NeuroTalk Support Groups

NeuroTalk Support Groups (https://www.neurotalk.org/)

- Bipolar Disorder (https://www.neurotalk.org/bipolar-disorder/)

- - Useful Sites (https://www.neurotalk.org/bipolar-disorder/302-useful-sites.html)

Bipolar Disorder Information and Resources from Bipolar.com
http://www.bipolar.com/

Bipolar Disorder, Manic Depression
http://www.bipolarworld.net/

Bipolar Disorder Online Support
http://www.findthelight.net/bipolar/bipolar.htm

Bipolar Significant Others
http://www.bpso.org/

Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance
http://www.dbsalliance.org/

Harbor of Refuge: Bipolar Disorder / Manic-Depression Support
Peer to peer support for people with Bipolar Disorder and the people who care about them.
http://www.harbor-of-refuge.org/

Information about Bipolar Disorder
http://www.dbsalliance.org/info/bipolar.html

NIMH: Bipolar Disorder
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/bipolar.cfm

National Mental Health Association Fact Sheet: Bipolar Disorder
http://www.nmha.org/infoctr/factsheets/76.cfm

The Winds of Change Bipolar Disorder Online Support GroupSupport group maintains email discussion group, chat room, message boards, writings.
http://www.thewindsofchange.org/old/index.html

The ashton manual for withdrawl from benzos

10 common distorted ideas

Recognizing Your Distortions
(from health news on line)
http://www.everydayhealth.com/public...33873ee877&p=3

Ten common cognitive distortions appear below. They are based on theories of cognitive therapy expounded by Aaron T. Beck, M.D., which were further refined and brought to popular attention by David D. Burns, M.D. Do any of these distortions resonate with you? Use this list to help make you aware of ingrained negative thought patterns and try to substitute more realistic, positive thoughts.

All or nothing. If you don’t perform flawlessly, you consider yourself a complete failure.

Overgeneralization. One negative event, such as a slight from your spouse or an encounter with a dishonest merchant, fits into an endless pattern of dismaying circumstances and defeat. For example, you might think, "He’s always cold" or "You can’t trust anyone."

Mental filter. One negative episode, such as a rude comment made to you during an otherwise enjoyable evening, shades everything like a drop of food coloring in a glass of water.

Ignoring the positive. Positive input, such as an affectionate gesture or outright praise, just doesn’t count. Self-deprecation deflects all compliments. You might say, "It’s no big deal."

Leaping to conclusions. You draw negative conclusions without checking to see if they have any foundation in fact. You may be mind reading: "My friend seems upset, she must be mad at me." Or you may be fortune telling: "I just know the results of my medical test won’t be good."

Magnification or minimization. You exaggerate potential problems or mistakes until they snowball into a catastrophe (as in the lab results example in Recognizing Your Distortions). Or you minimize anything that might make you feel good, such as appreciation for a kind act you did or the recognition that other people have flaws, too.

Emotional reasoning. You feel sure that your negative, emotional view of a situation reflects hard and fast truth. For example: "My husband drops his socks on the floor just to aggravate me."

"Should" statements. You adhere to a rigid set of beliefs and internal rules about what you "should" be doing and feel guilty when you don’t stay the course.

Labeling. Rather than describe a mistake or challenge in your life, you label yourself negatively: "I’m a screw-up." When another person’s behavior bothers you, you pin a global label on him or her: "She’s so controlling."

Personalization. You blame yourself for triggering a negative event that occurred for complex reasons or for something that was largely out of your control. "If I had taken care of myself properly, I never would have gotten cancer."

Other clues can also help you identify distorted thinking. Sentences that include the words "must," "should," "ought," "always," and "never" are often harsher than necessary and reflect rigid thinking that could stand to be softened.

warning signs of suicide

warning signs of suicide

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Red Flags: Warning Signs of Suicide
From Kimberly Read & Marcia Purse,
Your Guide to Bipolar Disorder.
FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now!
Bipolar Basics
by Kimberly Read

Of all the words in our very colorful language which inspire an immediate sense of horror (and there are many!), suicide has to be among the top. Just the mention of the word brings that gut-wrenching feeling of dread, of disbelief, of misunderstanding, of fear ... of horror. It is a word charged with difficult emotion and, therefore, a topic of discussion which people avoid at all costs. It is taboo.

However, the figures are frightening. According to the Centers for Disease Control, in the year 2002 suicide was the 8th ranked cause of death in the United States overall, but worse still, was the third leading cause of death for those aged 10-24, and the second leading cause for ages 25-34.

According to the Samaritans, a group which provides confidential emotional support for people in crisis, it is estimated that more than 100,000 people attempt suicide each year in the United Kingdom. Of these attempts, 7,000 will succeed in taking their lives.
Worse yet, it is estimated that as many as 20% of people who suffer from Bipolar Disorder will kill themselves. That's one out of every five! And as many as 50% - half! - of all manic depressive people may attempt suicide at least once in their lives. This is an appalling statistic, and one that shows the tremendous need for proper diagnosis and treatment of this devastating mental illness.

So the subject of suicide is not something we can ignore. It will not go away. Each of us needs to make the commitment to learning the warnings signs, the red flags, of despair, so we may be prepared - prepared to help a friend in crisis, prepared to see the cry for help from a loved one, prepared to seek help when our own resources for coping have worn thin.

I have attempted to organize these red flags into broad categories for easier reference. I have gathered this list of symptoms from personal experience as well as the following resource for additional information:

How to Prevent Suicide

Situational Indicators
Loss of a Relationship Via Rejection or Separation
Death of a Loved One
Diagnosis of a Terminal Illness
Loss of Financial Security
A Change in Physical Appearance
Loss of Employment/A New Job
Loss of Self Esteem
Abuse
Emotional Indicators
Depression
Hopelessness
Helplessness
A Sudden Lift Of Depression!
It is a well-known fact that as a person begins to climb from depression the possibility of a suicide attempt increases. There are two thoughts as to why this happens. The first is that when a person makes up her mind to take her own life, she becomes at peace with the situation. She feels more in control and thus the depression begins to lighten. The second idea is that as lethargy lifts, a person finds the energy to carry out suicidal plans he made while incapacitated. Regardless of the reason, however, this is a very critical time.

Behavioral Indicators
Acquiring a Weapon
Hoarding Medication
Putting Affairs in Order
Making or Changing a Will
Increased Interest in Suicide
Giving Away Personal Belongings
Mending Grievances
Checking on Insurance Policy
Withdrawing from People
Verbal Indicators
Straightforward Comments:
"I wish I were dead"
"I wish I had the nerve to kill myself."
"I wish I could die in my sleep."
"If it weren't for my kids, my husband ... I would commit suicide."

Hints:
"I hate life."
"Why do I bother?"
"I can't take it anymore."
"Nothing matters anymore."
In conclusion, I would like to note that these signs are not proof positive someone is considering suicide. Any number of these may be evident, but the person has given little or no thought to taking their own life. The reverse is also true. A person may give no warning of an impending suicide attempt. So how do you know for sure? Ask. Yes, ask! Be open to discussing this difficult subject with your loved one. It could save a life.

Updated: September 29, 2006

bipolar symptoms in children

symptoms of bipolar disorder in children

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Red Flags: Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder in Children
From Kimberly Read & Marcia Purse,
Your Guide to Bipolar Disorder.
FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now!
Bipolar Child Basics
by Kimberly Read

Randy is an endearing five year-old boy with an engaging smile. And yet, he has a history of tempestuous behavior that has followed him since infancy. He is bright, articulate, a fast learner - and as unpredictable as a tornado. From the time he cut his first tooth, he began biting - often drawing blood. At one and a half years old, Randy was dismissed from pre-school for aggressive behavior. He consistently scores high marks for academics, but has a string of "needs improvement" comments in all areas of behavior. He is loving, cuddling, wanting to be held one minute; screaming and raging with veins bulging from his neck the next.

Randy's parents are exasperated. They have attended many a parenting class, read a plethora of books, and tried every means of discipline suggested by family, friends, teachers and doctors.

Some say, "Randy is just all boy.

He will grow out of it." Others suggest, "Randy has Attention Deficit Disorder. Ask your doctor for Ritalin." A few point their fingers at the parents: "You need to take a firm hand with Randy. A good spanking is what that boy needs."
Many whisper, "Can you believe that boy Randy? I would never allow a child of mine to behave like that."

No one seems willing to consider the idea that Randy may have early-onset Bipolar Disorder. His mother has struggled with depression most of her life. His father has Bipolar Disorder. Randy is a prime candidate for a mood disorder.

A study conducted by Demitri Papolos, MD, and Janice Papolos indicates that over 80% of children who have Bipolar Disorder come from families with a history of mood disorders and/or alcoholism on both sides of the family. And yet, even when a strong family history of this is present, professionals rarely consider early-onset Bipolar Disorder. Many children who actually have Bipolar Disorder have been diagnosed with ADHD. Why? Because the official guidelines for diagnosing Bipolar Disorder found in the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) outline criteria based on classic adult symptoms. When the last edition of the DSM was published, very little was known about how Bipolar Disorder presents itself in children.

A great deal more is now known about Bipolar Disorder in children. Demitri and Janice Papolos have written a well-researched book entitled The Bipolar Child: The Definitive and Reassuring Guide to Childhood's Most Misunderstood Disorder. I was thrilled to review such a wonderful book. We applaud Demitri and Janice for providing this much needed, insightful resource! Below is an excerpt from their work (reprinted with permission), which lists those symptoms common to children who have early-onset Bipolar Disorder.

Very Common

Separation Anxiety

Rages & Explosive Temper Tantrums (lasting up to several hours)

Marked Irritability

Oppositional Behavior

Frequent Mood Swings

Distractibility

Hyperactivity

Impulsivity

Restlessness/ Fidgetiness

Silliness, Goofiness, Giddiness

Racing Thoughts

Aggressive Behavior

Grandiosity

Carbohydrate Cravings

Risk-Taking Behaviors

Depressed Mood

Lethargy

Low Self-Esteem

Difficulty Getting Up in the Morning

Social Anxiety

Oversensitivity to Emotional or Environmental Triggers
Common
Bed-Wetting (especially in boys)

Night Terrors

Rapid or Pressured Speech

Obsessional Behavior

Excessive Daydreaming

Compulsive Behavior

Motor & Vocal Tics

Learning Disabilities

Poor Short-Term Memory

Lack of Organization

Fascination with Gore or Morbid Topics

Hypersexuality

Manipulative Behavior

Bossiness

Lying

Suicidal Thoughts

Destruction of Property

Paranoia

Hallucinations & Delusions
Less Common
Migraine Headaches

Bingeing

Self-Mutilating Behaviors

Cruelty to Animals
Updated: June 18, 2006

The schizophrenia and bipolar disorder genetics blog

National resource center on psychiatric advance directives

The trouble with spikol blog on mental illness

depression and bipolar support alliance

** Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance
I'd like to share a wonderful info. website and/or DBSA's phone number(s). This is a wonderful organization, that offers info. and support. The pdocs on their advisory board are well known, reputable doctors and researchers, who have contributed so much to the field of Psychiatry.
There are some mentioned at this website that already have written books,journals, and periodicals, many available to the general public.

DBSA's phone numbers:
(800) 826 - 3632 or (312) 642 - 0049

website: www.DBSAlliance.org

healthcentral.com/bipolar

medication assistance

Got this off another site;
It only takes a few minutes to get a lot of help:

www.pparx.org

Or

1-888-4PPA-NOW

Have the entire list of your meds handy & names of the prescribing docs and you can enter them all in. Many of the programs have printable option where you go to a link and can print the app right then. At least try it, you have nothing to lose.

bizi

Just found this on another part of this site...

"There are a number of ways you can reduce the amount you pay for prescription drugs, such as: Switching to lower cost generics or different brands with the same or similar effectiveness, taking a shorter-acting drug more frequently, using non-prescription drugs as alternatives and many more.

Here is how Rxaminer works:

Compare the price of your medication.
Review your Drug Cost Analysis report to identify lower cost options.
Print the Drug Cost Analysis report and decide with your doctor which medication is best for you to reduce your out of pocket cost
Discover Lower Cost Options!
http://www.rxaminer.com/consult/index.asp?search=start

Nutritional Supplements

Nutritional Supplements for Bipolar Disorder

http://www.healthyplace.com/communit...upplements.asp

Directory of open access journals

Here is a good list to start from:

The Best Psychiatrists in the U.S.A.
Specializing in the Treatment of People with Mood Disorders.

http://www.psycom.net/depression.cen...hiatrists.html

hot line number to talk to someone.

I got this from another site here:
a hotline number for you to call if you would like
to talk to someone in person.
1-800-273-TALK.

more....from liz

Hotline Numbers and Information.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I thought it would be helpful to have hotline numbers in one place that is easy to find and easy to access quickly in an emergency situation.

Phone numbers-

1-800-273-TALK
1-800-273-8255

1-800-SUICIDE
1-800-784-2433

Deaf Hotline for TTY users -
1-800-799-4TTY
1-800-799-4889

Teen Hotline-
1-888-747-TEEN
1-888-747-8336

Canadian numbers are listed by Province on this site-
http://suicidehotlines.com/canada.html

Other International hotlines are listed by country on this site-
http://suicidehotlines.com/international.html

Websites-

http://suicidehotlines.com/

http://suicidehotlines.com/national.html
__________________
information curtesy of Wittesea

study: A "sticky" interhemispheric switch in bipolar disorder?

This seems to be an interesting/useful study about the left and right brain not cooperating in people with bipolar. I am posting it here because I don't know where else.

This research shows that people with bipolar have a delay in switching brain hemispheres.
Click on the link to see graphs and diagrams.

This is the study that suggests that cold caloric stimulation of the left ear (activating the right hemisphere) might temporarily reduce the symptoms of mania, while depression might be temporarily reduced by cold right ear caloric stimulation.

:icon_arrow: very cold water in left ear can temporarily reduce manic symptoms

:icon_arrow: very cold water in right ear can temporarily reduce depressive symptoms

A "sticky" interhemispheric switch in bipolar disorder?

JOHN D. PETTIGREW AND STEVEN M. MILLER

Vision, Touch and Hearing Research Centre, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, 4072, Australia
http://www.uq.edu.au/nuq/jack/procroysoc.html

Quote:

SUMMARY

Despite years of research into bipolar disorder (manic depression), its underlying pathophysiology remains elusive. It is widely acknowledged that the disorder is strongly heritable but the genetics are complex with less than full concordance in monozygotic twins and at least four susceptibility loci identified.

We propose that bipolar disorder is the result of a genetic propensity for slow interhemispheric switching mechanisms that become "stuck" in one or the other state.

Since slow switches are also "sticky" when compared with fast switches, the clinical manifestations of bipolar disorder may be explained by hemispheric activation being "stuck" on the left (mania) or on the right (depression). Support for this "sticky" interhemispheric switching hypothesis stems from our recent observation that the rate of perceptual alternation in binocular rivalry is slow in euthymic subjects with bipolar disorder (n=18, median=0.27Hz) compared with normal controls (n=49, median=0.60Hz, p<0.0005).

We have have presented evidence elsewhere that binocular rivalry is itself an interhemispheric switching phenomenon. The rivalry alternation rate (putative interhemispheric switch rate) is robust in a given individual, with a test-retest corrrelation of >0.8, making it suitable for genetic studies. The interhemispheric switch rate may provide a trait-dependent biological marker for bipolar disorder........
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

4. DISCUSSION
(a) Genetics

.......Interhemispheric switching in binocular rivalry may be mediated by bistable oscillator neurones located in the brainstem. While the switch is likely to have top-down influences, the fundamental rhythm may be determined intrinsically, as for other bistable oscillators, by the number of cationic currents that drive the rate of depolarization (Fig. 5). The rate would be directly proportional to the number of channels present (Rowat & Selverston 1997; Marder 1998). If the slowed rivalry rate that we have observed in bipolar patients proves to be a reliable trait marker for the disorder, we would predict that the relevant genes would be associated with some of the many cationic channels that have been described so far. There are multiple different cationic channels, each of which might contribute to the rhythm of the switch, such as the family of hyperpolarisation-activated channels (Gauss et al. 1998, Ludwig et al. 1998). This functional multiplicity could explain the well recognized failure of linkage studies to settle on a single chromosomal locus (e.g. Adams et al. 1998; McGue & Bouchard 1998). We are currently assessing the slow rivalry trait in family studies to assess its pattern of inheritance, and in twin studies to look at heritability. A quantitative trait such as this may be more revealing in genetic studies than the more limited, qualitative information available from the presence or absence of clinical episodes.

(b) A Model of Bipolar Disorder

Slow switches are "sticky" switches because the intrinsic channel abnormalites causing slow oscillation rate, also make the switch more likely to be held down in one state by external synaptic inputs (Rowat & Selverston 1997). At first sight, there is a conflict between our suggestion that the primary defect is a reduction in cationic channels and the many findings of increased cellular and neuronal sensitivity in bipolar disorder, since cationic channel reduction would have the general effect of decreased neuronal sensitivity.

Documented examples of increased neuronal sensitivity in bipolar disorder include:- 1. elevated levels of G proteins (Mitchell et al. 1997; 2. increased responsiveness of cAMP processes (Andreopoulos et al. 1997); 3. Increased sensitivity to light-induced melatonin suppression (Nurnberger et al. 1988); 4. Increased sensitivity to cholinergic REM sleep induction (Nurnberger et al. 1983).

We suggest that these apparent contradictions can be resolved if the primary effect on the timing of the oscillator is distinguished from the "downstream" effects on other parts of the brain, such as the cerebral hemispheres, where compensatory mechanisms may be employed to restore normal levels of excitability in the face of reduced cationic channel function. For example, the cerebral hemispheres may be concerned more with neuronal excitability and plasticity than with clock rate. Since many effective medications for bipolar disorder (e.g. lithium) are known to decrease excitability via G-protein and cAMP mediated processes, we suggest that their mechanism of action may be upon these downstream effects rather than on the defect in the oscillator per se.

Since the cerebral hemispheres provide an important "top-down" synaptic input to the brainstem switch, a compensatory increase in sensitivity would lead to increased hemispheric output (in response to a stressor) and might therefore increase the likelihood that the switch will be held down ("stuck") on the side favouring that hemisphere.

The switching process in bipolar patients might therefore be doubly afflicted; increased "stickiness" because of reduced intrinsic currents and potentially greater extrinsic synaptic inputs from stressors by virtue of the compensatory increase in hemispheric excitability.

We therefore envisage a manic or depressive episode being the result of a stressor that causes the switch to be "stuck" in one of two positions:- unrelieved left hemisphere activation being associated with mania, in line with that hemisphere's cognitive style, unrelieved right hemisphere activation being associated with depression, in line with its style.

(c) Hemispheric Asymmetries of Mood and Mood Disorder

Hemispheric asymmetries of mood and mood disorder have been widely discussed (Kinsbourne (ed) 1988; Davidson & Hugdahl (eds) 1995; Heller & Nitschke 1997). Imaging studies suggest that there is greater relative right prefrontal activation in depression - i.e. left prefrontal 'hypometabolism' - which was not present when subjects were rescanned following clinical remission (Bench et al. 1995; Martinot et al. 1990).

EEG studies also support greater relative right activation in depression (Henriques & Davidson 1991). Activation asymmetries favouring the left hemisphere have been reported in mania (Migliorelli et al. 1993). In keeping with these activation asymmetries, it has been shown that transcranial magnetic stimulation of prefrontal cortex is therapeutic for depression when administered on the left (George et al. 1997; Pascual-Leone et al. 1996).

Unilateral hemisphere inactivation using sodium amobarbitol has also been associated with asymmetric mood sequelae.

Inactivation of the left hemisphere has been shown to induce negative moods more commonly on subjective measures (Christianson et al. 1993) while objective measures of affect showed crying to be related to left hemisphere injections and laughter/elation to right-sided injections (Lee et al. 1990). Lesion studies have been particularly illuminating with respect to asymmetries.

Robinson and Downhill (1995) report that left-sided lesions in prefrontal and basal ganglia regions are more commonly associated with depression than similar lesions on the right, and secondary mania more commonly follows right-sided lesions (basotemporal cortex, orbitofrontal cortex, basal ganglia, thalamus) than similar left-sided lesions.

Robinson and Downhill (1995) suggest that the dependence of mood change on lesion site may be the result of asymmetric pathophysiologic responses to injury. While such mechanisms may be relevant, studies of emotion and mood in normal subjects (Davidson, 1995) support the notion of underlying physiological asymmetries which would also explain the lesion data. This interpretation does not exclude asymmetric response to injury since asymmetries of physiologic function may be mediated by neurochemical asymmetries.

Thus a wide variety of data suggests that there are hemispheric asymmetries of mood and mood disorders.

There are, of course, methodological limitations and several studies have been unable to replicate reported asymmetries. It is not pertinent to review such issues in this paper. Taken alone, each approach (psychiatry, neurology, neuropsychology) may be criticized. Taken together, the directional convergence of results from disparate modes of investigating asymmetries of mood and mood disorder seems unlikely to be due solely to issues of methodology or interpretation.

(d) Slowed Oscillator for Frontal and Limbic Regions?

The notion of alternating hemispheric activation has been suggested before and is supported by electrophysiological and psychological studies of ultradian rhythms (<20 hrs duration) of cerebral dominance (for a review see Shannahoff-Khalsa 1993).

The typical period for such rhythms is in the minutes to hours range. The oscillator for binocular rivalry targets regions at high stages of visual processing in temporo-parietal cortex, based on neurophysiological evidence from monkeys undergoing rivalry (Sheinberg & Logothetis 1997), and on magnetic resonance imaging studies of humans (Lumer et al. 1998). An interhemispheric switch for cognitive style and mood would be likely to engage frontal and limbic regions (Liotti & Tucker 1995) and to have a period similar to that of reported ultradian rhythms of cerebral dominance (i.e. minutes to hours). A slowing of the oscillator for rivalry, from 1-2 seconds to 10-20 seconds, would not account for any of the clinical phenomenology of bipolar disorder. It is conjecture on our part to propose that the slowing of an oscillator for temporo-parietal cortex might also be accompanied by a proportionate slowing of the putative oscillators that govern interhemispheric switching in other regions such as prefrontal cortex. There is a precedent for such coupling in Drosophila where a single mutation may simultaneously reduce the rate of both short period (ultradian) and longer period (circadian) oscillators (Hall & Rosbash 1988; Kyriacou and Hall 1980). The question of coupled oscillators is clearly relevant to mood disorders such as seasonal affective disorder (Teicher et al. 1997; Madden et al. 1996; Corbera 1995) and to the way in which cortical regions activated by different rates might be coupled by virtue of their pooled outputs to the same switch (Pöppel et al 1978).

(e) Clinical effects of caloric stimulation in bipolar disorder?

In view of the efficacy of caloric stimulation in inducing unilateral hemispheric activation (Bottini et al. 1994; Vitte et al. 1996), we suggest that caloric stimulation in acutely manic or depressed patients might support our model of bipolar disorder. The technique is known to temporarily reverse unilateral neglect and anosognosia associated with right-sided lesions (Cappa et al. 1987; Vallar et al. 1993; Ramachandran 1994).

Thus cold caloric stimulation of the left ear (activating the right hemisphere) might temporarily reduce the symptoms of mania, while depression might be temporarily reduced by cold right ear caloric stimulation.

Great article,, You are the best...........

I agree with Mark, this is awesome of you to post Mari. :D

Free On-line Self help book
http://www.psychologicalselfhelp.org/

www.MOODGYM.ANU.EDU.AU is web site based on Cognitive Behavior Therapy.
It walks you through some feeling/thought retraining if you are depressed or anxious.

thought it should be posted here too.
bizi

just found this:

Bipolar http://bipolar.about.com
Depression http://depression.about.com
Panic/Anxiety Disorders http://panicdisorder.about.com
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Fibromyalgia http://chronicfatigue.about.com
Mental Health http://mentalhealth.about.com
Psychology http://psychology.about.com
Neurosciences http://neuroscience.about.com
Nutrition http://nutrition.about.com
Disability Issues http://disabilities.about.com
Pharmacology http://pharmacology.about.com
i highly recommend the BOOK: WORST PILLS BEST PILLS, by the Consumer Group Public Citizen, Health Research Group http://www.citizen.org/hrg [[About.com Health http://home.about.com/health , Home http://www.about.com ]]
SSRI's raise insulin levels, which lower
sugar in the blood stream.

visit this site for more information: www.drugawareness.org The book by Dr. Tracey mentioned there
goes in great detail about other
physiological effects of SSRIs including
elevating cortisol levels too.
http://www.effexorxr.com/
You won't know unless you try it.
you can find any info here:
www.rxlist.com
This is also very helpful:
http://www.effexor-xr-side-effects-withdrawal.com/faq.html
http://www.neuroland.com/psy/neurolep_se.htm
This is published by neuros THEMSELVES Take care.
Please try this site http://www.gsm.com
and let me know what you think. I found it wonderful compared to my old PDR.
http://counsellingresource.com -Info about diferrent counseling resources

Just thought I would share these with you!
take some time and browse this site. One of the better ones concerning our illness.

http://www.psychiatry24x7.com

The Beliefnet address is

www.Beliefnet.com

Some book reviews on bipolar from psych central
http://psychcentral.com/lib/books/bipolar/

http://www.mcmanweb.com/

the mood spectrum is excellant!
http://www.mcmanweb.com/mood_spectrum.html

http://www.youtube.com/user/mcmananmy

an additional site for information and support
bizi

read this if you are consdiering suicide.....thanks doc john

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7wM1TFoVoy

I hope I did this right, I love music and I could relate to this clip, I have watchced it several times just to feel a connection

Borrowed this from waves, reality orientation...

also what i would suggest is focusing on physical comfort. do all the five senses.

- touch different things:
-- pet your kitty cat. notice the softness of her fur. notice her breathing and warmth.
-- touch a warm blanket. squeeze part of it in your hand and notice the give. notice the softness.
-- touch a piece of wood or wooden furniture. notice the smoothness, or roughness of the wood, and any uneven spots in it.

- taste
-- sip water, or a some warm tea. eat a piece of bread. keep it simple. notice the wetness of the water, the texture of the bread, the taste, or lack of it.

- look at things
--- trees outside, maybe changing colors
--- again your kitty cat... focus on her face, her eyes, ears. how graceful a kitty cat is.

- hear things
--- noice the creatures outside might be making
--- the sound of the heating system if it is on
--- the sound of the wind or rain

- smell
--- a mild piece of soap or bubble bath, shampoo
--- spices... pick one that you like. cinnamon?
--- the pages an old book. these have a peculiar, old, strangely comforting smell. like something that is and always will be.

FINALLY:

wrap your arms around yourself, and squeeze. right - give yourself a hug. feel the safety of a hug. consider it on all of our behalf. :grouphug:

check in from time to time, when you can. and remember to breathe gently.

~ waves ~

actually the touch orientation is something that came naturally to me. and all the examples i came up with or have used myself.

the hugging too is something i have done spontaneously and was afraid to admit for years. i was actually a little suspicious of it and it took my therapist telling me it was healthy before i suggested it to others.

However the 5 senses thing i got from a post of Mari's... it seemed like a more thorough version of my experience with touch. touch still seems like the strongest tether to me, but others may have better success with a different sense. certainly going through all of the senses, is a more thorough approach. one can then do more of the sense that is most comforting.

~ waves ~ credit goes to Mari for the 5 senses exercise.

Some with bipolar and especially with anxiety may be interested in psychiatric service dogs: http://www.iaadp.org/psd_tasks.html

Then there is the issue of people finding (even after decades) that their bipolar symptoms were due to something medically and/or nutritionally testable and/or treatable:

http://jccglutenfree.googlepages.com/

http://itsnotmental.blogspot.com/

*edit*

http://www.suicidefindinghope.com/content/videos
videos about suicide and depression, kay jamison

http://www.needymeds.org/
low cost meds
bizi

Book - Obsessions and Compulsions

Great book that may be helpful.
Not Bipolar related but very good none the less.

Passing for Normal: A Memoir of Compulsion
Amy S. Wilensky, Author

Amy also has Tourette's Syndrome as well as OCD but I found the book more about her OCD and it was helpful because it was from a young woman's point of view and a very personal story.

NAMI - Prescription Drug Assistance

NAMI - Prescription Drug Assistance

Information on government programs,
non-profit organizations
and pharmaceutical companies
offering free or low-cost medication.

Suicide The Forever Decision By Dr. Paul G. Quinnett

Quote:
To help save lives, the best selling book "Suicide the Forever Decision, For those Thinking about Suicide and for Those who Know, Love and Counsel Them", by Paul Quinnett, Ph.D. is herewith made available in a free electronic format to anyone in the world who wishes __________________
http://www.metanoia.org/suicide/