A continuation of our mental illness theme from earlier this month.

There is a great deal of false information being scattered around the internet concerning schizophrenia.  This includes schizophrenia video, audio and print.  People who thought they knew way more than what they actually know have done nothing but to promote lies and stigma regarding schizophrenia. In fact, this has been going on for years. I wanted to share with you a short schizophrenia video from the organization of NAMI or National Alliance of Mental Illness.

NAMI is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization in the country.  They are constantly reaching out to the millions of people who need some type of assistance.

NAMI’s Schizophrenic Video

https://www.nami.org/Videos/Tell-Me-About-Schizophrenia

schizophrenia video

References

https://www.nami.org/

https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/schizophrenia/index.shtml

http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/conditions/schizophrenia

Going further

Schizophrenia Myths Part 1

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Schizophrenia myths cause trouble for the person with the mental illness as well as the community at large.  There is about one percent of the population that have schizophrenia.  This mental illness is well known across the county. At the same time, research suggests that laypeople know little to nothing about schizophrenia or any other mental illness.  As a result, there are many myths floating around out there concerning this extremely complex mental illness.  Due to these myths, there are countless people who are unable to get treatment due to the stigma.

schizophrenia myths

Myth 1: Schizophrenia means you have a split personality

This can be attributed to the fictional characters, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde who are seen in literature.  Through the years these schizophrenia myths, ordinary people have perpetuated the belief that a person with schizophrenia has multiple personality disorder much like the Jekyll/Hyde persona.  This notion is completely wrong on all accounts.  This myth sets up one to believe that a schizophrenic person is dangerous and unpredictable.  If anyone were to walk in a schizophrenic’s shoes and believes they are being abused and terrified from the voices, that “normal” person will respond in the same way.

Myth 2: All schizophrenics are violent and dangerous

I would like for you to meet my friend Dan.  He is schizophrenic and I met him in group therapy.  Dan totally shatters these schizophrenia myths. He is polite, nice, calm, funny, smart and caring.  In your mind, you probably do not believe those characteristics could describe someone who has schizophrenia.  Moreover, this is a fairly common myth based on the absolutely wrong theory that all people with a mental illness are dangerous and can go off at any second.  Even I get extremely angry when I am in a rage.  I want to destroy anything in my path.  But, my faith and my current medicine I am on seems to be stabilizing me.  This does not make me a violent person.

Myth 3: People with serious mental illness are completely disabled

Speaking from experience, my bipolar 1 with psychotic features, mixed episodes and ultra-rapid cycling is very serious.  Meaning it ranks up there with schizophrenia.  All my life I have had trouble holding down more than 20 jobs.  I have never applied for disability.  Currently, I am working a freelance job that allows me to be my own boss.  It is refreshing to be able to set my own schedule and my own deadlines.  Or take a break and go for a walk.  This is working because I analyzed my disability, my work history and my personality and figured out what I can and cannot do.  Many people do this too in order to reverse these schizophrenic myths.

schizophrenia myths

Myth 4: Schizophrenia makes people lazy

Many mental illnesses do make it more difficult for them to care of their daily needs.  This just means you need help dressing and bathing.  Based on my own personal experience, family (close family) may not be as sensitive to your needs as you would like.  Instead they focus only on themselves.

References

https://www.everydayhealth.com/hs/schizophrenia-caregiver-guide/schizophrenia-myths-debunked-pictures/

https://www.webmd.com/schizophrenia/guide/schizophrenia-myths-and-facts#2

Drs. Steven Jones and Peter Hayward, Coping with Schizophrenia, 2004

Going further

Someone to understand

Bipolar Rage Tempered

The post Schizophrenia Myths Part 1 appeared first on Life Conquering Blog.

I love this pin with Snoopy from the Peanuts demonstrating unmotivated bipolar.  This pin I chose from Pinterest, is a perfect illustration explaining one of bipolar’s worst symptoms.  Lack of motivation.

Unmotivated bipolar – what it looks like

It never fails, I get excited about a little project I want to accomplish, then somebody or something throws the brake release and I come to a dead stop.  You need to realize that people with this symptom feel horrible.  I mean dirt off a tin can in the sewer horrible.  The body is encased in concrete from head to toe.  It hurts to move.  Actually they can’t move in most situations.  All I ever want to do is stare at a wall or out the window for hours unending.  I want to cry.  I want to cut myself.  I want to cuss somebody out.  I want to hit a punching bag.

Decisions

At this juncture, I can either pick myself off the floor and fight tooth and nail against unmotivated bipolar.  Or I can just sit back like the beagle seen here.  Chillin’ out and waiting for the sun to rise on the horizon.  This too shall pass.  I have made both decisions.  I had my reasons.  But I have chosen to get on the couch and stare more times then I care to admit.

How can you help?

Yes, you can help.  I challenge you to be a proactive friend.  If your mentally ill co-worker is having motivation issues at work, then try out the following.

1. Be a listening ear.  The last thing they want is someone yammering in their ear about kids, work, finances, blah-blah-blah.  Now I do not mean to paint bipolars as self-centered friends.  The truth of the matter, the majority of this world does not know how to talk to an unmotivated bipolar, or to someone with depression, or PTSD, or AD/HD, bipolar, schizophrenia.  You catch my drift?
2. Do not draw attention to your friend.  They are already hurting enough.  If they want to do something, go to a quiet dinner or coffee shop or bookstore and enjoy each others company.
3. Do not kid with them or scold them for not being productive.  Listen, we really do want to be productive.  Honestly.  The chemicals in our brain are working against us.
4. Get a bead on your friend whether or not they want encouragement.  Usually, I just want to be left alone.
5. Snoopy is correct when he says he is the victim.  When your brain chemistry is f*cked up like ours, It is like somebody has come in and flooded my brain with radiator fluid.  Just be a friend.

The post Unmotivated bipolar appeared first on Life Conquering Blog.

The question above, “is bipolar an excuse for bad behavior?” obviously is a very tricky subject to nail down and dissect.  I know what you are thinking.  Am I qualified to speak with authority on this touchy topic?  Well…my diagnosis is bipolar 1 with psychotic features, ultra-rapid cycling and mixed episodes.  I also have AD/HD, generalized anxiety disorder and OCD.  For over three years now, I have been a freelance writer covering mental health.  Go ahead and judge for yourself at the end of this blog post whether I have the authority to speak on bad bipolar behavior.

Bipolar an excuse?

In my research, I was completely shocked at how far the door swung in one particular direction from so-called “fact based” organizations.

1. “Mental Illness is not an Excuse to be an Asshole” Psychology Today
2. “Stop Equating Mental Illness and Bad Behavior” National Association for Mental Illness Rhode Island
3. “Is Mental Illness an Excuse for Bad Behavior?” HealthyPlace
4. “Mental Illness or Personality Traits?: The Roots of “Bad” Behavior in Your Partner” PsychCentral
5. “When is Mental Illness Just an Excuse for Bad Behavior” Kings River Life

In my experience as a bipolar 1 as well as having friends with or without a known mental illness, each mental illness publication listed here is stigmatizing the mental illness community except HealthyPlace.

The bad

During my travels with bipolar, I have done a whole slew of things that caused pain, embarrassment, loss of integrity and much more.  The one manic symptom that I go to is risky behavior.  Right smack dab in the middle of the mania, I am on a high like none other.  I can seriously sit here and say when I embarked on those risky behaviors, I was not in my right mind.

bipolar an excuse

If you have ever felt depressed, you understand when I say “I was in a deep pit”.  “I could not get out of the pit.”  “No manner of encouragement of the sincerest interest could get me out.”  If you suffer from depression, you have been there when you were unable to speak at work; unable to focus on the dinner party you planned; so full of anxiety that you cannot leave your desk at work even to go to the breakroom

I have had mean thoughts.  The voices in my head have told me mean and hurtful things.  Somethings I have acted on while others just slipped out my left ear.  I have also had inappropriate thoughts and acted on them.  The risky behaviors were alluring and I did not mind participating.

The good

I know what you must be thinking.  She is just delusional and dead wrong about bipolar behavior.  The activities I mentioned are all just bad behavior therefor I must be a bad person.

But what you do not know about me is that those behaviors did not describe me some 25 years ago.  If you were to speak to anybody in my past (meaning eight-teen and younger), the people that I saw in school who were just acquaintances I knew back then would be more than surprised.  Shocked.  Dumbfounded.  Disbelieving.  Astonished.  Stunned.  Stupefied.  These behaviors did not describe the person I was in middle school and high school.

I believe the only person who knew me back then (at least what I dared to share) was my best friend from elementary school, Beth Patterson.

You see, before the bipolar picked up steam and started to show itself in public, I was quiet and shy.  Kept to myself.  Didn’t speak much.  Almost awkward in my own skin.  Felt inadequate.  Then the bipolar exploded into my life in my twenties (the good with the bad).

behavior an excuse

1. From shy to loud. And I mean very loud.  When I laugh, people can hear me in the next county.
2. From withdrawn to open. This was my catalyst in me meeting all the men I was eventually with.
3. From not talkative to talking a bunch and VERY fast. One time I heard what I sounded like on my husband’s voicemail.  I was talking so fast that I was incomprehensible.  Sometimes I have no idea I am doing it.
4. From awkward to self-assured.
5. From inadequate to unstoppable.

grace

So, is bipolar an excuse for bad behavior?

I believe if the person is actively in a bipolar episode and they act out and it is not their regular behavior, then yes.  If the person is outside a bipolar episode and is not being affected by previous episodes, then I don’t think so.

The bottom line is, there has to be grace for the bipolar person in order to answer the question “Is bipolar an excuse?” in the affirmative.  None of us are perfect.  We all have our faults.  Bipolar is a mood disorder.  However, that makes it sound like child’s play, doesn’t it?  It’s not.  It is a cobra ready to strike.

References

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/panic-life/201412/mental-illness-is-not-excuse-be-asshole

https://namirhodeisland.org/stop-equating-mental-illness-bad-behavior/

https://www.healthyplace.com/blogs/breakingbipolar/2012/07/is-mental-illness-excuse-bad-behavior/

https://blogs.psychcentral.com/wellness/2011/05/mental-illness-or-personality-traits/

http://kingsriverlife.com/10/08/when-is-mental-illness-just-an-excuse-for-bad-behavior/

Going Further

https://lifeconquering.org/bipolar-1-episode/

https://lifeconquering.org/ultra-rapid-cycling-bipolar/

The post Is bipolar an excuse for bad behavior? appeared first on Life Conquering Blog.

Sometimes all we need is for someone to understand what we are going through.  No words.  No changing the subject.  Instead, a hand on the shoulder.  A hug.  Smile.  Touch on the hand.  Don’t try to give me advice.  Do not say “I told you so.”  Do not say, “when I was your age.”  Or “that happened to me too” and turn the focus onto you.  Nor “just think happy thoughts.”

Going further

Bipolar Depression – What does it look and feel like? Could you notice it in someone?

Clinical Depression Mythbusters You Need to Know for Yourself and Your Family

The post Someone to understand appeared first on Life Conquering Blog.

Warning Signs of Mental Health

The warning signs of mental health are everywhere.  A teenager who sleeps all evening every evening behind a closed door.  A father who does not want to go home, stops by the local pub every night after work  A young college waitress risking it all to pick up every guy she meets on the job.  A high school athlete hides his fear of not being able to play because he is so anxious that he has panic attacks.  A mom pops pain pills all day thinking that it will stop the pain she feels deep down inside.

I hope you enjoy this You Tube video.  You never know, with your knowledge of the warning signs of mental health, you could one day save someone’s life.

 Help is here

Mental Health and Substance Abuse Resources

Going Further

ADHD in Adults – The Truth behind the Mystery

Conquering the Real Demon of Mental Illness: Stigma

About Amy Pierce Romine

I am an award-winning blogger, freelance writer, speaker and social media consultant on topics regarding mental health. The symptoms of my bipolar 1 with psychotic features, rapid cycling and mixed episodes remained unnoticed from my early childhood days through high school where I grew up in an alcoholic home.  I went completely manic in my twenties and did not have my first diagnosis and treatment until 2007.  My blog, Life Conquering is an award winning blog.  You may find me at https://blog.feedspot.com/bipolar_disorder_blogs/. 

The post You Tube video on 10 Common Warning Signs of Mental Health in Teens and Young Adults appeared first on Life Conquering Blog.

CONGRATS are in order for Life Conquering Blog for Mental Illness!  I have been accepted into the Top 100 Bipolar Disorder Blogs.  Please visit the website at https://blog.feedspot.com/bipolar_disorder_blogs/.  Life Conquering Blog is #73.  I want to thank all my Followers for their abiding support. If you have not pushed follow, do it now before you forget!

mental illness blog

About Amy Pierce Romine

I am a freelance writer, award-winning blogger, speaker, copy editor and social media consultant.   My blog, Life Conquering was chosen to be one of the “Top 100 Bipolar Blogs”.  Please visit my award-winning blog at the address below.

 https://blog.feedspot.com/bipolar_disorder_blogs/. 

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/lifeconquering/

Twitter https://twitter.com/lifeconquering

Google + https://plus.google.com/u/0/+LifeConquering

Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/lifeconquering/

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-pierce-romine-a22153147/

FOLLOW. LIKE. SHARE.

https://lifeconquering.org/

mental health blog

 

The post Life Conquering is now an “Award Winning Blog” appeared first on Life Conquering Blog.

I apologize for not blogging sooner, but life’s ups and downs provided hurdles to me being able to manage my mental illness for the second half of January. Believe me, I had good intentions towards blogging. The past two to three weeks have been a cornucopia of ups and downs both in my life and with my mental illness.  I’ve had personal issues; continuously unstable moods; getting sick with food poisoning; my adored pet on the verge of death; and trying desperately to find a second job.

life’s ups and downs

Life’s ups and down

You never know when life or people or situations will throw you a curve ball. I had a big curve ball that initiated an up and down that left me wondering the uncertainties of my life. Someone or something like a car, house, job or marriage can be there one minute and another minute get swallowed up from the fallout from life’s ups and downs.

I turned the new diagnosis of diabetes of Jake, my Dachshund/Beagle mix up and down into a learning opportunity.  I  have always been scared of needles since they used to make me very woozy.  When I was taught to give Jake his insulin shots, I shocked myself right out of my socks!  I had no problem giving him his insulin.  At the beginning of his diagnosis, I was of the mindset that James, my husband, needed to learn how to give the shots to Jake, too.  Then, I could easily get out of the responsibility.

Subsequently, when Jake got so sick that we thought we were going to lose him twice, I worried I had failed at my attempts to carry out the doctor’s orders.  My heart was aching for my little buddy.  I was frightened when I saw him lose muscle control in his back legs, fall down and shake almost like having a seizure.  I wanted to freak out!  At the same time, I wanted to be strong for my Jake.  Changing my focus from failure to strength, even in tears, helped me think more clearer in the situation.  Jake is getting better with an increase in his insulin.  Now we are learning to deal with all the tiny pieces of this canine diabetic puzzle.

mental illness ups and downs

Mental illness ups and downs

Another puzzle I am still attempting to figure out, is my mental health.  In the past, I have spoken about the roller coaster rides I have been on concerning my own mental illness.  Sometimes, I was not very victorious because I tended to focus on the negative.  Hence I rolled over and took a nap on my couch or called James up crying. At the moment, that seemed like the appropriate things to do. While under the pressures of the past two to three weeks, I decided to choose different tactics instead o sleeping and crying.  I looked at the situations I was going through square in the face, pulled up my big girl panties, said a prayer and dove in.

One of my changes/promises for this year was to not to give up so easily.  When I would give up, I would make all kinds of excuses for myself.  I was pathetic.  I  hated the person I had become.  You see, this promise to leave my excuses behind has been extremely difficult.  No matter if it were an up or a down I made excuses for everything I did or did not do.

It is easy to make excuses with my bipolar 1 with psychotic features, rapid cycling and mixed episodes because it is challenging to live with.  Now, I did fight through a few things and left the the excuses at home.  With most things I didn’t even attempt to fight.

I have read in memoirs, on the internet as well as have seen for myself in support groups just how strong a bipolar person like me can be through the ups and downs of my mental health and life.  It is a lot of work fighting, yet it is worth every second of it.

The post Syncing life’s ups and downs with my own mental illness ups and downs appeared first on Life Conquering Blog.

There are somethings in this world like suicide that we don’t want to talk about so we shy away from them; put our heads in the sand, hoping it will go away; or pretend it doesn’t exist until it affects you in some way.  We desperately need to talk about the dangers of suicide.  It is unfortunately part of our society today.

The latest statistics about suicide

Suicide is the 10^th leading cause of death in the US for all ages. (CDC)

Every day, approximately 105 Americans die by suicide. (CDC)

There is one death by suicide in the US every 12 minutes. (CDC)

Depression affects 20-25% of Americans ages 18+ in a given year. (CDC)

Suicide takes the lives of over 38,000 Americans every year. (CDC)

The highest suicide rates in the US are among Whites, American Indians and Alaska Natives.

Only half of all Americans experiencing an episode of major depression receive treatment. (NAMI)

80% -90% of people that seek treatment for depression are treated successfully using therapy and/or medication. (TAPS study)

An estimated quarter million people each year become suicide survivors (AAS).

There is one suicide for every estimated 25 suicide attempts. (CDC)

There is one suicide for every estimated 4 suicide attempts in the elderly. (CDC)

suicide triggers

Suicide triggers

My bipolar was all out of sorts this past week.  I was having issues with one of my extremely important medicines, my anti-psychotic called Latuda.  This helps me manage my hallucinations and delusions, bipolar depression and overall stability.  Everything that Latuda helps ran down the drain.  It was really my fault since I did not call in the prescription on time which left me with only expired samples that were one-third the prescribed dosage.

The changes in the Latuda really caused some problems for me.  Sitting on the couch with Jake, working on an article, I heard music and voices speaking.  The TV and music in my house were both turned off.

I could have easily freaked out which I have done in the past when the noises and voices get really loud and all-consuming.  I have nobody to turn to because I am either laughed at or feel stupid talking about it when the other person has no earthly clue as to what I am experiencing and instead of listening attempt to smooth things over.  This is an after school special.  This is freakin’ real!

suicide triggers

The bipolar depression along with the mixed episodes caused my stability to ebb and flow every so many minutes throughout the day like a ship at sea .  I felt like I was being stretched like a rubber band from one side of the earth to the other.  God, knows how much I HATE that feeling.  It also feels like I am being skinned alive.  If it gets too bad, I will start having suicidal thoughts.

…And in they marched.

I feel so alone at times even in a house full of four living, breathing mammals, social media, this blog and my writing.  I wanted to end the pain which was so overwhelming.  The next thing I knew, I was walking towards the kitchen for the turkey carving knife.  Visions of blood drizzling from my wrists came flooding into my mind.

The turning point

The turning point keeping me from going all the way, was the fact I knew my husband needed me.  High on that list of needs was for me to be a buffer between him and his mother as well as just support when dealing with her.  The amount of responsibility, expectations and pressure that is on him is incredible.  He should not have to be in this position since she is neither divorced or widowed.  The last thing he needs is to find me lying  on the kitchen floor in a pool of blood.

What is your turning point?

A picture of your baby sucking his thumb in a NICU incubator.  Your wedding vows.  Your grandmother you are taking care of.  Your career.  A hobby.  The guys in the bike club.  Fear.  Humiliation.  The finality of it all.  Love.  The empty feeling of loss your friends and loved ones will feel.  A pet.  A cause you are fighting for like Pro-Life or the arts in education.  The promise of a new day.  Your ability to fight.  Your daughter who just turned sweet six-teen.  A new product launch you are heading up for the company.  Music.  A voicemail message encouraging you.  Family.  Friends.  Your upcoming summer wedding.

I am sure you could add at least fifteen more turning points that would hold you back from committing suicide or causing yourself bodily harm like cutting.  It doesn’t matter what it takes to turn yourself around.  Just stop and think about that turning point.  Meditate on it.  Let the thoughts and mental pictures of whatever your turning point is soak into your brain.  Feel the love and acceptance from your tight-knit support group.  Or the pride your family feels about you.  The respect your co-workers have for you.  The adoration you see in your pets eyes for you.

suicide help

Because there are just as many reasons to end it all, you have to hold on tight to your turning point.  For when the time comes (again) you want to be ready to stand tall against its seducing call for you.

Suicide help and prevention

There are many resources for finding help.  Do not suffer alone.

Mental Health and Substance Abuse Resources

References

Suicide Facts

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/two-takes-depression/201311/understanding-survivors-suicide-loss

Wait, Who Is A Suicide Survivor Again?

http://www.suicidology.org/suicide-survivors/suicide-loss-survivors

https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/features/cutting-self-harm-signs-treatment#1

The post Suicide – there is help – WARNING TRIGGER ALERT appeared first on Life Conquering Blog.

Life Conquering Quotes

It’s not what you look at that matters, it is what you see.

– Henry David Thoreau

It's not what you look at that matters, it is what you see. Henry David Thoreau pic.twitter.com/xBvJIHsle0

— Amy Pierce Romine (@lifeconquering) January 15, 2018

The post Life Conquering Quotes – What do you see? appeared first on Life Conquering Blog.