Mania / Depression / Anxiety / Hypermania & Manic Depression – (Bi-Polar Disorder)

I myself have suffered these conditions for over 2 decades now since being diagnosed with these medical conditions and suffered from these disorders since 1987 since I first came to Eden N.S.W. Australia, although I feel I have had them well before this.   I make this statement to only help others, I really do not care less who knows about this as if my missus Tanya and I know and we deal with it, then that’s all that matters to me.

Like many who get diagnosed was picked up by police who took me to a Psychiatric Hospital after being charged with criminal offences, which where later dropped.

The unfortunate truth is many people have to be charged by police before help can be sort for these disorders.

I have known many people to live quite well with these conditions but saying that I also know they are never truly cured, it’s an ongoing thing and many people like myself feel quite okay and can cope for numerous years at a time, there is always the point where professional help maybe required.

It is up to the sufferer to stand or own up to this or else they are just kidding themselves, as stated I don’t give two shits who knows and willing to speak quite openly about it to anyone and have done so numerous times even over the radio when I used to do my blues show for over 4 years…

Once a person is open and shares their condition I also believe it also a great stress off them.

My last full-blown attack (episode) was in 2004 exactly the same time of the Canberra fires where the skies turned gray and headlights on cars seemed blue.   I believe this pushed me over the edge once more.   Tanya sort refuge at her mothers and was pleased to have the help of our great neigbours, until I got better, which again took some weeks.

Once again at this time , the Police where after me until I contacted them and I explained I knew what was happening to me, a manic depressive attack, and had sort medical help already, to which they decided to contact the Local Mental Health team, (who knew of my conditions) or else I would have been charged with criminal offences once again, and possibly jailed.

These conditions are all caused by a chemical imbalance within the brain, as why they call it Bi-polar, meaning one side of the brain to the other side causing a disturbance in mood. They where also called having the ‘Black Dog’ in times gone past, or Lunacy, as it tends to affect people around full moons, or changes in the seasons like I know myself can feel great unrest at the start of Autumn or Spring.  Also I get uneasy around or should say exactly 3 days before a full moon, (I used to tell my mother this since little, who thought I was pulling her leg) and can only sleep if upside down in bed during this time.

The unfortunate and really dumb part is there will be no medical help available until the sufferer seeks it or gets into trouble, usually with the law. As Tanya can not ask for help for me, I have to stand up and admit I am having a problem and seek it myself.

All sufferers usually do not realize that they are having an episode, and I feel the laws related to this are outdated and stupid, although once a person is on the register with a local Mental Heath Care, a partner can ring to get help, and they will send a team member, who is a registered nurse to come to the person’s home, in Australia anyway.

I also recommend that while the sufferer is feeling okay to express that this cause of action be in place and verified by the sufferer for their partner to do to the thus having a plan in place.

Although all people have their daily ups and downs or feeling good or depressed etc these conditions are usually diagnosed as the suffer suffers them for an extreme length of time, weeks or years.  I have been told once a person has suffered these for over a fortnight and maybe years, whereas normal people get over their grief within a week, if not sooner, people with manic depression don’t get over it, and maybe caused by nothing at all, except the brains chemical imbalance.

These are called Highs and Lows, (rapid cycling) but people who suffer the psychiatric conditions above carry these for many weeks/years, with there minds working overtime, with rushing thoughts coming in they cannot stop.

I also at the start of these episodes get the feeling of what I call a ‘petrol generator’ running in my head which gets louder as time/days go on, and usually people who start to feel these episodes cannot rest or sleep due to the amount of rushing thoughts, or the feeling of having to do things right now.

A recent TV program has shown that too many people have been diagnosed with the wrong condition, whereas diagnosed with Bi-Polar rather than just Depression. To understand these conditions I will try and outline what all these sort of disorders mean, to which I have seen over 20 Psychiatrists and psychologists and have contact with other suffers daily via emails etc.

Saying that I believe there are good shrinks and bad, whereas some will listen and others just want to give you the medication and send you on your way, with no back up plan for you or the partners of the sufferer or actually sitting down with the patient or partner to discuss the problems, as the truth of the matter is both these people suffer. Sometimes the partner and close friends more than the patient. I have always asked Tanya to be involved in my consultations as it effects her also.

A psychiatrist or (shrink as I call them as just easier to type) diagnoses the problem and prescribes medication, a psychologist sits with the patient and tries and works out what is happening inside the persons head and tries to relieve the problem drug free. Although I’d advise the use of both when first diagnosed, the psychiatrist is the main one to go to.

When a person is first diagnosed these disorders, it is what the shrinks call an ‘Episode’, either a Manic or Depressive Episode or both, how long the episode has gone on for really does not matter except the longer the person may feel either more depressed or the opposite which is feeling manic.

They will take numerous blood tests to insure you are taking the medication and as some medication have great side effects to your liver/kidneys etc which they need to monitor this.

A Main Point I’ve found with numerous/all suffers I’ve found is psychiatrists do not tell the sufferers or there partners of the drugs they take for the condition, and how they work, and there effects on you. I always ask.    

The drugs/medication (no matter what prescribed) work two to three weeks in advance or longer, it’s not take the medication and it works straight away, it has to absorbed into the blood system and the right amount for the individual to which is why they monitor by blood tests.

All people I have come into contact with including myself, in the past, take the medication and after a few weeks feel okay and fine and feel that we can cope and stupidly stop taking it, unfortunately this will surely result in a rapid decline in mental health, and I do mean quickly, like falling over the edge in a day or two.

All sufferers I have had contact with around 30 or so people have done exactly this including myself.

You cannot treat these medications like an Asprin for a headache, and when the headaches gone stop the medication, they just do not work like that!

Most psychiatrists will lower the rate of medication when the person becomes more stable, and this may take over a year or more. Another thing to point out is all the sufferers I have had contact with do not tell the psychiatrist of the problems or after effects the medication is causing them. You need to relate this to the shrink as it may not be the right medication.

I was bedridden for over 12 years because of the medication I was prescribed was making me lethargic, to the point I could not be bothered washing myself, or feeding myself and put a lot of strain on Tanya who said “it was like living by myself for 12 years” I put on heaps of weight. It wasn’t until my dermatologist who I saw regards Psoriasis  (a skin complaint) asked the shrink to change my medication as it aggravated the psoriasis, to which he did.

To change medications it is also known that the psychiatrist needs to wean you slowly off the medication your on, and wean you onto another medication, this also takes months on end with blood tests.

Mania or being Manic: is the extreme feelings of well being, way above the normal feeling of feeling good and can make you feel extremely great, well being, euphoric, the world looks extremely great, you feel nothing can go wrong ever, like looking through rose colored glasses.

People who suffer manic/mania episodes for long times can at the height of an episode have delusions of high power, grandeur like honestly believing they are Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, The President or Prime Minister, or someone in high power, now matter what sex the sufferer is.

They have great energy may feel they can sort out any of life’s problems and fix or cure people, and get extremely frustrated and angry if others do not follow their advice or fob them off.

People during an episode of mania also can feel invincible, whereas they may speed in there cars, feel over sexed. have hallucinations, increased interest in achieving goals and believe they have artistic skills.

This can and usually goes on 24 hours of the day.  No sleep no eating, no washing as there to busy.

Many sufferers need to be hospitalized for their own and others safety. Mania is also addictive and have known some people to go off there medication to get this feeling back, but the depression is sure to follow…

Mania usually goes hand in hand with depression, but depression can be on it’s own, without mania.

Hypomania, is mania on steroids where you chase your tail in circles so to speak 24 hours a day around trying to get numerous things achieved and because of this not getting anywhere.

I have learn't to control this somewhat by writing all my thoughts down which are usually regarding things to be done around the house until I have a list, many foolscap pages worth, and do the simplest task first, thus achieving something.  I also make sure I up my dose of medication until I’m calm again. I have also tried taking ¼ a sleeping tablet to calm me down, then another ¼ in a few hours time so on and so forth, but once this mania has come in I seem to be able to shrug of the tiredness.  So I don’t advice this method.

To me I’d like to feel Maniac all the time but as I know the opposite depression will kick in soon after is not worth it!

Depression: After a Manic Episode but not necessary it is usually followed by a long bout of Depression.

Depression as stated is not just the feeling of being extremely irritable, sadness, dispair, low or upset, and unable to carry out daily activities, it is at it’s extreme and can carry on for a long time and suffers can feel that low they commit suicide, if professional help not sort.

There is usually arguments, disagreements or fights both verbal and even physical, breaking things over the most littlest things, but to the sufferer of depression these things are all too real and important.

To a person suffering depression I describe it as for instance if someone sends you a million-dollar cheque in the mail, you’ll whinge about the colour of the cheque rather than looking at the bright side.

They can also feel paranoid, like not wanting to go out, or even outside, or jump when the phone rings, and wish to be left alone with no company or visitors. They may even feel like they are being watched or threatened like even in the street by persons unknown.

People who have depression also seem to either take refuse in drugs or alcohol to dull the senses, but this is also short lived.     It’s okay and you feel like your coping if you’ve had a few drinks, but it all comes rushing back again, and being unable to sleep you tend to be able to drink more.

Not always but sometimes Anxiety can play a part in this. I myself for instance have gone shopping and been quite happy then all of a sudden felt like in shaking inside, sweating, my heart beats rapidly, blood pressure goes up and have to leave the situation and have left a full shopping trolley and just come home. Or just did not want to go through the routine as felt uncomfortable with it.   I do find that this has never happened if with someone.

It’s like being worried about going out before actually getting there, I need to plan these outings way in advance and convince myself all will be okay and I sometimes need a bit of Dutch courage to do this, meaning alcohol.

This has also come over me in the most strangest places like at a blues festival which I was enjoying myself then all of a sudden, had said to Tanya, I think we should leave, even if we had accommodation, and everything planned. Lucky Tanya is really easy going and went along with my feelings.

Many people who are suffering depression can go on spending spree’s and overdraw on their Credit Cards or worse gamble or play pokies etc, until they run out of money and my mate down Melbourne said “ There are that many people come out of the Casino and jump off the Westgate Bridge” that it’s not even news or reported anymore” to which I cannot verify this.

Manic Depression or Bi-Polar disorder: are the same thing and just a combination of the two Mania or feeling Manic then dropping of the good feeling to extreme depression.    As stated they usually go hand in hand but not always.

I recently read somewhere that any activities/hobbies that use your hands eyes and of course your brain also help in keeping the brains wires connected, like building or making hobby planes, trains, I prefer motorcycles, or gardening, woodwork etc,  maybe even computers.

So in summing up, the best advice I could give to anyone else who is suffering these Psychiatric / Mental conditions.

Be proud!  You’re not the only one!

Seek help when required shit its only another bloody medical condition.

You will learn after some time when a episode starts to happen, and better to seek help rather than be put in hospital.

Going off your medication will do no one, especially yourself any good. Tried that numerous times and got me know where.  Except some great house improvements. (Joke)

Be true to your partner and yourself and by admitting you have a problem and even talking to others and like me you will find numerous people and friends around you who also suffer the same thing who been keeping it to themselves.

You will also find a great extreme release and comfort in doing this, it releases so much stress, Ask me.

A true friend will be there to help if needed, and will not judge you.  

A person who wishes to criticize or wishes to avoid you ain’t no friend to begin with, and you can live without them.

As you can read I'm very open and please feel free to contact me through my eBay store, or via 'contact me' if you feel you would like to talk about this or email me at woiwade@bordernet.com.au

And No... I am not selling you anything nor give professional advice it's just that I have found that since I had opened up to this via The Ebay 'About Me' page many people have contacted me, and found great friends with the same medical conditions.

Regards,

Gary Palmer – (Possum)