So, for a Med (antidepressant) update in the continuing struggle with keeping the effects of Bipolar at bay, I am on the following, (food supplements additional) to follow:
I will over time go into detail about these individual steps that can have such a positive effect in combination with medication
Lamotrigine (mood stabiliser, think Lithium)
300mg - Taken before sleep.
Mirtazapine - Zispin
30mg - Taken before sleep.
Venlafaxine - Efexor
300mg - Taken in morning.
Nitrazepam
5mg - Taken before sleep.
This is not a one-time fix all solution. The list of meds has come about through much hard work, frustration and despair. From my initial breakdown and diagnosis of Bipolar several years ago I have tried many types of medication and varying doses.
I have been fortunate, I admit that. From day one, I had the opportunity to stay at The Priory, Hove, where we tackled the initial coming to terms with the diagnosis and the subsequent realisation that my life from here on in had changed. Here I met the love of my love, the one person who I now know I do not want to be without. Anna, also bipolar has been with me from the start as we met as patients in the Priory.
We are both examples of what can be achieved given the will, the courage, the determination and emotional support from friends and family.We have both emerged from the depths of despair, the pitch black shadow of depression to the blinding light of mania. We have both been able to help, nurture and support each other through the last two years.
We are both currently going through the most painful parts of out respective lives. For me, my dearest Father is rapidly loosing his battle against cancer and sadly does not have long with is. For Anna, she is going through the devasting process of a bitter custoday battle at the High Court, where we are both having our very inner souls and existance, scrutanised and our Mental Health turned into a dangerous social disease. She faces the prospect of loseing her 3 children just because she has bipolar. Even through out these most awful months and days of our lives we are still here, battling on and coping.
For sure it's bloody hard and often soul destroying but we have each other and we both have out family and friends to support and encourage us.
The last 10 months have seen me stable, finally cracking the correct dose and combination of medication. It has not been perfect, I still feel low and down, sometimes depressed, I also feel pretty 'revved up', but they are all manageable and to be honest, life would be dull if it was a 'eve keel' all the way.
But it is just not about medication, its a lot more than that. We have both been very pro-active in this understanding of mental illness and health and we have both developed a healthy desire to understand and manage out illness, to not rely just on medication but to implement the many other ways of winning the war on depression.
The list is long, but implementing them gradually, you soon realise it becomes second nature and there is the added benefit these adjustments and alterations are just so damn healthy and good anyway, regardless if you have depression or not.
For example, to help me get from the Priory (severe depression and anxiety) to where I am now I have done or implemented the following:
• Reading many books from self-help to scientific and general moral boosting stories,
• Seeing a nutritionist to help understanding diet and eating healthy meals to understand that good health is critical,
• Ensuring that fitness is a almost daily activity be it swimming, running or walking the dog,
• Food supplements that work with the clinical medication
• Finally that therapy or counselling is also a must, whichever route you prefer. For me, I am still trying to find the correct form of therapy, I have personally found it frustrating in not finding the right therapist. But I am still trying and hope that soon I can meet someone who I feel I can be totally comfortable with.
I shall be imparting all that I know and have experienced over the last few years and it gives me much joy that I may be able to help someone else with their depression in anyway, small or large.
The degree of depression varies from person to person and it is something which is unavoidable in life. So, before depression takes over opt for an anger management counseling Sydney.
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