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Peoples moods tend to be elevated naturally after coming out of depression, but with Bipolar types this is hugely exaggerated and is something I have to look out for

I didn't know this, cheers


Have you figured out a means of being to play A game poker? If I'm feeling depressed I can't really concentrate at all and am all indifferent to the game, and if I'm hypomanical my mind races so fast I find it really difficult to notice the subtleties, which worked great for MTT SnG because I could 30 table and go aggro at everyone but it ain't so great for cash and I'm so very bored of SnG D: Thinking of getting some incense and playing some nature type music and meditate before I grind if I'm hypomanic, and just steer clear when I'm feeling depressed, which sucks for bonus whoring but eh I'm probably -$EV playing in that state. Maybe get some sort of system to follow where I ask myself a bunch of questions before I click buttons, "what's his range here? what does my range look like" so I slow down the frantic button clicking and create time to think about the spots, idk

You're lucky. I have just been offered 10 sessions of CBT after 11 years of problems, worse than yours. After that I will go private as it is not enough for the range of issues I have.

About 8 different medications have had no positive effects and severe adverse effects. Excessive sedation for months on end and 50lbs weight gain (90lbs the first time) three times. 8 years overweight to obese from medications that did not help me, where I never had a problem with weight before.

Then I read up and studied MH and psychology formally too, and realised why psychiatry is in the abysmal state it is in today. I'm undecided about taking anything and if I do it is not based on any information from a psychiatrist as they are so useless. There are quite a few good books explaining the numerous flaws in the system (even ignoring non academic works), two of the best I listed. Looks like you're a believer though so I won't press on it.

Anyone know the reasons why at times people get tired, as in it's real late, but they don't feel like sleeping? What's with that?

Could be one of a few things. You can be tired but staying up too late in front of a computer screen. The light is stimulating to the brain, meaning that even if you are tired you cannot expect to just turn it off and hit the pillow and sleep.

Alternatively it could be emotinal: if you are stressed or angry you may not be able to get to sleep. I have nights where I can't sleep the whole night simply because I'm angry.

Thirdly it could be you have been to sedentary during the day. etc

Maybe I put forward one question. What do you or your brother think about the low success rate of either antidepressants or antipsychotics in meta-analyses (of the order of 15% above placebo)?

Of course this is ignoring the problems of publication bias and the fact that the majority of RCTs are funded by pharmaceuticals.

ugh that sucks to hear Lelantos; I'd imagine such a ordeal would make one quite bitter indeed

realised why psychiatry is in the abysmal state it is in today

Care to elaborate some? I'm only just about to go through the Psychiatrist loops, any heads up would be lovely. I'm Australian btw, not sure how different it is from wherever you are.

Depolarize your personality so your life has better balance imo

In all seriousness though, I wish you the best. I know some people with personality disorders and it has a profound impact on their life.

Depolarize your personality so your life has better balance imo

In all seriousness though, I wish you the best. I know some people with personality disorders and it has a profound impact on their life.

LOL thats what I am working on, I think I need to come up with my own timetable or schedule and stick to it. Freestyling my spare time can lead to hobbies becoming addictions etc

You're lucky. I have just been offered 10 sessions of CBT after 11 years of problems, worse than yours. After that I will go private as it is not enough for the range of issues I have.

About 8 different medications have had no positive effects and severe adverse effects. Excessive sedation for months on end and 50lbs weight gain (90lbs the first time) three times. 8 years overweight to obese from medications that did not help me, where I never had a problem with weight before.

I hope things for you begin to improve soon! There are points when it seems never ending, I know that. Im guessing they had you on some serious medication. I had a friend and my brother telling me to refuse antidepressants such as Mirtazipine, because it didnt really help and made them feel tired all the time and gain loads and loads of weight in a very short time. I think thats what they might try and move me onto when they "review" my medication in 6 weeks and Im going to refuse, adjusting to my current medication was bad enough. I just want things to be normal again and I feel ok at the moment.

Theres a long waiting list for the CBT since I am in the UK and cant afford to go private. I can get 10 sessions from the Health and Wellbeing clinic at my university, but to get more you have to be referred by your psychiatrist and he has recommended 20 hours. I think I am lucky, my psychiatrist so far seems to be a really good one. My brother had to go through 2 on the NHS then went private until he could find a competant one who, in the end has improved him a great deal...his issues are more severe than mine.

Maybe I put forward one question. What do you or your brother think about the low success rate of either antidepressants or antipsychotics in meta-analyses (of the order of 15% above placebo)?

I dont know, I dont really want to read up to get an answer either. I kinda fed up of trying to self diagnose myself. I know doctors just throw antibiotics and antidepressants at everything and see what happens. I still dont know why the doctor gave me antidepressants when I was exhibiting bipolar symptoms. Even then everyone, everyone from the NHS kept telling me to take them when I wanted off them when they had made me worse. A lot of work needs to be done for mental health care in the UK I can tell you that much, a hell of a lot of work.

Keep in mind that everyone reacts differently to different medication. Just because medicine x doesn't work for your brother's friend doesn't mean it won't work for you or anyone else. The brain is very complicated. The doctors advising you the medicine probably know more about it than your peers.

yeah, i can pretty much relate exactly. I was diagnosed with clinical depression initially, along with ADHD, and it took a long time to go through the process (about 5 months) to the point that they would take me off antidepressants and admit I have an 'affective mood disorder' - which is a non-specified type of bipolar (similar to cyclothymia - but more rapid). In terms of medication, I was on fluoxetine for 7 months or so, and when my dosage was upped it sent me pretty crazy. The results of me coming off it and lowering its dose + upping my concerta xl (like long lasting ritalin - but not a dexamphetamine) has had immediate affect on improving my poker and my life. I dropped out of university due to it but feel happy with the decision, and find I can function more productively now. Just to tell you, your options if you are diagnosed (which they probably will be haphazard to label a particular type of bipolar in my experience) are pretty polarised (no pun intended) between serious medication and not. i.e. i'm probably going to do the CBT thing and take my ADHD drugs which are good for a highly varying mood and calm down my anger and impulsiveness. But, I could take some sort of lithium carbonate compound for mood. I chose not to because it's known to dull people.

Anyway, gl with all and don't get to worried about the stigmatisation of it. I'd avoid telling many people (I realise I write this on the internet) except for close family and girlfriends. Also, listen to your mood when you're thinking about starting a session for a while. Often I spend about 3 hours just trying to work out how I feel; do I want to play? MTT mood or cash mood? (laugh, but I really do), etc. And hit the gym plenty

Keep in mind that everyone reacts differently to different medication. Just because medicine x doesn't work for your brother's friend doesn't mean it won't work for you or anyone else. The brain is very complicated. The doctors advising you the medicine probably know more about it than your peers.

This is why I accept it can work for a minority, but that doesn't excuse the blanket long term use. They can also be used short term regardless of if they address problems directly.

I'd avoid telling many people (I realise I write this on the internet) except for close family and girlfriends. Also, listen to your mood when you're thinking about starting a session for a while. Often I spend about 3 hours just trying to work out how I feel; do I want to play? MTT mood or cash mood? (laugh, but I really do), etc. And hit the gym plenty

I agree, there's a reason Stephen Fry called his documentary 'The secret life of the MD'

The sad thing is people have gross double standards, and judgements about people are status bound as always. If a celebrity opens up about it many people have sympathy, but if it's the bloke down the street they are a pathetic waste of space. If it's a family member they may feel differently (though still often have the clueless snap out it attitude).

I would not tell a future girlfriend, or any friends. Even if they understand they can tell other people who will not and haters gonna bully. Ignorance and stigma is very high and people are clueless about psychology.

MH problems really make you realise how insensitive and illogical people are for the most part.

I agree, there's a reason Stephen Fry called his documentary 'The secret life of the MD'

The sad thing is people have gross double standards, and judgements about people are status bound as always. If a celebrity opens up about it many people have sympathy, but if it's the bloke down the street they are a pathetic waste of space. If it's a family member they may feel differently (though still often have the clueless snap out it attitude).

I would not tell a future girlfriend, or any friends. Even if they understand they can tell other people who will not and haters gonna bully. Ignorance and stigma is very high and people are clueless about psychology.

MH problems really make you realise how insensitive and illogical people are for the most part.

Yeah, what you're saying is very true. The problem I experienced is that particularly during the time when I was given a lot of the wrong medication my actions and behaviour became very erratic. Like I would leave a family dinner out of nowhere and walk 30 minutes home. Or I would get in more fist fights at bars/clubs or w/e. The thing is is that if I hadn't told my gf I think she would have been very unlikely to accept these traits and behaviours...

try the gluten free diet; it worked wonders for me in so many ways, with so many symptoms, including mood disorders. there are plenty of legit studies, and papers on the neurological impacts of the gluten reaction. Mayo clinic, John Hopkins.
it's medical fact, but virtually no doctor will help with with it, because they make no $ off of you by prescribing a diet. no drugs, no surgery, and worst of all, you get better, and are out of their system.
give it a try for a week or two, you have nothing to lose.
I Pmed a 21 YO kid on 2p2 who was having anxiety/ panic attacks, and described the out of control racing thgoughts that i used to experience to a tee.
he tried it and PMed me back in less than a week "Dude, you saved my life."

Massive difference with somebody having gluten reactions and somebody who is bipolar.

As for the tell girlfriend thing, Lelantos was referring to potential girlfriends, ofc tell her once you're well established to her.

There is a lot of stigma involving mental health, most people don't have the analogies to understand it and attack the weakness to strengthen their hold in their social hierarchy. Some people are more prideful of their disorders but and are open with it, the whole fight the stigma thing, that seems to only work out when someone has some sort of social influence, namely attractive woman(celebrity as well etc etc); I've literally seen some guy ostracize somebody for being depressed, then a few months later being all considerate and understanding towards some cute depressed girl, blah douche bag imo.