OT: Today is National Survivors of Suicide Day - November 21

That Bipolar is serious stuff  .  I have a client who has a hard time taking her meds for it .  Whenever I would visit with her she was just a mess, but the few times she was on her meds the difference was amazing -- she was perfectly "normal" .. 

 I've tried to convince her how important it is for her to stay on her meds, but she just won't do it ..  She finally got so depressed she tried to commit suicide by an O.D. recently.  Thank God her b/f came home just in time to discover her and have her rushed to the ER  --  she was still barely alive.   The doctor said she would have been dead in another 30 minutes or less. 

  Even after that, she still refuses to take her meds most of the time ..  It's so exasperating  for her b/f, her two teen daughters, and everyone else around her ..    She finally got approved for s.s. disability a few weeks ago based on her bi-p. and dep., so maybe somehow that will help things, with Medicare and all .. 

The reasons why people with mental illness hate staying on their meds is because the side effects are worse than the disease.


These are just a few possible side effects of the medicines I take: Lamictal, Seroquel, Zoloft, Xanax, and Lunesta

• Dizziness -- in up to 54 percent of people
• Double vision -- up to 49 percent
• Headaches -- up to 29 percent
• Coordination problems -- up to 28 percent
• Blurred vision -- up to 25 percent
• Nausea -- up to 25 percent
• Vomiting -- up to 20 percent.
• Drowsiness
• Irritated or runny nose
• Sore throat
• Cough
• Abdominal pain (stomach pain)
• Insomnia (see Lamictal and Insomnia)
• Shakiness (tremor)
• Weakness
• Back pain
• Fatigue
• Flu-like symptoms (such as body aches or chills)
• Indigestion or heartburn
• Painful menstrual cramps
• Bronchitis
• Diarrhea
• Fever                                                                                                                                                       

• While I hate taking my medications I know for me that is the only way that I can ever have a normal life.
  
  I look past the side effects and just know that I am fine with my meds.
  
  Sad that your client does not realize the importance of staying on her meds.
  
  Hopefully one day she will before it is to late.

Mary Jo,

You have touched on something that I also deal with yearly.

I get my worst depressive episodes in the winter time.

While I have been very ill and busy in the last few weeks I have been abstaining from posting online due to my depressive episodes.

I isolate when depressed so I can get it out and then regroup.

While for some that would be considered bad, but for me it is mandatory.

I know for me it has to do with the loss of my BFF.

I miss her the most during the holidays as that was our favorite time of the year and since my family are Jehovah's Witnesses and her and her family were the only one who I could spend the holidays with.

It also has to do with the time change as well and the fact that it gets darker so much earlier than I like.

I am very fortunate though in the fact that I am in therapy and am on medication and have friends and family that love and support me and I know what I need to do when things get really bad for me and am not too good for inpatient hospitalization for stabilization purposes.

Thank goodness I have not needed inpatient hospitalization in three years due to my meds and therapy.

While I am fortunate there are a lot of people out there that do not have the wonderful support system and defense mechanisms that I have available to me to get through depression.

I hope you have that.

You are at least in a good position considering you recognize it.

Some people do not even know the warning signs and that is at times half the battle.

I love you and I miss you.

I hope all is well.

I can't wait to see your pics from the convention.

I tend to isolate and shut out as well.  I know it's not the right thing to do but it's the only way I deal with it.  well let's hope this season is better for both of us.  Be well and talk soon.  Maryjo

Mary Jo,

I hope it is better this holiday season too.

I am doing my damndest to make it so.

Take care.