial. Instead he has been getting up and doing something about it.

Additional posts will be about my own personal experiences, both in dealing with my own depression and in living with his issues. Feel free to share your own experience, ask questions, make comments. I will also include links on the subjects discussed.

Bipolar Disease:

www.DBSAlliance.org
www.manicdepressive.org
http://www.nami.org/template.cfm?section=bipolar_disorder
http://www.nmha.org/infoctr/factsheets/76.cfm