Don't let Mental Illness leave you grounded

Recently we took a trip back to the United States from Australia.  For those who have never done that sort of flight let’s just say it’s not for the faint of heart.  A rough total of 23 hours in the air and another 10+ hours in layovers take a lot out of you, not only physically but for those who live with mental illness, mentally as well. 

Preparation is the key to it all, making sure medications are packed and are taken as close to normal time as possible.  That is probably the easiest part, the rest can leave you feeling off, confused, tired, depressed, and manic and in some cases psychotic.  I know it does not seem like it’s worth it, but travelling is a chance to see the world and the sacrifices that are made are worth it if taken care of in the right way.  We were not made to stay in one place, there is so much to explore and experience that our mental health should not keep us from that.  However, having these illnesses can add an element of difficulty, especially when they involve long flights and most importantly a lack of preparation.

Sadly I fell into the latter category; I was ill prepared for the trip, mentally.  I had lists for what needed to be packed, papers printed for hotels, car rental, site seeing, flights and visas.  I had an itinerary planned and ready to go and waited impatiently for the day to come.  We even arrived at the airport 90 minutes before it opened.  

What I didn’t plan for, however, was my mental health. I knew in the back of my mind that it could become an issue, lack of sleep and a disruption of a regular routine has been known to cause me problems in the past.  I told myself that was in the past, I was smarter now and could handle this without a problem.  I knew jet lag would be an issue, but with a little sleep and some down time there would be no problems, turns out that I was only half right. 

Flying to U.S. was OK, jet lag was minimal – though I was tired – I felt good and we had a fantastic time visiting New York City.  I had never been to Central Park or Time Square so I felt like a little kid exploring for the first time.   We visited with friends, toured the battlefields of Gettysburg and did a little shopping.    All this made the fact that I was tired seem irrelevant, there was so much to see and do I was on top of the world.

When the time came to return back Australia, I hoped it be just as easy.  I would love to be able to say it happened that way, but after four days of being back home, I have not slept for more than 5 or 6 hours a night, I’m irritable, moody, depressed, hypo-manic and fear psychosis isn’t far behind.   The emotions of visiting my home left me with feelings of nostalgia and the emotions of coming to terms with who I am now.  I looked forward to returning to work when we returned, but since we live in a resort town winter is very slow and it is possible I will be out of work for the next 3 months.  Put all these things together and I am struggling to find my footing once again.  All the progress I made over the last year seems to have dissipated over the Pacific Ocean.  I am struggling to focus and return to a schedule and routine that I am familiar with and helps me be the person I want to be, the writer, photographer and person who loves life and battles the demons with strength and determination. 

I do not say these things to deter anyone from travelling, it is actually the opposite.  I want people to know that, yes travel can be a challenge if not handled correctly.  There is planning that needs to be done not only with what you will pack and things you will do, but also how you will handle jet lag or a disruption in your daily routine.  These two topics alone should be at the top of the list when preparing for a trip.  It is very easy for a slight relapse to make a huge difference not only in your holiday, but in the return home as well. 

Dispelling the fear of Hypomania

I sit on the rocks overlooking the Tasman Sea as I write this, watching the waves come in, crashing below me.  Some swells reaching several feet, others a mere ripple, all of them though are amazing and powerful in their own way.  Nature directs their path and intensity, in a similar way our minds guide our modds and how the cycle we are in will affect us.  Hypomania, mania and depression - they come and go, each moment in time.

Do a search about Bipolar disorder and you’ll find thousands of results explaining every aspect from depression to mania, medication, depression and the lesser known hypo-mania.  My partner recently read an article about hypo-mania and how it is often a prelude to either a severe depression or more sever mania.  The beginning of the article reads like a warning label, “Hypo-Mania – Danger Alert,” and while the symptoms listed are correct, it should not be written as a warning of impending doom for those who may be just learning about Bipolar Disorder, whether it is the individual or their friends and family.

 

The reality is hypomania, yes can be a pre-cursor to a full blown manic episode or a depressive episode, there is no denying that; however, let’s look at it from another point of view.

·       Learn what hypomania is and how it is different for each person.  A blanket description only tells you what could happen.  You have to discover for yourself, with the help of a partner, friends and your doctor, what triggers your mood and what symptoms are dominant.      

·      Make a list of your symptoms, how they affect you and those around you.  Both the good and bad.

·      Keep track of how long the cycle lasts and what happens as it dissipates.  This is important as it will give you the information you need if you then become depressed or actions become more intense leading to a full blown manic episode.

a.    To monitor my moods I use a daily chart and track my level of depression, anxiety, mania and sleep.  By looking at these numbers I am able to see when I was up or down and can then correlate that with a particular event or see a pattern evolve over a couple weeks, or if the seasons have changed.  The seasons can play a large part in our mood cycles. 

·      The symptoms of hypomania without a doubt can be harmful, but that does not mean you should be protected from life and kept sheltered.

a.    If you have a history of spending money while manic, have a limit set on your credit cards and bank card, so you can only spend a certain amount.  If you are in a relationship and have a joint account, let your partner know how you are feeling.  This can be one of the hardest things to do, as when mania hits it feels good and the last thing we want is someone to take that feeling away. 

b.    Anger and irritability are common.  Try yoga to relax or writing to help clear your mind.

c.    If there is a tendency for promiscuity, have someone you trust be an accountability partner. If you go to a party, don’t go alone and have someone else drive who is aware of you illness and will be your “wing man” for the evening.

d.    Projects are probably one of the most common signs.  I can’t tell you how many I have planned, started and never finished.  On a good note it shows creativity and that we are alive and capable of many things, however, ideas can get away from us and accumulate quickly, leading to being overwhelmed and confused.  Make a list of your ideas and the steps it would take to achieve them and if you would be able to do it, even after the hypomania ends.  As hard as it may be, pick one or two to focus on for a week.  This makes it more manageable.  If after a week you want to try something else, stop one or both of the previous projects before starting the new one. 

It is important to not look at hypomania, or even mania itself and the ideas and projects that can come from them as all bad, they are things that you are obviously passionate about and are important, the problem is we want to do them all at the same time.  Learning to harness the excitement and energy is key.  It is possible, to use hypomania to your advantage as you get to know your symptoms, triggers and how you react to the cycles.   

As with most things, there is the good and bad, what it important here is to look deeper into the information you are seeking, there will be numerous articles all claiming to have the answer and telling you what to expect, take them at face value and see what works for you.  You are the one who matters and needs to educate not only yourself, but those around you as well. 

D is for the Many Faces of Depression

We all feel it at one time or another, the feeling of sadness and hopelessness; to a point it’s normal phase of life.  Different situations affect us and we go through a period of time where it seems nothing can go right.  For some,  however, that feeling doesn’t go away, lingering for days and weeks at a time and interfering with everyday life.  The most important aspect of depression is for those who live with the illness and more so for those who do not  is to know that it is not a sign of weakness or being negative, it is a legitimate health issue and treatable with medication, talk therapy, and lifestyle changes.   

Depression is not as clear cut as many may think there are many faces to depression and I want to touch on a few of them here.  The diagnosis of the type of depression is critical is finding the right type of treatment.    

Major Depression is the illness that is most commonly heard of.  It is characterized by a loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities, loss of weight, or weight gain, a feeling of being sleepy most of the time, a feeling of worthlessness, trouble concentrating and thought of suicide.  Five of more of these symptoms must be present for at least two week for a diagnosis of Major Depression.  Once you have a diagnosis, your doctor can then begin to work with you on the best way to treat your illness. 

Persistent Depressive Disorder:  This type of depression follows the same pattern of Major Depression, however, the symptoms must be present for at least two year.  This would be considered Persistent Depression and is treated with medication and therapy. 

Bipolar Disorder:  While it mimics the symptoms of depression, there are also periods of extreme highs, called manic episodes.  The most important thing here is to use medication to stabilize the moods swings, these are called mood stabilizers.  Anti-depressant is not commonly use with Bipolar Disorder because they tend to increase the chance of a manic episode.  

Seasonal Affective Disorder:  This is most common during the winter months when there is less sunlight and the days are shorter.  Major depression occurs during this time and is treated with anti-depressants and light therapy.  Light therapy is most common and requires the person to sit in front of a natural light box for 15 to 30 minutes a day.  

Psychotic Depression:  This is a diagnosis of major depression which includes with it symptoms of psychosis, including hallucinations, delusions, and paranoia.  Anti-Depressants and Anti-psychotic drugs are used to treat this type of depression. 

PostPartum Depression:  This has also been known as the “baby blues,” and occurs in the weeks and months after the birth of a child.  Anti-depressants and therapy are known to help with this illness.  

Situational Depression:  While there is not a technical term for this type of depression, but it hits all of us at one time or another when a stressful event occurs in life.  The death of a loved one, the loss of a job, divorce or any occurrence that makes you feel unsure of yourself and the world around you.  Therapy is the most common treatment for this type of depression

As you can the illness of depression is not cut and dry, one size fits all type of illness.  There are many facets and anyone can fall under one or more diagnosis.  The more we talk about depression and mental illness the more we can come to understand that it is a medical condition and that 1 in 4 people live some sort of mental illness, most often you do not know who it is.  

Bipolar Disorder and the Biological Clock

Image by raw:images via Flickr

According to a study published in September, there may be a link between bipolar disorder and our “biological clock.” The study suggests that abnormalities in the genes that control our biological clock contribute to the development of Bipolar Disorder.

The study, done with mice, showed that mice carrying a mutation in one of the key genes of their biological clock have similar behaviors of someone in a manic phase of Bipolar Disorder, and when given the drug lithium, they returned to a more normal behavior.

It has long been known that maintaining a schedule is vital for someone with Bipolar Disorder, a variation in schedule can trigger a manic or depressive episode. So, discovering the connection is important in that it may lead to the discovery of more specifically targeted medications for Bipolar.

I do agree with this study, I know if I am off my schedule, my mood does change – however, it is not always for the worse. Losing some sleep to have a couple days of hypomania is not always a bad thing. I welcome my moments of mania, those moments when my mind is clear, I am able to focus and accomplish everything on my to-do list. The inevitable crash, however, is not so welcome – so maintaining a schedule is vital and I know it.

If these studies can help lead to a more specific type of drug to help regulate my brain, I’m all for it.

And for the record, I am an Early bird! I always have been, but never really put the two together and I know for a fact that it is all connected. I know, for me, that if I sleep past 8am, my day is doomed. To me anything past 8am is wasting the day, the day is over and trying to accomplish anything is basically useless and can affect my entire day.

Do you find sticking to a schedule vital?