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Thank you so much! That’s what I love to hear!

How do you manage that? Like how do you know to slow down? I’m balls to the wall until I crash

That is a great question! I have no idea. I did but lithium was the problem for me not the smoking. If anything I think smoking helped. But I’m not a dr so I’d ask yours what they think. It’s gonna affect everyone differently so be careful

That Bipolar could lead to brain damage?

It sounds like your Doctor has Brain Damage!!😠😠

Yeah I got sober almost 4 years ago from alcohol. It the most dangerous drug to quit and it’s so hard. Good on you though! Great job

Tell her good luck! It seems scary a little at first but once you’re going through it it gets easier. I feel like it helped me. I’m not in an almost permanent low phase. My depression feels a lot more under control. I hope she gets out of it what I did!

I’m no expert, but I think it’s more the danger of going into a manic phase because of it. There’s so much that goes into like what meds you’re on, it’s hard to say exactly why caffeine effects our brains differently

Thank you so much for this response! It means a lot to have support after losing my brother. My manic symptoms are very similar to yours, however I kind of feel the opposite in that I’d rather be manic than depressed. I can get suicidal tendencies when I’m that low and there’s nothing I nor anyone else can do to help so it’s harder to manage whereas when I’m manic my support system can kind of help me realize what’s going on, if that makes sense. I just know when I get low I go so low there’s nothing to do but ride it out and try to not let the bad thoughts take over. Which is a task all its own. I’m so glad you felt comfortable enough to share and thank you for contributing to the community!

Is it addiction that’s hurting you or his mental health? I can speak first hand that neither is fun and he’s suffering. The best thing you can do is support him and hope he comes around. That doesn’t mean enable him, but just show him that he has a safe place to go. That’s what this whole podcast is about, bringing people together so we can have these talks and help each other. I’d like to know more so if you’d like to email me we can talk more. I hope you and your brother are doing well and you’re in my thoughts!

Thank you so much. Losing him at such a young age was really hard. And it makes you think about your own life and what you’ve done with it. I want to honor my brother by becoming the best version of me I can be. He would’ve been proud to see how far I’ve come and we may have had a closer relationship. We weren’t as close as I would’ve liked but that’s mostly my fault. Now I just miss him.

It’s crazy for me because it’s not really much of a stimulant unless I have a whole pot to myself. And even then it’s not a guarantee. I fall asleep pretty easy, it’s staying asleep I have a problem with

Thank you for your comment! I struggle with creativity especially right now with everything I’ve got going on in my life, that’s why I haven’t posted in a while.

I was first diagnosed with Bipolar and later with ADHD. Most people who have one mental health issues have more than one. So ADHD and Bipolar actually go hand in hand. Especially because they both manifest differently in everyone so it looks different for everyone. For me I have a problem remembering things or paying attention. I’m a full time student and right now I have a 4 hr class which plays hell on my brain because I drift off in the middle of the professors lecture. I end up missing part of the lecture before I realize I’ve been thinking about something else. I’ve also been diagnosed with anxiety and facial tics that get worse in social settings. I had to seek help on my own though. No one told me I might have something wrong, it took me a lot of pain before I sought help and started getting diagnosed with everything. My dad has OCD and ADHD which took him years to get diagnosed, so neurodivergence’s can combine and look different in everyone. I hope that helped a little.

They are very different

I’m not sure what you mean?

Sure: bipolarthoughtspodcast@gmail.com

Thank you so much! I really appreciate everyone that supports the show so again thank you. Do you mind if i use your comment for my website?

It’s such a hard thing to give up. I get headaches if I go without it now

@@Bipolar_Thoughts try 24hr fasting once a week. it helps. bipolar brain also benefits from keto diet too.

Thank you!

​@@Bipolar_Thoughtsso on this topic I have bipolar and Autism.i have Autism which can't be treated Autism on its own would be okay 😐 cause I could deal with just Autism

I actually spent some time speaking with one of the founders of the company, read independent studies, and have tried the product for myself. So while I may make a commission off of someone using my link, I don't promote them for that reason. I care more about what may help other people, and I truly believe this product to be something that could help many people. So while I can appreciate your concern, but I am more concerned with the well-being of my audience than I am a monetary gain. If you have any questions, I'd be happy to answer them.

I used to be able too but as I get older I can tell the difference in stopping my caffeine intake earlier in the day

I had to stop it because it stopped working and was just making me too sleepy during the day. I’ve since switched to olanzapine which I like but we just switched yesterday to depakote which I’m waiting on to get here in the mail so we’ll see how that goes

Trust me I feel that. I have BP-1 so I can totally relate. I don't take Seroquel but I have and it does help. That's interesting that your doctor thinks that though. I've never herad of anything like that. I know I start my TMS this week. I hate hearing that you're going through such a struggle. I know that working out helps (I need to get back into it) but you should talk to your dr about those panic attacks if you haven't already. I was having a long panic attack which I didn't know was a thing. But mine lasted for almost a year and SEVERAL medications before we finally found one that works. My best advice is become close with your Dr. and be honest about how you're feeling. It's their job to help you navigate these kinds of times. I truely hope things start looking up for you my friend and just know that if you ever need to talk or need help, my door is always open!

When your Dr said he thought your brain burning up did something to your brain chemistry, what do you mean? Did you run a fever or something? I've just never heard of that before.

@Bipolar_Thoughts I had a fever for 4.5 days from the Influenza virus. I laid in bed miserable for that entire time. Right after my fever cleared I found myself in the ER 3 times. All for manic panic symptoms. I even required the B52 shot the 3rd time. I wasn't on medications previously before the fever and I didn't take anything other than ibuprofen and Tylenol for the fever. I had a significant change after the fever. I asked if he thought it was the Tylenol and Motrin. But he thought it might have been my fever that triggered it. It was still weird. It's never happened before in my life. I also haven't had a fever since covid 2020. But that fever lasted a day. I haven't had a week long fever since I was a child. It was truly a horrible experience.

@@TuckTuuuckYeah, I don't know about that. I've never heard of a fever causing mania. I mean It's possible I guess, almost anything could be a trigger, but I've just never heard or experienced that. The Tylenol could have even been what did it. It's sometimes hard to tell what causes it. Do you know your typical triggers?

Congrats on the sober days! Thats amazing! I’d like to find a study about alcohol triggering manic episodes. Like if that’s a common thing. I’m just glad to know it wasn’t just me it happened too! Thanks for sharing that!

That's me. 😔 I'm bipolar. And need to quit alcohol. I lost so much to alcohol. Scared to get checked for bipolar. I know I have it. I'm abnormal. But never gotten help. 😔 it's sucks having it

I don't know that I've heard of someone becoming manic from smoking. Are you smoking sativa or indica? For me, sativa is something I have to be careful with because It can send me into a manic state. Even with indica it has to be strong, or it does no good at all. Do you drink a lot of coffee, or is it like a once in a while kind of thing?

@@Bipolar_Thoughts I don't drink coffee much, but when I drink it, I feel anxiety at first, and then I get manic for several hours. I do smoke Sativa.

See, Sativa is generally an upper. Not always, it can be more of a body high, but that generally comes with more energy, which if you're Bipolar or have ADHD it can exacerbate those symptoms. Do you take medicine for your BP, or do you have ADHD? I know, for me, I'm a big coffee drinker. It doesn't necessarily throw me into a manic episode by itself, but if combined with my meds, stress, and things like that, I can slip into a manic phase. That's why I stick with Indica unless there's a reason for me to need Sativa like having an exam come up or something. I do wonder if because it's only after you drink coffee, and it only lasts a few hours if it's an actual manic episode or just you having a low tolerance so when you do drink it, it hits you hard. I'm not trying to diminish how you feel, I was just wondering if maybe that's the case, because maybe that'd make you feel better maybe? I would talk to your Dr. if you're having a problem with it. Manic phases are more dangerous than I think Dr.'s give credit too. They're always focused on the depressive side, which is sooo important, but I feel like the dangers of mania get put on the back burner a little bit. I start my TMS therapy today which should help my depression but could also throw me into a manic phase, so that's something I'm having to prepare for over the next few days. Do you find yourself manic more often than depressed?

@@Bipolar_Thoughts I was diagnosed with Rapid cycling bipolar 2. I am often depressed. But the effect of coffee is not always positive or manic.

@@aram226Yeah no, I get that. The effects are different for everyone. Some days it can push me into a manic state, and some days It barely has any effect at all. I think it just depends on the person. If you don't mind me asking, how does it affect you? Like it sounds like it can put you into a depressive state is how it sounds. Is that how it is for you?

Thank you! I appreciate you and I’m so glad it connected with you! It helps knowing you’re not alone

I hope you know that you will always have a place to come, as long as I can keep this going. It's sort of a "side project" if you will at the moment. I'm not looking to monetize the show or anything, just reach as many people as I can. That's why I don't ask for people to subscribe or like or anything. Honestly, the comments are where I live, because I get to connect with you guys on a personal level. I want this to grow organically. So, if you know other people who feel the way we do, or who are sitting in the dark and don't know there's a light on the other side of the door and all they have to do is walk through it. And when they do, I'll be here to welcome them. Take care my friend and remember you can contact me at any time.

I’ve never heard of that and I’m sorry you have to deal with that. I have a super fast metabolism so I have a problem gaining weight and getting used to meds to fast

@@Bipolar_Thoughts yea its all kinda new to me I also so a mutation called (mthfr heterozygous ) I wasn't responding well to my medication so my psychologist suggested a gene test and comes back that I have 2 separate gene mutations that effect my Serotonin and Doniphan levels wich pretty much means i have a low folate problem and my psychologist knows nothing about any of it so all I learned about it was from the internet and utube and the results I got back from the gene site.

@christopherdavis4093 I understand none of that lol I’ll have to research that

It's like the one addiction that I just can't kick. I may need to stop after a certain time, but that means I have to find something else to drink, lol any suggestions?

No, I don't sleep for several reasons. Sleep apnea being one of them. But also, it's sort of typical to be bipolar and not have a great sleep cycle.

@@Bipolar_Thoughts understood brother I wish you nothing but the best and hope that solutions come to you in no time

Thank you for that! After a while you sort of get used to it, but I'm hoping after my TMS treatments my depression will subside and maybe my anxiety also, which might help me sleep better? IDK. You are right though that caffeine does affect my sleep to an extent because I'm sure if I were to cut it off by 3 pm like they say I'd probably be ok. My thing is that I don't really have a problem going to sleep (I'm usually in bed between 9:30-10:30 pm) but because of the apnea I don't sleep well and wake up several times. After about my 3rd time of waking up I know it's not going to be any use to keep trying to sleep, so I end up getting up thinking "I'll just watch a little TV or do some work and that'll make me tired" but then I end up caught up in whatever I'm doing and just never go back to sleep. Sometimes because I get up anywhere between 1am-3am, I might lay down for about 30 minutes before I have to leave for class, which only makes me more tired and irritable when I get up. This is kind of the whole point of this podcast, is so that other people who have the same issues or feel the same way I do, have a place to go to feel less alone. Like they're not the only one in the world going through this kind of stuff. Anyway, I really thank you for your comment, and I'm so thankful for your support!

It's definitely known to do that. I can't tell you what to do, but I'm going to try to find something to drink after a certain time and start trying to quit the caffeine by a certain time. Maybe just limiting the amount you have, or maybe try something else like green tea or something that has other beneficial properties? Maybe that will make a difference? If you try it, let me know how it goes.

That’s a good idea! I never thought about that before but that would be helpful! I’ll start trying to keep track of them! Thank you