I discovered Lauren through her blog – The Bipolar Mama. Lauren is uber cool as a roller derby, bipolar blogging, health afficianado Mom, wife and business owner. When she is not working from home, she is fighting towards eradicating stigma from mental illness. Brilliant. You can connect with Lauren on Twitter or Facebook too.

1.   Thank you for taking the time to share your story. Can you tell us a little about yourself?

Thank you for letting me share my story. I am originally a New Jersey native and the oldest of 8 children. I have 4 brothers, 1 sister, a half-sister and a half-brother. I have two beautiful boys, Daniel, 3 and Dylan 1 1/2 years old. I have been married to my wonderful, supportive husband Kris for 4 years.

When I am not volunteering for the Create Café, I am playing blocker for the Northern Allegheny Roller Derby league. I also dabble in raising chickens.

I have also had the honor of being filmed for Healthination’s True Champions series. I was featured as WEGO Health Activist for the month of April. I am a regular contributor to Stigmama.com. I have also contributed to Stigma Fighters.

 
2.   What events led to you receiving a diagnosis of bipolar disorder?

I have always known there was something different about myself. I didn’t understand why I would get so angry and emotional about little things. I was very sensitive. I was bullied most of my life because others noticed I was different too.

My senior year I started self-harming myself as a way to cope. Then one day about 2 weeks before my 17 birthday, I decided to give up. I just felt like I couldn’t do it anymore. I couldn’t deal with the racing thoughts, sleepless nights, and bottomless depression.

The constant bullying was just the tipping point. For some reason still unknown to me, I decided to share my plan to end it all to my creative writing teacher. Then according to protocol, he turned me into the school guidance consular who in turn called my mother. My mother then brought me the nearest psychiatric facility and had me admit myself.

 
3.   If you don’t mind, can you share how old you were at the time of diagnosis and what type of bipolar illness you have i.e. Bipolar I Disorder (BP-1), Bipolar II Disorder (BP-2), Cyclothymic, etc.

When I was hospitalized, I was discharged with the diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder with Major Depression. When I started outpatient treatment, I was re-diagnosed with Bipolar II. As treatment continued on and off through the years, I was finally diagnosed with Rapid-cycling Bipolar Disorder.

 
4.   Do you have other diagnosed medical conditions besides bipolar (physical or mental)? For example, I have fibromyalgia and deal with chronic fatigue. I also have a form of subclinical hypothyroid. All of these have affected my bipolar states and when treated successfully my severe bipolar illness states (psychosis of mania, suicidal depression) improved much.

Aside from the bipolar disorder, I have anxiety and mild paranoia. I also have weak ankles. lol

Note from Molly: Funny! And I do too 🙂

 
5.   Now for the good stuff! What things – medications, vitamins, therapy, books, alternative treatments, etc. – have helped you to not only survive this difficult illness but thrive in your life?

I have tried various things in my life. Things I have found most effective for me through the years are:

• Regular Exercise
• Proper Nutrition
• Regular Sleep Habitats
• Routine Schedule
• Writing/Blogging
• Therapy in Conjunction with Medication

 
6.   What advice do you have for others who may be overwhelmed by the symptoms (hypomania leading to impulsive behaviour, rapid cycling mood changes, hospitalizations due to severe depressive episode or a manic episode resulting in psychosis…) and feel discouraged or without hope?

If you can, get out of the house. Go to a park. Meet a friend for coffee. Sometimes a change a scenery can do wonders for your mood.

Join a club or sport. Something that requires regular attendance and interaction. Write about it. Sometimes you just need to get it out. Share your story.

Someone close to you may going through something similar. Remember you are NEVER EVER alone. There are thousands of us like you. We are willing to help you through. Never give up hope. It will get better. You will get through this.

“Never give up. Today is hard, tomorrow will be worse but the day after tomorrow will be sunshine.” – quote from Jack Ma

Note from Molly: I did not know who Jack Ma was! If you don’t either, he is a very wealthy Chinese entrenpreneur. Business Insider Article on Jack Ma.

Thank You!

I had a hard time reading about the self harming part (always do when I hear stories about cutting). Was glad to then get to read how you moved forward in life and have done so well, really excellent.

The focus on healthy living, getting regular exercise, etc. – so important and hopefully will inspire others to make similar changes in their lives.

Best of luck in your ventures and with your young family. Molly

Photograph courtesy of Lauren, all rights reserved.

I recently had the pleasure of connecting with some folks who live in other countries and write about bipolar – such as Vijay in Mumbai, India. Cool, no? Vijay is a very cool guy who took it upon himself to start an online community for those living with BP: Bipolar India: Let’s Walk Together. You can connect with Vijay here.

1.   Thank you for taking the time to share your story. Can you tell us a little about yourself?

Thanks for this opportunity, Molly! I am an Author, Blogger and Personal Branding Coach. I am also very active in the Mental Health Awareness area. And of course, a Bipolar who is as happy as can be!

Note from Molly: Love it! If we all could be so lucky 🙂

 
2.   What events led to you receiving a diagnosis of bipolar disorder?

I was diagnosed Bipolar in 2003 when I hit a manic peak/psychosis and was hospitalised for a week. Sadly, due to the utter lack of awareness in India, especially back then, my condition went undiagnosed for years prior to that.

If I had been diagnosed earlier, maybe the problem could have been nipped in the bud and it wouldn’t have hit me so hard.

 
3.   If you don’t mind, can you share how old you were at the time of diagnosis and what type of bipolar illness you have i.e. Bipolar I Disorder (BP-1), Bipolar II Disorder (BP-2), Cyclothymic, etc.

Molly, I am open to all questions about my condition. I was 41 years old at that time. I experienced rapid cycling, hypomania for a couple of years which ballooned into full blown mania and psychosis.

The diagnosis then was Manic Depression. Only recently did my Doc tell me that my symptoms were of Bipolar II.

 
4.   Do you have other diagnosed medical conditions besides bipolar (physical or mental)? For example, I have fibromyalgia and deal with chronic fatigue. I also have a form of subclinical hypothyroid. All of these have affected my bipolar states and when treated successfully my severe bipolar illness states (psychosis of mania, suicidal depression) improved much.

I am a chronic and acute asthmatic (in intensive care units of hospitals twice for near fatal attacks).

Yes, hypothyroidism, chronic fatigue bugs me too, as does daytime sleepiness, hyperacidity and the skin ailment of Rosacea. I’m under treatment for asthma, chronic acidity and hypothyroidism.

Note from Molly: It is excellent that you (a male) have been tested and treated for a thyroid condition. In the U.S. it is primarily females that receive care, with most likely many male sufferers left untreated.

 
5.   Now for the good stuff! What things – medications, vitamins, therapy, books, alternative treatments, etc. – have helped you to not only survive this difficult illness but thrive in your life?

Medication such as Mood Stabilisers have kept things on par. Antidepressants haven’t helped my depression much but they prevent me from going under!

In India we do not have the benefit of CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) or group therapy sessions. Counseling helped me rationalize my thinking. Books and Workshops have been a great source of inspiration. I can never forget to mention the watchful attention of a great Psychiatrist and my doting family. I have also had the benefit of fabulous Mentors who have selflessly guided me on my journey.

I am a fitness conscious person and regular exercise helps regulate moods and boosts my energy levels too. Yoga and Pranayama have been of immense help too. However, the game changer has been Meditation, which I have now been practicing for 18 years. It connects me to my higher Self and is the source of my tranquility.

I am also a deeply spiritual person which allowed me to take a philosophical view of things. Opening up about my condition was empowering. The stigma and taboo attached to mental illness in India is stifling, much more than it is in the developed world. My outreach to our community through my website www.bipolarindia.com is a fulfilling experience.

 
6.   What advice do you have for others who may be overwhelmed by the symptoms (hypomania leading to impulsive behaviour, rapid cycling mood changes, hospitalizations due to severe depressive episode or a manic episode resulting in psychosis…) and feel discouraged or without hope?

At such times advice rarely seems to help, does it? All the same, I’d say, hang on! There is no point in life you cannot turn around from! Life is too precious to be wasted away. Happiness is my birthright, as it is yours!

Thank you!

Excellent point Vijay – when someone is suffereing the extreme states of bipolar listening to others advice would not be on the radar and most likely not even welcome.

But reading hopeful thoughts and inspiring stories of others who have experienced the same – or worse – and come out the other side, still alive, and living their lives with purpose… is primarily what this series is about.

Stories of hope and survival that we can all hold onto and maybe pull out of the recesses of our psyches when a dark day, or time of severe illness hits.

Congrats on all your success and wellness, your website looks promising with some nice posts – I personally liked the resource section much!

Photograph courtesy of Vijay, all rights reserved.

I interviewed Margaret who kindly introduced herself: Hi. My name is Margaret. I am 58, happily married, with no kids. I have a wonderful old dog name Jack. He is a rescue and the joy of my life. I live in Memphis, Tennessee.

1.   Thank you for taking the time to share your story. Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I come from a large family with six other siblings. My dad was an alcoholic and my mom was bitter. She was diagnosed with BP at the age of 88, four months before she died.

I moved out of my parents house and have been on my own since I was eighteen. I took a few college courses, but worked full time to support myself. I never got the college experience. I fell into a job at 21, in management for a Fortune 500 company, eventually managing over 200 people. It certainly wasn’t my passion, but the money was excellent.

I worked there for 18 years and went on disability due to my schedule. I was on call 24/7, with the majority of my hours being at night. No way can a person be stable with that schedule. After six months of disability, I took the long term disability package and never looked back.

 
2.   What events led to you receiving a diagnosis of bipolar disorder?

My fiancé died when I was thirty. I started drinking and using non stop for three years. Finally, one day I woke, not knowing where I was, or whom I was with. My finances were a mess, my house about to go into foreclosure. I was hanging on by the skin of my teeth.

I called our EAP and was recommended a psychiatrist. I had been in therapy off and on for years, knowing something was wrong. In high school, my files read that I was “over emotional”. Not a single teacher reached out to me as I slid deep into depression, failing classes and missing school.

 
3.   If you don’t mind, can you share how old you were at the time of diagnosis and what type of bipolar illness you have i.e. Bipolar I Disorder (BP-1), Bipolar II Disorder (BP-2), Cyclothymic, etc.

I have BP-2, rapid cycling. I was 33 when I was diagnosed.

 
4.   Do you have other diagnosed physical or mental medical conditions besides bipolar? For example, I have fibromyalgia and deal with chronic fatigue. I also have a form of subclinical hypothyroid. All of these have affected my bipolar states and when treated successfully my severe bipolar illness states (psychosis of mania, suicidal depression) improved much.

I have chronic migraines.

 
5.   Now for the good stuff! What things – medications, vitamins, therapy, books, alternative treatments, etc. – have helped you to not only survive this difficult illness but thrive in your life?

I am on a cocktail of lamictal, abilify and Prozac. I have tried every medication there is and hit on this cocktail eight years ago. I have been stable ever since.

 
6.   What advice do you have for others who may be overwhelmed by the symptoms (hypomania leading to impulsive behaviour, rapid cycling mood changes, hospitalizations due to severe depressive episode or a manic episode resulting in psychosis…) and feel discouraged or without hope?

Hang in there. Find the right support. If your doctor won’t work with you, fire them.

Be sure to have an open and honest relationship with your pdoc and therapist. Get your loved ones involved. My husband saw my pdoc, at her insistence, before we married, so he would know exactly what he was getting into. Remember, your doctor works for YOU.

If you feel like you are going into an episode, contact your doctor at once, don’t “wait and see”. Educate yourself. Know what meds you are on and the type of bipolar you have. It never ceases to amaze me how some people don’t research the disorder, or the medications.

Had I educated myself when I was on lithium, I would have known not to take NSAIDs. As it was, I became toxic and landed in the hospital. Know your body and understand when there is a change in your patterns.

Most of all, have fun. Having the disorder isn’t a death sentence and it is easier to have a sense of humor and be able to have fun with it.

Thank you!

I loved your responses, insight and suggestions for living well with this illness, especially the part about researching and that a doctor works for the patient – such great advice.

best, Molly

Photograph is a free use photo courtesy of Simple.Wikipedia.org.