Away for training/Bipolarism

by goodnatured » Thu Jan 10, 2008 01:08 am

I am going away for a week of training, I am not looking forward to it at all, but all the staff has to go through it, I just happen to be first, I want to get it out of the way. So, I have to figure out a way to be polite while these people that don't do my job tell me how to do my job better.

I will be taking my zoloft with me, over the last few years when I sit for a while in a classroom environment, my mind goes places that I wish it would not. I honestly can not control this crap, finally went to may doctor and got some medication.

Eventually it started happening on a daily basis at work, pretty wild stuff, I would have to get away from the scene to get it out of my head.

It is strange because it is never the same. Sometimes I get angry, sometimes just overly, overly thrilled, it is ridiculous, doctor said that I was bipolar, he tested me and I got a 9 out of 14, he says it is pretty severe. I have been okay for quite awhile now, but I will tell you the first time it happened it was a pretty crazy experience.

Has anyone dealt with anyone with bipolarism? I have always considered myself a pretty stable person, but this crap just takes control of my mind and goes places that are totally innappropriate at times.

Total Comments: 64

Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2008 06:14 am Post Subject:

Hi goodnatured, lemme first tell you that people suffering from bipolarism is no way less than their fellow people.

I have always considered myself a pretty stable person,



And you should continue thinking so. Good luck mate :)

Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2008 09:24 am Post Subject:

So, I have to figure out a way to be polite while these people that don't do my job tell me how to do my job better.



Yeah I consider that as a professional hazard. Though I'm not bipolar, my mind too runs here and there when I have to attend such training classes. Inspite of my best efforts I can't ever remember a word after leaving the classroom LOL :wink:

Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 04:21 am Post Subject:

It is really hard for me to stay focused if I lose interest too good, you are not alone. It is hard to listen to someone and act interested in what they are talking about if they do not do your job. I have heard some motivational speakers that could apply their techniques to sheep herding, it is so generic. Hope you can keep it under control.

Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 12:14 pm Post Subject:

TRAINING.........AGGGGGGGGGGGGH, I hate it! Dag-Gum 'suits' that have zero practial knowlegde, oh well, doesn't matter what we think, we all unfortunately have to go thru it...Can't tell you how many, days, weeks, months I've had to spend doing the same...

Although I 'm not bipolar, we all wander (our minds)..in these situations...couple of things I do (to keep from falling asleep) that might help you....if there's a speaker that has a bad habit...you know like touching their nose or ear, or says the same word too much...I make a game of keeping track how often they do it (on paper)...Another thing I do (aside from doodling) is I will try and desciper certain things looking for deeper meaning, for me it's generally something I know from memory like the Lords Prayer, you know like I'll take the first few word, like, 'Our father who art in Heaven', and think just about 'that' part and try and put it in different words...or the National Anthem, , ''Oh say can you see by the dawn early light"" and work it around to maybe, 'it's getting light enough to see now, can you see over there what is that?"...this may sound absolutely crazy...but it helps me get thru stuff like this (i do it when I'm trying to sleep too some times) and really I end up figuring things out or finding deeper meaning in stuff like this...something else, (maybe) abc's backwards, songs backwords (i do songs too like above), ANYTHING that can keep your mind 'focused' on SOMETHING! other than the thoughts you fear.....

btw...lots and lots of people are bypolar, my husband, daughter, (his family is full of it)....you will find your way of dealing with it....husband has never been medicated or even seen anyone for it...he just has learned to deal with it mostly.......daughter medicated in college some, and during her divorce but no more, she too has just had to come up with coping skills on her own...both do very well now.....

best of luck...try my 'trick'....

Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2008 12:41 am Post Subject:

Lori,

You have never started singing out loud have you, LOL, just kidding, Bipolarism is a pretty common diagnosis today, some can manage it with out medication and that is good, no sense in putting something into your body that you don't have too. Never know how you will react on pschotrophic drugs anyway, some of them can be very powerful and everyone reacts differently I am glad to hear that both your daughter and your husband are pill free, that is great.

Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2008 09:56 am Post Subject:

Certainly no shame in taking meds to help ANY condition! I'd likely be dead without some that I take....People are different and ALL conditions have varying degrees..if medication helps ANYONE WITH ANYTHING...I say you'd be foolish to not use it!....btw, have been caught with my lips moving, but never actually out loud!

Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2008 12:55 pm Post Subject:

LOL, moving your lips.

I just think it is great that your husband and daughter are able to control it without medication. I agree that many people can not control it without medication and should take the medication.

Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2008 01:05 pm Post Subject:

In my case, if I know that I have a lot of training coming up, I will take the medication to get it in my system. I don't want to feel like I am skipping through the tulips and singing "walking on sunshine" either. On the other hand, I hate the mood swings. I can go with out the medication through out a normal situation, but if the stress level increases that is when I have to take the medications. Normally if a co worker is going to training with me I am more apt to stay in the better mood, because I have some one to share the anxiety with, if I know that someone else is suffering too, LOL, I seem to be okay or I should say that my mood goes to the high end, happy, happy, happy. It is a very strange condition, you are either up, up, up or down, down, down.

I really try to do it without the medications, but I always keep it on hand, just in case. My employer is training crazy but it is not only training that can bring this on, it could be just about any type of stress that makes me anxious.

Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 09:45 am Post Subject:

I don't want to feel like I am skipping through the tulips and singing "walking on sunshine" either.

Why the hell not? They got some meds to make you feel like that? Sign me up! :wink:

I know (the ups and downs) would'nt it be great if you could 'dial it in' you know be up all the time, and switch the dial to 'down' at bed time or something?

I think we all have 'some' manic/depression in us...really I do, some of course struggle mightily with this...sounds to me though that you have good approach at controling it...and I'm proud to know you, and that you have no problem admitting you have it etc...it's when we try and hide these things that the problem or condition get bigger and bigger (IMO)...

My husband has been a terrific help to his daughter in this regard...meaning when she was younger and battling it much more, she had someone that would say, 'listen, i know EXACTLY how you feel, and these feelings aren't real, you are inflatting them'' etc...i think it was good he/they had someone to talk with about it.......

good natured, i think you're doing great!

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