Statistics Sunday

General Overview:

1. Bipolar disorder affects approximately 5.7 million adult Americans, or about 2.6% of the U.S. population age 18 and older every year. 
2. An equal number of men and women develop bipolar illness and it is found in all ages, races, ethnic groups and social classes.
3. Although bipolar disorder is equally common in women and men, research indicates that approximately three times as many women as men experience rapid cycling. 
4. Some 20% of adolescents with major depression develop bipolar disorder within five years of the onset of depression.
5. 54% of people believe depression and depressive disorders are a personal weakness.
6. Bipolar disorder is a recurrent condition. More than 90% of individuals who have a single manic episode go on to have future episodes.
7. About 60-70% of manic or hypomanic episodes occur before or after a major depressive episode.
8. Participation in a DBSA patient-to-patient support group improved treatment compliance by almost 86% and reduced in-patient hospitalization.
9. Consumers who report high levels of satisfaction with their treatment and treatment provider have a much more positive outlook about their illness and their ability to cope with it.

From:
http://www.dbsalliance.org/site/PageServer?pagename=about_statistics_bipolar
NIMH

With a little research, the basics of bipolar can be easily discovered.  But statistics don't tell you everything - they don't tell you what it's like to live with it and while they tell you that you're not alone, they don't tell you how to handle your diagnosis on your own. I think being informed is essential and helpful, but I think our own experiences and emotions shape what we do with that information.

Crazy can be fun.  It doesn't have to own you.

The Formal Introduction

Greetings, All!

So, after a little bit of an accidental mini-break, I am back on my meds and RIP-RARIN' TO GO!
Well, sort of.  Close enough anyway.

Let's start this journey!

This is the first day of my blog, and I must admit, I am pretty excited about it.  I figured with the restarting of all my meds and whatnot, as well as generally trying to bring a little more structure into my life, this could be a really good thing for me and hopefully, not just for me.  There's a lot that can be read about Bipolar Disorder(s) and information on meds, therapies, etc., but it's a little harder to get the personal perspective and to me, that feeling of connection, of recognition of someone else's words has always been beyond reassuring.  They've been straws to grasp at.

Melodrama aside and speaking of medication, here's the nitty-gritty:
I'm diagnosed as Bipolar II - meaning instead of full-blown mania, I tend to cycle into hypomania which is similar, but generally less intense and usually doesn't tip over into full delusion - more along the lines of lots of energy and desire for chaos.  I'm sure this will get discussed more in-depth as I go along.

I'm also considered to be rapid-cycling. Basically, I go back and forth from hypomania and depression very quickly - sometimes in a matter of days, even hours.  For those who are unfamiliar, that doesn't mean that I'm bouncing back and forth all the time, 365 days a year.  I have periods of non-extremes as well.  Those just aren't as worth talking about :)

The medications I'm currently on are Lithium, Lamictal, Wellbutrin, Klonopin and Restoril.  For me, the Klonopin and Restoril, while generally taken every day, don't need to be and are kind of on an as-needed basis to deal with anxiety and insomnia, respectively.  The rest are  musts every day.  This is just my personal medicinal schedule and what has been prescribed to me.  Please don't assume this will also work for you.  Also, please don't come find me and rob me for my pills.  I need them.

So anyway, those are the basics of my disorder. Good to know, but really just the background to what this is about - the day to day life of a Bipolar. It's pretty crazy.