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PitzSenior Contributor
Hi everyone
Just trying to get a better understanding of bipolar 1 disorder. I have just been diagnosed and am trying to piece my life back together.
I'm out of work due to injury that happened in my hypo manic risk taking state.
Just looking for advice with moving forward with life, what works best for work, and how is it raising a family.
Kind regards
In response to: Looking for some advise
PepperpotSenior Contributor
In response to: Looking for some advise
PitzSenior Contributor
In response to: Looking for some advise
Unknown userMember
Hi @Pitz 
Thank you for reaching out on the SANE Forums upon being diagnosed with Bipolar 1 Disorder. As @Pepperpot said, I am sure you must be going through so much right now with your recent diagnosis, injury, etc. In this light, is understandable that you are looking for advice and information about what is the best way forward, given your diagnosis.
As @Pepperpot said, seeking on-going professional support can be extremely helpful for someone struggling with Biplor Disorder, or mental illness more generally. Additionally, there are a wealth of online resources. This includes our SANE Biploar Guide and Factsheet, if you have not yet seen these resources yet.
In terms of working on how to support a family, it might be a good idea to seek family therapy - potentially, with someone who spealises with Bipolar Disorder? As @Pepperpot said, as we are unaware of your family's dynamics, it is difficult to say what supports would specifically target your family's needs. However, family therapy can help with a range of issues and, thus, could prove helpful. You can search for both individual therapists or family therapists using the "Find a Psychologist" function of the Australian Psychological Society website. You may also find a family therapist by contacting organisations such as Relationships Australia. I have listed both these organisations, a brief description of their work, and their contact details, below:
Australian Psychological Society (APS): The APS is the leading organisation for psychologists in Australia. The APS ‘Find a psychologist’ is an online, telephone and email referral service for the general public and health professional who are seeking the advice and assistance of a qualified APS psychologist.
Tel: 1800 333 497
www.psychology.org.au
Relationship Australia: Relationships Australia is a leading provider of relationship support services for individuals, families and communities.
Tel: 1300 364 277
https://www.relationships.org.au/
Thank you again for reaching out! Please continue to do so, if you need any further support or advice!
Kindest,
Amour_Et_Psyché
In response to: Looking for some advise
PepperpotSenior Contributor
In response to: Looking for some advise
PitzSenior Contributor
In response to: Re: Looking for some advise
Unknown userMember
Hi @Pepperpot 
A very warm welcome to you, since you are still new to the SANE Forums! Yes - you are definitely allowed to respond to members new posts and threads - in fact, we encourage that you do! The SANE Forums is a peer support space - so jumping in the thread and responding to @Pitz is 100% on the right track in terms of Forums use! The moderators will only typically jump in a thread to facilitate further discussion between Forum members.
I hope this clarifies things for you?
Kindest,
Amour_Et_Psyché
In response to: Re: Looking for some advise
Unknown userMember
My pleasure @Pitz!
It can be so empowering to learn more about your diagnosis and other people's experiences of it. Your motivation to learn and get help with your Bipolar 1 Disorder is truly inspiring! It is great that your psychologist has such expertise with Bipolar Disorder and that he/she allows you wife to participate in your sessions. Your case manager also sounds helpful too. It seems like you are in great hands!
Thank you for clarifying your family dynamics. Perhaps, it may be worth exploring with your psychologist what the barriers for you accepting your disorder are and what you need to move forward are (maybe you are already doing this)? But by having an awareness of what the barriers are around your acceptance of your diagnosis, perhaps you can better identify what is needed to break down such barriers and move forward with life (it sounds like moving forward may be having children, based on your previous post to @Pepperpot)?
Kindest,
Amour_Et_Psyché
In response to: Looking for some advise
PepperpotSenior Contributor
In response to: Looking for some advise
PitzSenior Contributor
In response to: Re: Looking for some advise
frogSenior Contributor
Hi @Pitz Welcome. I have Bipolar 1 too. I am nearly 4 years post diagnosis, but I remember all too well how messed up things got before I was diagnosed. I ended up in hospital and agree that psychosis is terrifying. From where I sit you are doing pretty well. It is very difficult to accept the diagnosis, and you have taken big steps in terms of getting help. It took me a year to really accept it. I think my psychiatrist was getting a bit exasperated! I'm so glad you've found a good psychologist - they're priceless.
Just last month my pdoc (internet short hand for psychiatrist) said that I'm stable. This doesn't mean trouble free, but the waves tend to be more manageable, and I've come to recognise triggers and signs of trouble. Medication has played a big role in that. I didn't want to take the heavy duty drugs (I did because I was scared of ending up back in hospital), but in the second year post hospital we found the right mix.
There are also a lot of lifestyle things you can do. Things that are important for general health can be critical for people with Bipolar.
Sleep, for example, is even more important for people with bipolar than it is for the population at large. I try to stick to a routine, and my pdoc has said if I go 2 days without decent sleep I need a reset, which sometimes means a day off work and often means taking medication for a few days to get back into a good pattern.
Exercise is another big one. There's lots of evidence that it helps. I also meditate, though it took me a long time to get into the habit and it's not for everyone.
Work. Big issue. I am lucky to have a supportive workplace. I had a graduated return to work and now work 34 hours a week. I'm aiming at full time, but I'm a lone parent of two older kids (15 and 21) who still live with me and they are still pretty demanding!
I have had to disclose to some key people in my workplace because a) I was in hospital and after that couldn't do a lot of hours initially, partly due to adjusting to the medication and partly due to inability to concentrate b) I have had a couple of episodes since (nothing like the big one), which meant a few weeks off to recover and regain balance. My advice re telling people you have Bipolar is initially only on a 'need to know' basis. I wouldn't come straight out with it in interviews.
If you're anything like me, you are probably still reeling from your recent experience. I am also a planner and having to take a day by day approach for a while was very very hard. Further down the road, I can see that the diagnosis was a new beginning for me. Yes, it was devastating, but in some ways it was a relief, because I'd been misdiagnosed for a long time, and at least I know now what I'm dealing with.
Also, you are young (you may not feel it right now) and you have time to work through this. I actually wish that I'd know what I do now a few decades earlier. On a positive note, the forum has been wonderful for me. The sort of stuff you're going through is almost impossible to convey to people who haven't experienced it. There are so may people here who just get it.
I may have rambled on to long. I wish you all the best.
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Help us push aside the stigma and discrimination surrounding complex mental health and change the way people talk about, and care for, mental illness.
SANE acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders past and present.
SANE values diversity. We are committed to providing a safe, culturally appropriate, and inclusive service for all people, regardless of their ethnicity, faith, disability, sexuality, or gender identity.
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