Prayer for Bipolar Depression

[StefanM]

Hello Everyone,

As some of you know, I have bipolar disorder. As part of that illness, I have swings up (mania/hypomania) and down (depression). Various theories exist as to why things work the way they do, but I just recently came off an "up" episode, which is, unfortunately for me, often followed by a crash into a depressive episode.

My depressive episode started yesterday.

I do take medication, but it's not 100% effective, and counseling mostly tries to help you deal with the episodes more than anything. Bipolar is a highly genetic illness, and it's not curable by modern medicine. Medication is the best medical treatment available, and I do take medication faithfully.

What I need now are some prayers to help me through this difficult time. Please pray that God lifts the depression and gives me strength to handle it in the meantime.

 

[kyredneck]

You're in my prayers brother. This malady runs in my wife's family.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

You're in my prayers brother. This malady runs in my wife's family.

What are the symptoms? I have a inkling here with my own wife's family......they turn on a dime emotionally, they drink to excess, they have panic attacks.....yada yada.

Anyway....you are in my prayers brother!

 

[StefanM]

What are the symptoms? I have a inkling here with my own wife's family......they turn on a dime emotionally, they drink to excess, they have panic attacks.....yada yada.

Anyway....you are in my prayers brother!

In short, it's a disorder characterized by periods of mania/hypomania and periods of depression.

In hypomania or mania, there's very impulsive behavior, an elevated or irritable mood, sometimes personal indiscretions, very increased talkativeness, racing thoughts, increased self-esteem/grandiosity, being easily distracted, having a decreased need for sleep, etc.

Mania is a more intense version than hypomania because it interferes with daily life significantly. It can also include psychotic features, such as delusions and hallucinations of many varieties.

Depression is basically what you would expect from normal depression in most cases. Notably, in bipolar depression, a person is more likely to sleep more than in major depression. Most people with major depression tend to have insomnia more frequently.

Having volatile emotions can be part of the disorder, but it's mostly episodic. These mood states last for days or weeks (or more, particularly if unmedicated).

 

[kyredneck]

What are the symptoms?

In my own words and from my own observations those with the disorder are mostly either "mad, glad, or sad" at any given moment.

 

[StefanM]

In my own words and from my own observations those with the disorder are mostly either "mad, glad, or sad" at any given moment.

Generally speaking, yes. It's just important for many people to know that these mood states are not moment-to-moment, typically.

Rapid mood swings (back and forth several times in a day) may be more indicative of Borderline Personality Disorder, which shares some symptoms with Bipolar Disorder, but is distinct.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Generally speaking, yes. It's just important for many people to know that these mood states are not moment-to-moment, typically.

Rapid mood swings (back and forth several times in a day) may be more indicative of Borderline Personality Disorder, which shares some symptoms with Bipolar Disorder, but is distinct.

does OCD have any stage presence here?

 

[StefanM]

does OCD have any stage presence here?

Curiously enough, no. I'm just very interested in abnormal psychology and in Bipolar Disorder specifically. I do have ADHD, which can cause some hyper-focus, so that probably is what you're seeing.

Many people get the impression that bipolar folks are always unhinged. Sometimes we are, and sometimes we aren't. That's mostly what I am trying to emphasize. I've heard so many people (not you, clearly) say that anyone being erratic is "bipolar" or if they have a lot of mood swings they are "bipolar." Sometimes people have Borderline PD, and sometimes people just are moody.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Curiously enough, no. I'm just very interested in abnormal psychology and in Bipolar Disorder specifically. I do have ADHD, which can cause some hyper-focus, so that probably is what you're seeing.

Many people get the impression that bipolar folks are always unhinged. Sometimes we are, and sometimes we aren't. That's mostly what I am trying to emphasize. I've heard so many people (not you, clearly) say that anyone being erratic is "bipolar" or if they have a lot of mood swings they are "bipolar." Sometimes people have Borderline PD, and sometimes people just are moody.

Ive seen alcoholics go through episodes like this but I hesitate to label someone (except maybe alcoholism). Think the activity is called "Self Medicating"

 

[kyredneck]

these mood states are not moment-to-moment, typically.

Yea, I didn't word that so well. MODE is probably the better word than mood. Mad mode, enthusiastic mode, depression mode, and not always so apparent especially if the person is aware of the problem and is trying to control it. My FIL, BIL, and a couple other in-laws from her father's side are subject to these mode swings (FIL is deceased now).

 

[StefanM]

Yea, I didn't word that so well. MODE is probably the better word than mood. Mad mode, enthusiastic mode, depression mode, and not always so apparent especially if the person is aware of the problem and is trying to control it. My FIL, BIL, and a couple other in-laws from her father's side are subject to these mode swings (FIL is deceased now).

I didn't have a problem with your wording at all. I just wanted to add supplementary comments. The mad/sad/glad framework is an easy way to understand the basics.

 

[Sapper Woody]

That is one thing that drives me nuts. Someone will experience mood swings, switching from happy to sad several times in a day and will say something like, "I think I'm bipolar". In reality the swing occurs over days.

Bro Stefan, I don't know your cycle, but I learned that the typical cycle is about 4-7 days of mania followed by about 3-4 weeks of depression.

Sent from my QTAQZ3 using Tapatalk

 

[StefanM]

That is one thing that drives me nuts. Someone will experience mood swings, switching from happy to sad several times in a day and will say something like, "I think I'm bipolar". In reality the swing occurs over days.

Bro Stefan, I don't know your cycle, but I learned that the typical cycle is about 4-7 days of mania followed by about 3-4 weeks of depression.

Sent from my QTAQZ3 using Tapatalk

THANK YOU! That's spot on.

I used to have awful, long depressions prior to treatment. Now that I am on medication, when I get depressed, the time is shorter. It broke yesterday (Thank the Lord! I appreciate your prayers, everyone!), so I'm better.

I tend to have manias/hypomanias for a week and a half or more unless I absolutely hammer them with meds (which doesn't always work). These are much harder for me to keep under control. Depression is awful, but mania is just a monstrous beast.

 

[Bluefalcon]

Feel free not to answer. I know it is very personal, but.... When did signs of the disorder start for you? What seems to have been the trigger then? What are the main triggers (if any) today?

 

[StefanM]

Feel free not to answer. I know it is very personal, but.... When did signs of the disorder start for you? What seems to have been the trigger then? What are the main triggers (if any) today?

Post-diagnosis, I can look back and identify trouble as early as when I was 16. I wasn't diagnosed until I was 29, last year. I was treated for major depression for several years prior to the diagnosis, which is pretty common.

The trigger then? My father's death was probably it.

The triggers now? Stress is a big one. Sometimes the switches come randomly, too, but the episodes seem to be shorter and better controlled now that I'm on medication.