Antidepressants are known to cause a “bipolar switch,” causing a person to go from being depressed to being manic. This often happens before a person with bipolar disorder has been correctly diagnosed. A healthcare provider may mistakenly believe that a person with bipolar disorder has depression and may prescribe an antidepressant. This can cause a manic episode, which may be dangerous. (Source: http://depression.emedtv.com/trazodone/trazodone-and-bipolar-disorder.html)

I self-medicated for about 7 years, popping in a Prozac whenever I needed a lift-up. In the beginning, it was prescribed by my psychiatrist but she had asked me for follow-up visits which I did not make. I decided on my own that I didn’t need anymore help and just continued with Prozac. It soon became my pick-me-up drug. My manic episodes which were very few and scattered became much more regular and pronounced. I would always be on the edge of exploding off into recklessness and impulsive behavior accompanied by rage and hyper-sexuality or pummeling down to the worst kind of depression. And all this happened within the blink of an eye. The slightest things would set me off. The switches became more and more frequent and pretty soon I was an unstable freak making life miserable for myself and everyone around me. When I finally got help again, my mild episodes from last time had now become a severe form of Bipolar I – Rapid Cycling. The cycles were so rapid, my mind and body were never at peace. Do not make the mistake I made. Do not self-medicate under any circumstances. Choose a health-care provider wisely, and go back when they call you for follow-up visits. No -they are not minting money off of you, they actually want to see the results of the prescribed medications, which usually need a lot of adjusting to before you reach a state of stability.

Don’t tell me how much you liked watching ‘A beautiful mind’

Tell me how many schizophrenics you’ve supported, IRL

Don’t tell me how much ‘The Kite Runner’ made you tear

Tell me how many victims of child abuse you have rescued, IRL

Don’t tell me what a great writer you think Paulo Coelho is

Tell me how much you sympathize with the asylums, IRL

Don’t tell me Dustin Hoffman deserved an oscar for ‘Rainman’

Tell me how many savants you actually know and care about, IRL

Don’t tell me you were inspired by ‘I Am Sam’ and Sean Penn

Tell me if you’ve ever supported a ‘mentally retarded’ person, IRL

Don’t tell me how Angelina Jolie nailed it in ‘Girl, Interrupted’

Tell me if you’ve ever befriended a borderline or a Bipolar, IRL

Why don’t you make fun of these movies and books

The way you make fun of the people they portray

It’s easy to act, pretend, react, shed a tear or spare a laugh

When pictures move and people talk inside your TV screen

But would you do the same, if given that chance In Real Life…

What would you do, In Real Life? What would you really do? IRL.

I came across this article on eHow.com. It discusses how the Internet can help you cope with Bipolar through education.

What this article fails to mention is that the Internet itself, in addition to computer, cellphones, TV and similar technology, is a HUGE trigger. It can set off or fuel episodes. Especially, if a bipolar has symptoms of becoming MANIC, his/her access to Internet should be limited/monitored as they have a tendency to reel off and as soon as you know, they’re writing long embarrassing emails at 4 AM in the morning or planning a sexual rendezvous at some sleazy dating site. Trust me, I would know!

‘It’s all in your head’, ‘That’s what you believe…’, ‘Everyone has problems, you’re not unique…’

Sound familiar? How many times have you dished out these precious one-liners or had them dished out at you… all for your own good off course.

Platitudes don’t cure shit, Healthy Palace talks more about some of the worst things you can say to someone with Bipolar Disorder: http://www.healthyplace.com/bipolar-disorder/support/worst-things-to-say-to-a-person-with-bipolar-disorder/menu-id-67/

Mood disorders are the worst form of disability, as the vast range of effects and symptoms can easily be mistaken for intentional behavior. You will come across well-meaning friends and family members who will suggest you to discontinue your medication. They will encourage you that there is nothing wrong with you, that it’s ‘all in your head’. They’ll tell you to take the responsibility of your own actions and toughen the fuck up. While they are your well-wishers who have your best interests at heart, they are not qualified enough to make that call.

Some reminders for you, in case you find yourself convinced that you are perhaps cured of Bipolar Disorder by somehow ‘dealing with all your issues head-on’:

• Bipolar Disorder is a chronic condition, much like diabetes, one cannot simply ‘snap out of it’ at will or by intention.
• Periods of recovery are common but a relapse almost ALWAYS occurs, if Bipolar is left untreated.

The first trick an elephant trainer teaches an elephant is not to escape. When the elephant is still but a baby, the trainer chains the infant’s leg to a huge log, so when/if the elephant tries to escape, the log proves stronger and he gives up. Eventually the elephant becomes so used to its captivity, that even when it has grown huge and strong, all the trainer has to do is merely tie the chain around the elephant’s leg to anything—even a tiny little twig—and the elephant won’t even try to escape.

It has become a prisoner of its past.

Source: How to be happy, dammit – A Cynic’s Guide to Spiritual Happiness by Karen Salmansohn

I feel completely helpless right now. With rapid-cycling spiraling out of control, I can no longer tell what phase I’m in. I haven’t eaten anything since yesterday and too many random thoughts are bombarding my mind. I’ve been looking up ridiculous ideas of joining a film-making course or something for the past 2 hours. I feel really ugly and fat. I’m irritable and snappy. I feel a weird itching in my neck region. Taking deep breaths helps a little but it doesn’t quite last. I forgot to take my prescribed mood elevator and mood stabilizer last night, its supposed to get me through the day…I did take the morning dose, but the elevator is not part of it. And now I’m at work and feel completely helpless. I’m not talking to anyone because I fear an outbreak. Even though I realize that I NEVER do lash out… why am I so scared, then? I almost always manage to keep it under covers, especially at work. But appearances come at a very high price for me. My mind feels completely numb. I feel like calling home, but nobody wants to hear my voice anyway. I close my eyes and all I see is me in suicidal positions. I just want to end it tonight.

Depiction of the mentally ill in fictional/non-fictional books and movies is very common. It’s almost cliche that in order to win an oscar, you must play a complex twisted and psychotic role. Whether its Russell Crowe’s ‘A Beautiful Mind’ or Angelina Jolie’s performance in ‘Girl Interupted’ or Sean Penn’s ‘I am Sam’ or even the ellusive character of Boo Radley in ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’, audiences in general, love and appreciate the portrayal of the mentally disturbed.

Quite a few TV series have also been dedicated to the subject. HBO’s drama ‘In Treatment’ is about a psychotherapist Dr. Paul Watson and his weekly sessions with patients. Another TV series which I came across recently is ‘Mental’. Launched in 2009 on FOX, it explores the use of unorthodox methods to prob and treat mental patients.

There are countless other references in various art forms to mental diseases and disorders. The main objective of all these references in books, movies and TV is to create awareness and portray a complex character which helps audiences see their perception of the world and the challenges and problems they face. Sadly, many fall short of this objective.

Every person living with Bipolar knows how it feels to get that instant urge to talk to someone -someone who cares, listens and is polite and nice in return. But the thing is, in today’s fast-paced life, no one has the time. Even the closest friend would ask for a breather every once in a while and you may not be comfortable sharing with everyone that you have Bipolar Disorder. Even if someone does lend you an ear out of pity or out of politeness, there will come a time when you drive them away with all your ‘crazy’ talk -I have no other way to define it. When I recall some of my conversations when I’m super-charged in a fit of mania or extremely depressed in my state of withdrawal, I can’t even recognize myself. Haven’t you noticed how no one in your family takes you seriously or how none of your friends talk to you anymore? Do you really want to continue risking your relationship with the outer world by presenting the REAL you? Off course, I’m not suggesting that you corner yourself and hide away. Go about your day as you normally would, only this time, be critical of your interaction with other people. So the question arises, who should you go to -who is the right person you should confide in, who has enough substance in them to hear you out?

“You wanna be really great? Have the courage to fail big & stick around. Make them wonder why you’re still smiling.” -@iheartquotes on Twitter