I was forty-one years old when I was given the diagnosis
of manic
depression (MD). I had suffered with post-natal
depression after the birth of both of my sons years earlier and
had undergone three severe bouts of depression with subsequent
hypomania, that is periods of elevated or mild mania moods during
my late thirties.
During
one bout of crippling depression I reached crisis, tried to take
my own life and was admitted to hospital. There a psychiatrist
gave a diagnosis of MD after a thirty minute discussion of my
‘roller-coaster’ moods over the past five years.
I
was suffering from severe mood swings and was immediately
prescribed a mood stabiliser called Lithium. This has worked
successfully for me when taken regularly and with blood tests to
check its therapeutic level.
That
was five years ago have read a lot about MD, have accepted my
illness and work hard to self-manage myself with the support of
family, friends, my psychiatrist and my community psychiatrist
nurse.. I
I
have become extremely self-aware and have learned to talk about my
feelings, share my experiences and listen to others. To keep
mentally and physically well I keep active, going to the gym,
swimming and yoga every week and on a regular basis. I read a lot,
do relaxation with the help of tapes, I also get involved in
mental health self-help groups. I try to do creative things like
baking, decorating and gardening, all of which make me feel good.
I
did have a stressful job from which I took ill-health retirement.
I now try to avoid as much stress as possible and am very
self-aware of my moods. If I lose my appetite and have poor sleep,
lack concentration and wake up with negative thoughts these are my
early warning signs of a forthcoming depression.
I
get to my doctors for some anti-depressants, try to keep busy by
planning my day’s activities, speeding everything up and talk
about how I feel.
However,
if I have poor sleep but lots of ideas and energy, talk quickly
and am often irritable these are warning signs of an ensuing high
mood. Here I would try to cut out stimulants (tea, coffee, coke
and alcohol) stay close to home, try to do everything slow and
steady, avoid any major decisions or changes and actively try to
calm down.
This
self-awareness and by taking regular medication has helped
stabilise my moods and help my life get back to normal.
I
know myself really well now and I lead a much better quality of
life. I put myself first, treat myself regularly and enjoy my life
to the full