What are /r/bipolar's favorite Products & Services?

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The Choice is a book by a survivor of the holocaust. She tells her story of how to overcome trauma to live fully again.She’s also a trained psychiatrist.

It has helped me start living again.

The audiobook is in her voice and is highly recommend it.

I hope you can live fully again

https://www.amazon.com/Choice-Dr-Edith-Eva-Eger/dp/1501130781/ref=nodl_

I got this one on Amazon. It’s a pretty good price and has good reviews!

Another thing I like is the containers are deep, so it can fit quite a bit in them. My fish oils and vitamins are pretty big in size, and they’ll fit in there well!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B088K5YND8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_D25F1X12AC554R7HQPQK?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

IMO get one heavier than suggested weight. I feel there has to be a correlation between it being heavier = more comfort. I should have gotten a 10 I think but I got a 17 and could honestly upgrade more but enjoy the weight. Also I got a “glass beaded one” because I sleep hot as hell and can only sleep when I’m cool it helps not getting too warm. I hate hate hate Amazon but bought this boy in 2019 and still have it so here is the link https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BHFDJBQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glc_fabc_cLtbGb1213Z8W

I cannot vouch enough, it’s a whole new world of comfort and sleep.

Assortative mating in the affective disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis (2001)

Assortative mating is the observed tendency for organisms with similar traits to mate. It happens in humans and animals. It shows up with respect to all sorts of ordinary biological traits (skin pigmentation, body size), but it also shows up across psychopathology, including bipolar. To the best of my knowledge there is no more recent review of the subject than this 2001 paper.

I would do it and then bring the things to my partner and talk about it

The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook: Practical DBT Exercises for Learning Mindfulness, Interpersonal Effectiveness, Emotion Regulation, ... (A New Harbinger Self-Help Workbook) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1684034582/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_10R20FYHY2EAF0JHV6RF

Anti-psychotics in particular have a horrid reputation. I've read Schizophrenics who take them are more likely to die then those who do not and more likely to commit suicide. The purpose of psychiatric medication is to alleviate symptoms so people can function, not to make you "healthy". Though, detrimental health effects are a side-effect to be minimized.

A good book which covers a lot of this is:

https://www.amazon.com/Mania-History-Bipolar-Disorder-Biographies/dp/1421403978

The alcohol and drugs interfere with your medications, making it so they don’t work. Just taking your meds and not self-medicating will make a tremendous difference if you stick with it. What you eat also plays a role. This book was life-changing for me, in addition to working with my psychiatrist to find the right combo of meds.

https://smile.amazon.com/dp/0446697613/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_J59K5BE12SZ3VD2NVXAF

Absolutely! I have this happen regularly. I believe it is referred to as a "mixed episode".

Here is a link on webmd with some info but be sure to talk to your therapist about it.

https://www.webmd.com/bipolar-disorder/guide/mixed-bipolar-disorder#1

I used to have it waaaay worse than I do now. Yelling at my family over nothing, explosive relationships, hating people to death just for their knee touching mine on the bus.

Honestly, mindfulness is the way forward. It will feel hard and frustrating and stupid sometimes and your brain will rebel like crazy because you’ve had a lifetime to reinforce the feedback loops in your brain for rage. It’s now your go-to reaction and it won’t want to be replaced. But slowly and surely, you can atrophy that useless muscle while you bulk up more helpful ones.

One thing that helps is just focusing on five slow, deep breaths. Stick with me here. It sounds cheesy, yeah, but it helps a lot. Four seconds breathing in, make your belly puff out so your lungs are totally full. Five seconds breathing out. Repeat.

Another trick, don’t judge the feelings as good or bad, just notice everything your body is feeling when you’re mad. Observe scientifically. “Oh, my chest feels really warm. Hey, I can hear my pulse in my ears. Look, my hands are clenched. Isn’t that interesting?” Even play around with different (legal, non-destructive) movements and see if they increase or decrease your rage.

If you’re ready for it, Headspace has awesome guided mindfulness meditation exercises that I have been using and they’ve been helping. It’s a sloooow process, but like any workout, you get better little by little the more you practice.

Good luck. You’re stronger than you realize and I believe in you.

I have the Verilux. Its basically a lamp that provides a light similar to sunlight. The only worry is mania, but Im more depressed than manic so it hasnt been an issue for me.

I do about 30 min when I do it and sometimes a bit on the lower setting if Im dragging in the afternoon. It's on amazon. This is the kind I have link here

WebMD says ibuprofen, but I'd never heard of that before.

NSAIDs (Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) interacts with LITHIUM NSAIDs are anti-inflammatory medications used for decreasing pain and swelling. NSAIDs might increase lithium levels in the body. Taking lithium along with NSAIDs might increase the risk of lithium side effects. Avoid taking lithium supplements and NSAIDs at the same time. Some NSAIDs include ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, Nuprin, others), indomethacin (Indocin), naproxen (Aleve, Anaprox, Naprelan, Naprosyn), piroxicam (Feldene), aspirin, and others.

Source

Thank you! I'm using GIMP, I've been using it on and off the past two months or so. This depressive spell really has me in a bind so I'm trying to channel that energy into something more productive / fun.

We're time bombs that's true, but with time the bomb becomes smaller and the explosion manageable.

Meds are important of course - Ever considered using an app to remind you take them? I use Medisafe; alongside the usual alarms, you can set up a "medifriend" who'll get a notification if you don't register you took your meds on time. It has some other useful features as well.

Hang in there and try to be as constant with everything in your life as possible, specially meds.

Your post made me think of Man's Search for Meaning, by Viktor Frankl. A fantastic book, if you haven't read it before. Maybe this excerpt will be helpful to you:

>What was really needed was a fundamental change in our attitude toward life. We had to learn ourselves and, furthermore, we had to teach the despairing men, that it did not really matter what we expected from life, but rather what life expected from us. We needed to stop asking about the meaning of life, and instead think of ourselves as those who were being questioned by life—daily and hourly. Our question must consist, not in talk and meditation, but in right action and in right conduct. Life ultimately means taking the responsibility to find the right answer to its problems and to fulfill the tasks which it constantly sets for each individual.

oh.... i did this survey and never shared the results... sorry...

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B0Gmq6c-aeWvMk5Tck1sTEd1OUk/edit?pli=1#

i didn't know how to share that data corectly with google docs. if someone is a spreadsheet wizzard, i would love to have some help. i tried doing some stuff on the 2nd sheet. but lost interest from frustration. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AkGmq6c-aeWvdEJGTWNQZVlSTU9OOTFrYmVtTHRlU1E

anyone is welcome to massage that data.

I use the Optimism app on my iphone. I love it to pieces, and it made my doctor really happy when I showed it to her. Haven't tried anything else. Optimism also has a flash based version on their website that syncs with the iphone. Everything they offer is free.

http://www.findingoptimism.com

(They have a mac app too, but syncing it seems to eat data so I stopped using it.)

This is what I got myself. It's fairly basic, but I like that it's a start to finish guide. It states what symptoms are, how they can differ, and has different exercises. You can go chronologically or jump to sections that may apply. I think if you go into this with proper support, it can be done. I really enjoyed the time I felt stable without meds. It was a nice timeframe. I just didn't apply myself to working on myself because I no longer had the crutch of medications to keep me steady when I hit rough waters.

Resources and a support system are fundamental, on or off medication, so just try to maintain that. It's a personal choice. It may not be a forever thing, but if you're educated and don't jump blindly into it, I think it has benefits. However, be honest to those who need to know. Because they will be the voice of reason if you do need to have a come to Jesus moment.

Even questioning it and taking time to listen to others with other inputs is a healthy sign. Just make sure to take care of yourself mentally. Make the time to use your mood app, and maybe consider writing in the notes of it like a daily journal or start a journal, even if you just write a few sentences. Treat it like an accountable way to state why your mood isn't the best because I find that helps me to see the patterns more than just, "I only watched TV and worked today, no wonder I'm down."

Normal life Is boring. Lots of meal preparation, routine tasks at work, exercise programs etc. This is responsibility and stability which will lead to strong relationships with the people you love which will give you long term happiness.

There are times of fun and excitement but mostly happy, healthy people just learn to mindfully enjoy the mundane. I know I am restating the words of AmNotLost, but it can't be said enough. This is my goal.

I accept it through learning more about mindfulness. There is a good book called Wherever You Go, There You Are by Jon Kabat-Zinn. It is not all that spiritual. He draws from the teachings of Buddha, but is mostly secular. a very helpful book.

oh you can take the survey here if you missed it the first time: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dEJGTWNQZVlSTU9OOTFrYmVtTHRlU1E6MQ#gid=0

and like i said, if someone can tell me an easier way to show the results, i'd be very happy. the pdf above is a view that i can't seem to share. and it prints out all wrong. :( arghh!!

Install AdwCleaner.

http://download.cnet.com/AdwCleaner/3000-7786_4-75851221.html

Run it and delete the AdWare. Also, uninstall McAfee firewall and anti-virus, and install something like Avast or free Avira version. Avira is better in my opinion - it managed to detect my keylogger, while Avast failed to do so. Its virus signatures tend to get updated faster.

Also, run a scan with SpyBot: Search and Destroy to delete the potential malware that you could've gotten as a result of unprotected surfing:

http://download.cnet.com/Spybot-Search-Destroy/3000-8022_4-10122137.html

Holy shit that sucks. So are you in a state that didn't expand medicare?

I hope you're somewhere where you can find a clinic. I go to one run by my county. It was made partly with the political goal of keeping 'crazy' people off the streets, so it has accommodations for low income patients, like sliding payment scales and long deadlines for full payment.

Sounds a lot like the depression subtype atypical depression. It’s the regular symptoms of depression, plus what they call “leaded limbs,” hypersomnia, increased appetite, and increased sensitivity to rejection. Does that sound like it maybe fits?

There's a test for genetic variations associated with bipolar disorder. Just because the test suggests it, doesn't mean you absolutely have the disease, especially since bipolar is associated with multiple variations. If you really want, you an send your spit (and a couple hundred bucks) to 23andme, then upload that data to Promethaease and find out.

While a truly precise Dx within the entire bipolar <em>spectrum</em> usually takes time, initial medicinal treatment is pretty much the same.

You'll have to use Chrome to get it to work, but it should work provided you follow the instructions on how to install the userscript/extension. Scroll down the page until you see the blue dialog menu and follow the instructions there.
https://cytu.be/r/SKETTIfactory

Weekly Pill Organizer 7 Day 2 Times a Day, Sukuos Large Daily Pill Cases for Pills/Vitamin/Fish Oil/Supplements (Black Box) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PYQVLYS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_01QHPAC241J1RE37RVQ5?_encoding=UTF8&amp;psc=1

I put stickers on mine! And I drop stuff all the time and this one is durable and the pill holders don’t pop open if you do drop it!

i did see one in all black after i had already bought this one. it's a little more expensive tho:

https://www.amazon.com/BUG-HULL-Organizer-Containers-Supplements/dp/B07ZBHNVF5/ref=sr_1_11?dchild=1&amp;keywords=black+multi+day+pill+container&amp;qid=1608410529&amp;sr=8-11

This is why -- for people with serious mental illness and who are comfortable with it -- I recommend at least talking to family and friends about this disease so those close to you can have some degree of insight. I recently published a book all about de-stigmatizing serious mental illness (SMI) like bipolar disorder and OCD that has been well received both by people with SMI and people who are neurotypical.

Changing the public discourse about SMI will take time, but by actively talking/writing about it we can keep working toward a positive and open minded society.

Btw this app is called daylio. I only have the google play link but if you look it up on the apple store it should be "Daylio journal" or smth like that https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.dayl

I'm forced to take medication in order to sleep since I suffer from a non specific sleep disorder, which gives me a solid "alright, time to sleep" kind of thing. Take my meds, half an hour to two hours later and I'm sleeping, or unconscious rather ��.

That said, it took me a little over a year to come to terms with it. I used and loved to be a night owl, always studying, working or having fun after midnight, thus, going to sleep at nine was nonsense, so I fiercely fought my meds sedative effects for about a year.

Then, during a hypomanic cycle, I stated to myself that I would "put my shit together", lose all the weight I gained from the meds and start sleeping as I should no matter what.

Well, it worked (first and only time hypomania has been useful in ten years) and now have a sleep routine that's so ingrained in my brain I simply can't avoid it: I'm tired and falling asleep by nine--It's a long story.

On average I sleep between eight and eight and a half hours. My schedule changes based on when I have to wake up, always trying to fit in at least six hours a day yet no more than nine.

Doubt you need to take as many meds as I do, but a good night's sleep is crucial, extremely important, trust me.

Check in with your doctor if you can for any sleep aids that don't interfere with your daily life.

I take Seroquel 200mg, Klonopin 2mg (at night, hate being dependent on benzos) and Imovane 15mg. I, as well, drink hot Chamomile tea after dinner, quit coffee as well as alcohol, meditate every odd evening and restrain myself to at most two cups of black tea in the morning, before 12, never later than that.

Here’s how these last seven days went. App is Up!; so far its pretty accurate on measuring my sleep and other things.

I personally use a combination of two apps: Daylio and eMoods bipolar tracker. First one is fairly simple without tons of options but it has backup and an ability to customize the moods you're going to track. You can also track various activities (work, eating a good meal, drinking, exercising, etc.) in addition to mood to, perhaps, find some correlation between them. Activities are also customizable.
The second app is better for tracking symptoms of mania/depression and also your medication. It's free to use as is (and I find existing options to be enough), but of you want some more customization you'll have to pay.

Aha, I can help with this one. I had a completely unexpected encounter with God a few weeks ago after not being in church for a decade. I was like, uh oh... What do I do with this? Am I manic?

I went to see the Anglican (Episcopalian?) priest who baptised my daughter and explained the whole thing and he was totally great about it. Suggested I proceed in the direction of faith, but slowly - read some books, maybe go to some services, don't rush the transformation that's happening. One of my key issues was that last time I was in church regularly, I was a teenager and everything was very black and white. Now I'm a grown up, it's time to appreciate faith's subtlety.

Have a read of this book if you can get a copy - it's quite light yet very helpful: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ten-Why-Christianity-Makes-Sense/dp/0281067643

Just be patient with it. You might end up back in church, you might not. Explore and see what happens.

&quot;The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do, and How to Change&quot; -Charles Duhigg

I still need to finish it, but the first section of the book is great. It really helps layout in clear language a lot of the things I've personally noticed about my own habits and why I did or did not stick with them.

Just start writing! Writing is never a bad idea as long as you have the time for it. In "On Writing," Stephen King described writing as a telepathic process - you're trying to envision something and then transport that vision to your reader as vividly and easily as possible. So just start describing something - a character, an environment, an idea, and try to keep going without judging yourself.

Many people start writing books but not many people finish them (myself included). It's a daunting task, but if you do it for the right reasons, writing can be therapeutic and enlightening. It can help you to understand your own thoughts better.

I was wrong. I got that from Chade-Meng Tan's book "Search Inside Yourself." It wasn't meditation but mindfulness journaling that did this. I'll quote the book below.

>A study by Stephanie Spera...had a group of laid-off professionals write to themselves about their feelings for 5 consecutive days for twenty minutes each day. These people found new jobs at a much higher rate than the people in the non-writing control group. After 8 months, 68.4 percent of them found jobs, versus 27.3 percent from the control group.

I did find a study that showed meditation to change the brain after 8 weeks. Here's an article

Thank you very much :) I know that I will get through it, that is all I tell myself pretty much, and it helps. I am going to graduate a year early so that I can move to Florida, where I have a vision of an almost perfect life. I tell myself, "if you can just last another year and a half, you'll be happy!" I take Rhodiola Rosea because I heard that helps tremendously with stress. So far, I have noticed minor results. How would I bring up the topic of taking Valium instead? I do not wish to have a personality "made of pills", but I would rather have a personality made of pills than no personality at all.

I am currently reading The Diary of a Young Girl (the unedited edition), and I find Anne Frank to be very wise for her age and relatable. She is inspirational and I would definitely be her friend if I could. I think it would be amazing to see the Secret Annex!

I'm really struggling. Starting to go manic just a bit and I am very aware that my brain is thinking things in different ways. Chronic pain from 2 spinal fusion surgeries

My wife has a caring profession and has nearly Betazoid compassion and patience. so my basic needs are met and I can stay home and do chores and work in my home silversmithing studio.

So everything is perfectly OK, but my brain is shifting a bit weirdly... I'm rambling going bye bye. *

Forgive me for accidentally pasting some random thing that I have no idea how u got there so don't bother to read Bekow. . Buy bye Device information*

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I definitely found it hard, especially at first, and I still find it hard sometimes. I struggled at first because I tried running. No matter how much I actually ran I still hated it, and I hate it to this day. What worked for me was finding forms of exercise that weren't so uncomfortable to me. I found I really liked biking. I'm sitting down so it's barely like exercise and riding around town gives my mind time to wander (when I run I can only concentrate on how much it sucks to be running). The hardest part for me is waking up since it's the only time I can exercise and I take seroquel to sleep which leaves me hung over. I actually bought these NFC tags and the app Puzzle Alarm Clock and in the morning my alarm will not stop going off until I physically bring my phone to the kitchen and scan the tag I put next to my espresso machine. Then I make an espresso, splash some water on my face, and do some stretches to wake up.
Once you're used to waking up and working out for a couple weeks it gets a lot easier. I'd recommend trying to make an extreme effort to work out for two weeks and not let anything get in your way, and after that it will be easier. It also helps a great deal to have a workout buddy, since you'll disappoint them if you fail to show up.

Just as a followup, this study found that (surprise) improvement in sleep happened in the first few days, then tapered off even as dose was increasing. Anti-histamines are short term sleep aids, tolerance builds too fast.

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Roumen_Milev/publication/46382426_Effects_of_quetiapine_on_sleep_architecture_in_patients_with_unipolar_or_bipolar_depression/links/0912f509d9ed6282b3000000.pdf

This was actually about a decade ago. I ended up going back to college a few years later and got my degree in Mechanical Engineering.

The job I am in now (been here for about a year and a half) is the first time I've been really stable since my diagnosis. I'm hoping it holds but I definitely have had cognitive and memory issues ever since starting lamictal which sucks but I have been able to come up with some crutches to get through it (lots of to-do lists, outlook reminders staggered through the day to remind me of critical things I need to do, things like that).

You should definitely try going back to school if you want to. There are a couple ways you could dip your toes in the water. Check out a local community college. Their courses are usually pretty cheap and you can probably transfer some credits to a university if you go that route.

Another option is you could check out coursera. It's free and you can do it all online. I've taken a few courses on their and have really liked it.

i'm not sure it'a a huge trend, but i had been following this chick that used to be a self harmer, she would always take pics of her pills and i always thought it was cool, then i became diagnosed with bipolar type 2, and i started posting my own pill pics, it's cool because she inspired me, and she follows me and likes my pill pics. https://instagram.com/myguerrilla/

I have klonipin, but even the benzos take awhile

I also have gaba and taurine which help me out with anxiety or agitation.

Another thing that works for me is ashwagandha. https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-953/ashwagandha. Works for me

Good question! It's a little repetitive but I liked this one.

The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook for Bipolar Disorder

You'll have to give them a call but they'll be able to get you right back into your account: https://www.healthcare.gov/contact-us/

The number is: 1-800-318-2596 and they're available 24/7

In the meantime, are there any free or low-cost mental health clinics around you? If you tell me what city you are in, I might be able to help you find one.

https://ipfs.io/ipfs/bafykbzaceaivojg2ci5njz6glg6ohysmed6ymhrmqkya75jiawwbhv5dfffqo?filename=Monica%20Ramirez%20Basco%20-%20The%20Bipolar%20Workbook%2C%20Second%20Edition_%20Tools%20for%20Controlling%20Your%20Mood%20Swings-The%20Guilford%20Press%2...

That'll help with the detox. If you find yourself struggling with cravings, please ask your treatment team about naltrexone. Antabuse can be dangerous and I was reading it's less effective anyway. Naltrexone is what I'd look for for myself if I wanted a med for my problem drinking. I'd say "ask your team about ___ class of drugs," but I don't really know of any other good substitutes to naltrexone.

If you find yourself struggling with emotions you can't handle while you're sober, you might want to look into kava tea (available OTC and not mentally impairing in my experience), which has been able to help me with feelings of anxiety, depression, and mild-moderate dysphoria. It's tough on your liver though, so don't use it while you've been drinking.

In any case, I wish you the best of luck, and have faith in you! Stay strong, stay brave, don't let stumbles stop you, and remember you deserve to be healthy and happy. You matter.

~hug!~

Thank you! Right now the only way it can be purchased is as an e-comicbook on Comixology here: https://www.comixology.com/Prince-of-Peace/comics-series/45649?ref=c2VhcmNoL2luZGV4L2Rlc2t0b3Avc2xpZGVyTGlzdC90b3BSZXN1bHRzU2xpZGVy

In terms of whether my current view of reality is distorted, I can't answer that question objectively. At all points in time, whether manic or stable, I've always believed that I'm seeing reality as it is. It's only after time has passed that I can say whether in the past I was deluded. Last year I was certain that I was a math genius making the most important discovery ever, so after all these years I'm still not immune to delusional thinking. However, right now I don't have any delusions of grandeur. If I'm seeing a distorted reality right now it'd be more on the side of negative thoguhts...I'm feeling like my competency/worth is dropping (bad memory, inability to connect with people, etc.). My wife doesn't think it's that bad so I'm hoping that I'm just unrealistically amplifying the negative thoughts.

As for other symptoms like anxiety (especially as it relates to social situations) it's been a constant battle for me. As long as I minimize my social interactions I can keep my anxieties in check....but obviously that's not the best solution...it's just what works for me.

Lose weight. I’ve lost 40 pounds before, was underweight. I struggle to keep my weight up during depression.

Have you ever looked into Atypical Depression ? It’s a subtype which symptoms include increased appetite/weight gain. It’s treated the same way, just thought you might find it interesting if you’re in that particular subtype.

Other than a funeral, or a SO asking if you like their hair, its rarely necessary to apologize for being blunt.

I have a background in a related field. The only books I have read that are related have been in Pharmacology.

I started with a clinical handbook of Psychological Disorders. Its better to get the newest one you can. There is no way, unless a degree depended on it, could I have read the whole thing. Anything else I have read is only a different summation of what I read before.

I look up the references, citations ,etc. I get most from scholorgoogle.com This link is just a general search for Bipolar. Its much easier to get solid info there. As you probably know from reading the book, the biggest hurdle is getting the vocabulary down.

This is all the raw information. Peer reviewed and legit

I hope I just gave you hours of entertainment.

Many of the 'Break Through' studies I see posted here are crap, but they often have some interesting sources.

I know what those thoughts are like. I'm sorry you're having them. I don't deal with them well myself. I try to relax and that helps at times. There's nothing like a bath or a long shower. Then for me they go away after a while on extra Seroquel or extra lithium.

Now I want to say something about the $ stuff so just stop reading here if it's not relevant. First if your psychiatrist wants to prescribe something brand name and expensive at your next appointment, tell her you're broke. Maybe you know this, but she'll probably have free samples she can give, or a humongous coupon for that drug, or she'll refer you to the company's low income rebate program.

More importantly right now if you're making zero income and you got dropped from your last health insurance, get on https://www.healthcare.gov/ Because if your income was low enough in the first half of the year and now it's zero with no job landed, you'll qualify for medicaid, especially if you're in a medicaid expansion state. You might even qualify through your disability, depending on your state. It would basically mean you don't have to pay anything for medical care anymore, though your choice of providers may be restricted (not everyone accepts medicaid).

Even if you don't qualify for medicaid, it sounds like you'll qualify for subsidies so that you'll be able to get a decent plan for an affordable price that will make things cheaper than paying out of pocket. That may be preferable to waiting around for whatever you can get through some lackluster employer.

Fish oil contains Omega-3s, which your body cannot produce on it's own.

I just started taking them a few days ago myself, over the counter, and I don't know if it's the fish oil but I feel like I"m thinking much more clearly. I'm not on any other meds. So yay?

As long as you are eating less than you need you will loose weight. Is a thermodynamic law

Being honest of how much you are eating is a hard step to take.

Buy a food scale and start tracking.

Thermodynamics: as long as you are ingesting less energy than you need you WILL loose weight. But you have to be precise and honest at tracking.

Noom program is amazing. Personalized program and coaching. Helped me with the emotional part of weight also. I lost 15 kgs in 6 months on it

Communities here that are really useful: r/looseit and r/cico

https://www.noom.com/ noom program

Awesomenauts is the game for me. It's a bit complicated at first, but becomes a lot of fun. When I am reaaaaally depressed I just play tower defense games because they are sort of repetitive and sometimes mindless.

But I agree with what other people say, MODERATION. When I'm super depressed/anxious it keeps me from getting caught in bad thought cycles, but can ultimately keep me from doing things that I need to do.

Programming can be a great hobby for some people. If you have any artistic interests and you're a beginner I would highly recommend checking out Processing.org.

With Processing, you'll learn how to create interesting visual sketches from code in a very short amount of time—probably less than an hour for someone who's never programmed before.

I went beyond making lists. I would make lists of lists.

I outlined EVERYTHING! Hollow bullet points. Solid bullet points. Arrows. Indentations. Stars showed priority.

Then I got heavily into wire-framing my thoughts. After a while (with the rapid cycling thoughts) my wire-frames quickly became a huge mess.

Then I found WorkFlowy. It's like a list, but you can insert another list IN YOUR LIST at any point and create a new list. Think of an outline!

Read up on it. Loving someone with bipolar disorder is a good book

https://smile.amazon.com/dp/1608822192/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_fabc_T6WN3SQA13WZKKP29JN4

One good way to support is to watch their moods and let them know if you see something off. You're gonna have to read up on bipolar to understand the symptoms of mania and depression. But largely if your SO is medicatrd it shouldn't be much of an issue. Good luck!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JQBZVX8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_imm_Q5W847A6DCWDQSSEK6TB?_encoding=UTF8&amp;psc=1

Morning, eve and bed are my 3x day meds and noon i use for vitamins. I have a bunch of meds to take for chronic pain too so it helps me organize and make sure I take things at the right time.

https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B08CRP9KD4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_0YC80H4VFH1BGQZXDAQQ?_encoding=UTF8&amp;psc=1

Seven individually colored am/pm square containers in a neat little box. Fits a decent amount of pills in there too.

I got it from Amazon!

AUVON Weekly Pill Organizer 3-Times-A-Day, Portable 7 Day Pill Box Case with Large Separate Compartments to Hold Medication, Vitamins, Fish Oil and Supplements

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B088K5YND8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_D77782SV9RQ7GN0PETSB?_encoding=UTF8&amp;psc=1

Sleep has been a real make-it-or-break-it for me, as well as many alarms and this med cart.

I use this and do a couple weeks at a time:

Edit: medicine wheel cart with space for bottles, 31 little rectangular boxes each with 4 compartments, pocket-sized and numbered with the day of the month.

North American Health + Wellness Herrschners Revolving Medicine Center, White (JB6300) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007TM31GC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_CEX13PX5VQK8C1HR9B1H?_encoding=UTF8&amp;psc=1

You should read divine mania in Ancient Greece

https://www.amazon.com/Divine-Mania-Alteration-Consciousness-Ancient/dp/0367594269/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&amp;keywords=Divine+mania+in+Ancient+Greece&amp;qid=1622408080&amp;sr=8-1

Unfortunately it’s very academic which I don’t like. I think it’s just an entering a liminal/otherworldly state or divine possession. The word enthusiasm literally means in Greek a god has entered you.

https://www.amazon.com/AUVON-iMedassist-Moisture-Proof-Compartments-Supplements/dp/B074MC6HJR/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&amp;keywords=rainbow+multi+day+pill+container&amp;qid=1608410573&amp;sr=8-2

Each day comes out so it is better than hauling around a whole week. if you search "rainbow pill container" on amazon, you might be able to find one with fewer segments per day (instead of the 4 segments per day that this one has)

I'm in the same boat pretty much. Just recently diagnosed as BP2 right after my 21st, and the way i've been handling it is learning as much as I can about my disorder. I would encourage you to look into An Unquiet Mind by - Kay Redfield Jamison. Also meditation and mindfulness really helps me and so does kicking caffeine it triggers severe mood swings for me.

Link to book on amazon

Hell yeah for the pill organizer! I just found one on Amazon that's a 7 day one buuuut ut has columns for Morning, Afternoon, Evening, Bedtime which is perfect.

For the curious: Apex 7-day Mediplanner Pill Organizer https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000LR9ZNK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_VugrybVMQ10SS

I use a daily pill compartment thing and reminders on my phone. My daily pill box is am/pm and each day can pop out to take to breakfast/dinner so I can take meds with food. I bought it at CVS but here's the Amazon link. The main box is too hefty for cats to use as a toy and whenever I have the little daily box out, it's in my pocket/bag.

Amazon Omega 3 Fish Oil Triple Strength, Best for EPA & DHA, Fatty Acids, Burpless, 1400mg Softgels 120-Count by BodyVega https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FOVLXYW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apap_CKiBLAPLiGHcY

If I do burp it's lemony. No issues. I take 3 so 2.6 grams epa and depression went from 4 to 6 to a total 2

This is the light I got https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01JGG5CH4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apap_Lk85k6KRGyuOu

And I got these to use instead of foil https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00PXUOHA6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_or0VzbNM6EXCT

Still figuring out nail polish I like. I got gelaze by China Glaze at Sally Beauty. Searching for a top coat and base coat that works. Just got one from Amazon, haven't tried it yet.

Nail polish for this you need stuff that requires a UV or LED light. Not the Sally Hansen gel stuff you can get anywhere, that's gel-like, not gel that requires a light.

I'm by no means an expert. I just hate paying to get my nails done. Got them done 3 times at 3 different places and they destroyed my nails. No more. If I screw it up that's on me. I don't make myself bleed though.

I went on the documentary's >>> amazon page <<< to have a look at the ratings. They were NOT very good, and the criticisms are edifying.

In whatever event, truly bipolar cycling between mania and depression usually does not begin in early childhood. The kids in the film may have had some form of Austistic Spectrum Disorder, hypersensitivity to stimulation, Oppositional-Defiant, Intermittent Explosive Disorder or who knows what; IDK4S, OC.

There's a twenty one week group thing called "Functional Remediation" that is (I think) still in trials.

In the meantime, give your profession a chance.

There's also this at Amazon from 2014 for whatever it's worth: Functional Remediation for Bipolar Disorder

Hi, the book is named Cracked, Not Broken: Surviving and Thriving After a Suicide Attempt and it's by Kevin Hines. Struggling with undiagnosed bipolar through high school and college, Hines becomes overwhelmed by the auditory hallucinations telling him to take his life by jumping off of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. Amazingly he survived the attempt, which is when he decided to dedicate his life to mental health awareness. He also talks about it in the documentary: The Bridge by Eric Steel.

Cracked, Not Broken: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1442222409/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_APJxFbNGZA97D

The Bridge: https://youtu.be/gRs-DlYmws4

You're most welcome :) I'm so glad you found those things useful and let me know, helps motivate me to continue to reach out.

Today I randomly came across a post from the author about a short podcast he did about loneliness and all of these exact topics, and leads a short mindfulness exercise in part 2, you can find it here, from may 18, https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLmZlZWRidXJuZXIuY29tL1RFRF9TdXNhbkRhdmlk?sa=X&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiT0uuq89_rAhWfg3IEHVNNAa8QrrcFegQIARAG

The book A Liberated Mind has become my favorite book, and I'm also looking forward to reading this one https://www.amazon.ca/ACT-Love-Struggling-Differences-Relationship/dp/1572246227/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&amp;keywords=act+with+love&amp;qid=1599849318&amp;sr=8-1

The more I make ACT a part of my daily therapy study the better life gets

All the best ! <3

Sweet I’ll bookmark that for next time lol. Before the thongs I started ordering leggings. I don’t regret those though they’re really comfortable I was surprised. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B082Z718WZ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_eMIfFb7WNKB05

I get that. If he is willing and committed you have to give him a chance. If you don't you're assuming a lot. My husband read this book and other articles which helped him understand. If you don't give him a chance to show that he cares and can help you then you're throwing the relationship away so you have to decide if you want to see if it can actually work or not.

I have it too and love it

Weekly Pill Organizer 7 Day 2 Times a Day, Sukuos Large Daily Pill Cases for Pills/Vitamin/Fish Oil/Supplements - Rainbow Colors (Clear Box) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07WJ1XZF4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_.T4cFbEPDQK9G

Dealing with the exact same. I can't ever trust my decisions. It always feels like someone else is making choices for me. Other bipolar friends have recommended using some apps to help monitor so I can trust myself again. Daylio is one, Up! is another one, and eMoods is also one. I personally am partial to Daylio. But Up! seems to be better. Hope you can find something that helps if these aren't for you.

Here is an Android link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.meemo_tec.bip_app

Never been a fan of setting up so many alarms, it has never really worked for me.

Anyway, I was on 100mg of Seroquel since May 2016 until June 2018, which is when I doubled the dose to 200mg -.-

I use the app Sleep as Android to gather metrics - and later use them in my favor - on my sleep efficiency and potential deficit. The other feature it has that I really like, is that you can set up a CAPTCHA alarm, which forces to complete a task for it to stop.

My advice, is to sit on your bed the moment the alarm wakes you up, do the puzzle to shut it off and then quickly down a glass of cool water (or juice, to get rid of the "swamp mouth"). At least in my case, it shocks me awake, and then I get up; the moment I stand up, my bed becomes what I call "res non grata" (res is Latin for "thing") for the rest of the day.

But really, drink something cool as soon as you wake up, and then get up and stay up, no matter how you feel. It gets easier in time.

I'd say it's worth a shot. I've used this app which is based on the same principles and had some success with it easing my anxiety and intrusive thoughts: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.overcomingpain.anxiety

Even if you only use the free version, it's quite customizable and reliable. You can set meds at set times, as hours-intervals (every 4hrs, etc), as as-needed, and possibly more (but I didn't look that deep). It keeps a record of whether or not you marked your meds as taken, and you can sign up for a free account that will back this up for you. I think there's also a way to give a loved one "guest" status so that if you miss a dose, they are alerted so they can remind you. It's pretty useful! Medisafe for Android

I recommend MediSafe. The app has a really obnoxious notification on your phone that you set up to remind you to take meds at a certain time and the dose, then it gives a % at the end of each week of how many times you took your meds. Good for knowing why you've had a rough week if you get a low percentage. Generally though you can just leave the notification and then mark as taken once you take the meds.

Here it is on Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.medisafe.android.client

Take a look into folic acid, specifically the fancy one that's already processed (l-methylfolate). Lamictal messes with the enzyme used to process folic acid. I also have a gene that a lot of the population shares that inhibits the amount of enzymes I create to process the folic acid.

I have been using this one, and I don't know if it is placebo effect but it is working very well for me.

There are also a few posts made here which helped me find the solution. Google 'reddit bipolar lamotrigine memory'. Also you can look up research papers for free on Google Scholar to really get an idea of what it is, what it's efficacy is, and how it works.

https://www.amazon.com/Mental-Lithium-Love-Losing-Mind/dp/0399574492

This is the book I’m referring to. You’re obviously not on lithium but it will give your parents insight on drugs for bipolar disorder.

https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/largest-study-its-kind-implicates-gene-abnormalities-bipolar-disorder

Here is a very comprehensive study that will give you insight as well. It highlights the importance of NON drug treatment and a solid support system

Another Redditor summed it up. The narrator is 90% of the story.

Depending on what you like to read, I can definitely make suggestions.

I absolutely love Freakonomics. Also, On Writing by Stephen King. The authors narrated, making it feel like a conversation. The same is true with The Like Switch and Hillbilly Elegy.

Liane Moriarty and Kate Moreton have wonderful narrators.

Under the Dome, Fall of Giants, Matterhorn all have great narrators.

On Audible, you can read reviews of the books and listen to sample. Often the reviews talk about the narrator.

I am listening to the first Wheel of Time book and I cannot stand the narrator. Most people say he’s one of their favorites, but there’s something about his voice.

Let me know what genres you like and I’ll give you more suggestions.

It's like Viktor E. Frankl says in Man's Search for Meaning: Suffering is like a gas and it can just expand to fill the volume of whatever container it's been trapped in.

You do sound like you're struggling currently. Remember, having other people understand exactly how it feels would be nice but a bit impossible - it's just a fact of life that we can't get inside minds and have a look in the we can with bodily injury. What's much more important is that you stay focused on getting whatever you need to get better - you are all that matters right now.

Keep taking your current meds and go and see your Dr ASAP to discuss how you're feeling. It could be a side effect of your current regimen, or you might need to tweak dosages. Don't give up.

Glad to see someone talking about the things they added to their life to improve their lot. I think it's really important for more of us to share those things. We often talk about our struggles and the therapy and the clinical efforts to improve our lives, but not often enough do we talk about those personalised things that made us better in the long term.

I'm probably where you are pre-diet/lifting. I'm slowly getting there. I will get there.

Right now though I've been focused on fixing my sense of purpose and mental anguish. Reading has really helped me. Reading autobiographies, some really great fiction (McCarthy, like woah), and some inspiring stories (Thomas Page McBee's Man Alive, Viktor Frankl's Man's Search for Meaning and Amanda Palmer's Art of Asking).

I've also been taking breaks from the hustle of the city. There's a reserve on the outskirts of my city, a mountainous area with nature walks and the like. Have been going to there to feel a bit of peace with a friend.

It got better for me. Things I did--

• A TON of research and learning. This sub, Living Well with Depression and Bipolar, etc.

• No alcohol, no sugar

• Exercising at least three times a week

• Taking entire evenings "off". At least four a week. Before I tried to go to everything and it made me exhausted, sometimes fueled hypomania, and gave me anxiety because I didn't feel like I had enough time to get work done

• Seeking help from friends. Sometimes all they have to do is listen and I talk my way into a solution

• Becoming an insane project manager. I write everything down because otherwise I won't remember anything, and build contingency plans so my anxiety doesn't get the best of me

• Found a therapist I LOVE. The hospital first tried to place me with another therapist, and after meeting with him once, I insisted on a different one. I'm so glad I did.

• Found medication that worked for me

• Writing. A lot of writing.

This all took time, hard work, and trying a bunch of things out until I found things that worked. Just try making changes one at a time-- and the book, The Power of Habit, may help you do that.

40 here, diagnosed a few years ago, complete with suicide attempts and homelessness.

There's a branch of therapy called mindfulness that Buddhist monks and western therapists adapted together for treatment for a wide variety of mental illness and chronic pain. It destroys the western conception of meditation and awareness as being two different things, and a lot of people have found it instrumental in recovery and coping. Check out a book called Full Catastrophe Living, if you have the time.

I just began CBT this is one of my assignments, also reading a book about it "The Power of Habit Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg" have read a few pages, have also read some self help book on the matter like.. Self-discipline in 10 days (how to go from thinking to doing)

I have had jobs that require me to be on the job two times a day. From 6am till 10am and 4pm till 8/9 and am still failing with the sleep schedule.

Have used medication melatonin mostly, recently I have tried Zopiclot (benzo like drug) they work for a while maybe few days, and then back to "normal".

Sometimes I'd have the regimen to wake up early try to do stuff all day and feel like shit all day, and when I switch it to my normal sleep habit fall a sleep at 3/4am sleeping till noon, I'd feel great a bit of guilt but overall nice and productive.

I have come to a conclusion I ait gonna be like normal people with normal sleeping and eating working business habit for more then 3 to 4 months, sucks big time but fuck it.

I read Viktor Frankl's Man's Search for Meaning. It put things in perspective for me, and still keeps things in check when I'm starting to feel owly or down. Nothing seems as bad when compared to the Holocaust or what Frankl went through (and survived).

There are parts that are hard to follow. If your aim is to write better, you must learn. I'd recommend the following books - "On Writing Well" by William Zinsser and "Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker.

I believe in you! Wanted to mention that I find if I change my inner monologue from "I've got to do the thing" to "I want to do the thing" really helps.

Check out Loop - Habit Tracker it really helps me and I can see the days I miss taking meds and correlate them to my diary entries. Which surprisingly aren't great days usually.

I've been using Nomie Pro for about two and a half months and I love it. I can track my moods, and it has options on how you like to track them. You can create your own tracker or use some of them from the store. You can even have it prompt a note after you enter your information, which helps me think about my feelings a bit more. I can work out what's making me anxious or whatever I'm feeling.

I do like Daylio as well, but I think Nomie has more options and it's all free. It has dropbox sync and it gives you a chart of your trackers as well. Great app, I use it every day.

Nomie Pro

Hey, I was you! I tried ECT and ketamine and they both failed. What finally did work was high doses of thyroid supplement. I haven't been depressed in 5 years.

https://www.amazon.com/Science-Thyroid-Supplementation-Treatment-Depression/dp/1979168415

I have hooks near my closet and in my bathroom for practically clean clothes.

Examples:

https://www.amazon.com/Dseap-Coat-Rack-Wall-Mounted/dp/B07K71JDZ3

https://www.amazon.com/SKOLOO-Stainless-Hanging-Clothes-Bathroom/dp/B07TRKP8HG

I’m so sorry! I’m stuck somewhere between long-term unemployed and career volunteer, but this was a huge issue for me at my last job. I haven’t read her book yet, but I just saw an interview with Annie Duke, the poker player, and requested her book from the library. She talked about knowing when it was time to quit. Sometimes you can power through and it gets better, but sometimes after a month or two you can see clearly that it’s time to move on. https://www.amazon.com/Quit-Power-Knowing-When-Walk/dp/0593422996

What strikes me about your post is that you’re feeling beyond hope. That’s an awful feeling and sadly one I’m all too familiar with. There are some great suggestions in this thread. The only I’d add is to call your therapist or find one if you aren’t already in therapy. I avoided it for years after my last great therapist moved. I have enough insight into my mental health issues that I can usually power through. My youngest child (23 year old NB) is also bipolar and is currently back in the hospital for the second time in sixth months. I realized that I was moving heaven and earth to get my child the health they needed while neglecting my own physical and mental health. Give yourself some grace right now.

Microsoft is ending wunderlist - (probably next year ) [http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/microsoft-vs-wunderlist/] , but I refuse to switch to something mediocre so I stay with it. I have no idea when the next job is going to come about, I'm just putting my effort in a little at a time - eventually something may turn up.

You're welcome, you know it's like a pyramid, you want to take care of physical, then neurological, then psychological, not trying to treat something that is caused by another layer, like trying to fix everything with psychology, or vice versa. That said, this is the right kind of book if you want to work on psychology of your relationship skills, science-based, ACT is the best therapy, you can get any book on libgen cheers https://www.amazon.com/ACT-Love-Struggling-Differences-Relationship/dp/1572246227

I have done inner child healing. I started with this book called “Carefrontation” https://www.amazon.ca/Carefrontation-Breaking-Free-Childhood-Trauma/dp/194287281X

For me, it wasn’t scary. The first part of me I found was 3-year-old me through doing the dominant/non-dominant hand writing. When I found her, she really wanted to go swimming. I had forgotten how much I loved the water when I was little and I took her swimming. It was the first step on my healing journey.

Not entirely on topic, but I recommend getting a keychain pill bottle like this one and having a reminder/timer/alarm set on your phone. I keep one attached to my keys so even if I am not home I don't have to worry about missing a dose.

I haven't tried it yet but there's a DBT book for Bipolar, here's a link to Canadian Amazon. https://www.amazon.ca/Dialectical-Behavior-Therapy-Workbook-Disorder/dp/1572246286/

There's stuff in here like acting opposite to your mood which you might find helpful. I got a copy from my public library.