Those with recurrent mental illnesses

[Crawling1]

My usual name is just crawling some of you may know me but I've forgot my login details so have re registered. I have scizoaffective disorder. Right now I'm in the middle of a episode. My question is how do you keep fighting when you know another episode is just around the corner?

How do you keep on going struggling through day to day to get better when you know that once you do all you will get is a short reprieve before another episode starts?

How do you pick up the pieces of your broken life knowing it's all gonna come crashing down again?

This question is for anyone with a illness that will come back be it depression bipolar whatever.

[Crawling1]

Bump

[dontrunwithscissors]

Honestly, I really don't know. I have bipolar. I thought this crappy low was over--got out of hospital a couple of weeks ago. Now it seems it's coming back and it's awful facing it. Sorry, that's ridiculously unhelpful. I suppose the answer is my kids, my family, putting just one foot in the front of the other.

[Messupmum]

I'm sorry you feel like this. I recognise your name and know you've struggled for a while. I honestly don't know what to say, but wanted to say I know how hard it is. I don't think people understand that with mh illness, even if there are a few good days, it doesn't always last. And it makes it so difficult. I'm sorry, I feel rubbish but wanted to put done kind of reply as I feel the same..

[Messupmum]

'Some' not done

[babyheaves]

Because the alternative isn't worth it and the bits in between are worth hanging on for.

I have children, family and friends who I care about and sometimes its just about putting the needs of others first.

Mental illness sucks the joy out of life when it strikes, but there's always an end to the bad times and things do get better.

[whodrankallthemilk]

becuase i enjoy the 'calms' and they are worth it.

i look at it like eating... why bother eating breakfast when you will be hungry again at lunchtime?

be kind to yourself... dont let yourself go hungry.

Im on longterm AD's and are currently going through a 'calm' time. I'm not waiting for it to come crashing to an end because i feel 'calm'. in fact the minute i start worrying that the calm times are going to end, its a pretty good indication that they have already started to end

[Aniline]

I don't know. I was very depressed but ad made me high. I had to stop it and now calming myself with diazepam. Now afraid getting low again. I just must go through it. I was offered crisis team/hospital when I was depressed but I just pushed through without them.

[Crawling1]

Thanks everyone.

[Grokette]

My approach is the same as larahusky and I'm bipolar too. I'm very stubborn and bloody-minded and at the same time pathetically hopeful that this time I've cracked it... every single time! Also knowing that the dc really only have me is a big thing, I've never had such a responsibility and I simply cannot mess it up.

I'm also very proactive with medication and other aspects of my healthI'm happy to tweak meds on my own if I feel it necessary, I keep on top of good supplements and try to exercise regularly and rest well. I don't drink, don't smoke, eat a diet specifically indicated to be helpful for bipolar, just generally try to prioritise my health and wellbeing. It's taken me 31 years to get to that point though! I've been quite stable for over a year now, touch wood.

Aniline please see a doctor. Going from depression to mania when ADs are introduced is not something you have to suffer through, it is very indicative of bipolar, and it absolutely can be helped. Please don't feel you have to go soldier on alone, because you really, really don't. Life can be so much better than just surviving.

[Grokette]

in fact the minute i start worrying that the calm times are going to end, its a pretty good indication that they have already started to end

That is an incredibly accurate description of how it feels whodrankallthemilk