Living with Mental Illness


I have put this in my web page because bipolar is in my life, my husband has bipolar, anxiety, & panic attacks. We have been through a lot, with ALS & his mental illness. We've been married 11 years. My husband takes his medicine & still has bad days.
The information below is true, but a bit harsh.

It can wreak havoc on marriages, careers, friendships, finances, and emotions. If you’re helping someone through bipolar disorder, you face a difficult balancing act. On one hand, you have to be supportive and sympathetic; you can’t blame a person for the effects of an illness. But on the other, you can’t sacrifice all of your own needs to care for another person.


Here are some signs & changes to look for...
Sleep patterns,
Energy level,
Alcohol or drug use,
Sex drive,
Self-esteem,
Concentration

Bipolar
Bipolar disorder often runs in families, and researchers believe there is a genetic component. My sister-in-law and father-in-law, both suffer from mental illness as well. All started showing signs in their mid 20's.There is also growing evidence that environment and lifestyle have an affect on the disorder’s severity. Stressful life events -- or alcohol or drug abuse -- can make bipolar disorder more difficult to treat and self-consciousness arise from a fear of being closely watched, judged and criticized by others.

Moods

The mood swings of bipolar disorder can be profoundly destructive. Depression can make you isolate yourself from your friends and loved ones. You may find it impossible to get out of bed, let alone keep your job. During manic periods, you may be reckless and volatile

Picking up the pieces after mood swings can be hard. The people whom you need most -- especially your friends and family -- may be angry with you or reluctant to help.

Anxiety


Social anxiety disorder, also called social phobia, is an anxiety disorder in which a person has an excessive and unreasonable fear of social situations. Anxiety (intense nervousness) and self-consciousness arise from a fear of being closely watched, judged and criticized by others.

People with social anxiety disorder may be afraid of a specific situation, such as speaking in public. However, most people with social anxiety disorder fear more than one social situation. Other situations that commonly provoke anxiety include:

Eating or drinking in front of others
Writing or working in front of others
Making and answering phone calls
Being the center of attention
Interacting with people, including dating or going to parties
Asking questions or giving reports in groups