My Son is Bipolar

When I became pregnant, almost eight years ago, the first thing that crossed my mind, after my initial shock and elation, was the fact that my child would be predisposed to bipolar disorder.  Not only had I been diagnosed with bipolar, but my unborn son’s aunt and grandmother on his father’s side, had also been treated for depression.  Since mood disorders ran in both families, his risk was high - anywhere from 15-75%.  At the time, terminating the pregnancy was not an option, besides that, I wanted a child.  I was deemed a “high-risk” patient, due to my condition and the fact that it was imperative that I remain on my medications.  Luckily I had two very well educated physicians who watched my pregnancy carefully.  I had a special ultrasound that checked for any type of abnormality in his spine, head or brain.  By the time I gave birth, at the age of thirty, I was confident my son was as healthy as any other child. Read more

A Look at the Different Depression and Anxiety Medications

While it may be easy to recite the various brand names and generalize their benefits enough to know they put us (or are supposed to put us) in a better mood, for lack of a better term, the drugs themselves can all be categorized individually, each working in a slightly different way.

The following is a list and very brief description, by category, of depression and anxiety medications currently prescribed by physicians.

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)

SSRIs, which are fairly new to the arsenal of depression and anxiety medications, have gained immense popularity among prescribing psychiatrists within the past 10 years. They are usually prescribed during the early stages of depression, if a person has sought help and behavioral and/or psychotherapy has not proven effective enough. With appropriate dosage, SSRIs can “catch” depression before it becomes severe. Although they do not work for 20% to 40% of people who try them, their ability to work for people with minor (and even major) Read more

Common Symptons of Clinical Depression

Clinical Depression is a catch all phrase for any number of depressive disorders. The symptoms of clinical depression affect everyone who suffers from it in different ways. Depression affects people across all age ranges, genders, ethnicities, cultures and religions. According to the American Psychiatric Association over 17 million men and women in the U.S. suffer from some form of clinical depression every year.

Clinical depression is very different then the normal “blue” moods most people go through during their lives. Most people react to major let downs and traumatic experiences in their lives such as breakups of relationships or deaths of family or friends the same way. They have a period of mourning or just feeling in the dumps but after a few days to a week they start to return to their normal selves. Read more

Don’t Be Afraid to Seek Depression Help

Many people feel that depression is their own problem suffering alone, and often feeling isolated. Getting depression help can be hard when you are in a state of mind, where you feel no one will understand you. Getting depression help can mean the difference between having a slight or mild case of depression, or lapsing into a severe heavy state of depression which could require long term antidepressant use or even hospitalization. Understanding Depression can be the first step to recovery. Once you understand your depression and realize you are not alone, getting depression help will be much easier. Read more

Atypical Depression - The Most Common Form of Depression

Atypical depression, a subtype of major depression, is the most common form of depression today. People who suffer atypical depression exhibit all the normal symptoms of depression but they also react to external positive experiences in a positive way. Atypical depression sufferers respond to their environment, enjoying the company of friends but slipping back into deep depression when alone or faced with a stressful situation. It is this aspect of atypical depression that differentiates it from melancholic depression in which external positive experiences still result in depressed feelings. Read more

Natural Cures for Depression

Natural Cures for Depression - Do They Exist or Not?

Most people suffering from bouts of depression, anxiety and general mood disorders that greatly affect their quality of life don’t even know that they have non-prescription options to treat their depression effectively.

Instead, most people will either “bite the bullet” through the rough times, or they will seek the advice of a professional such as a psychiatrist or psychologist, and perhaps go through counseling, or be put on a prescription antidepressant such as Zoloft or Prozac.  Did you know that antidepressants are currently the third leading classification of prescription drugs by overall revenue and profitability?

This tells us one thing for sure.  Depression is very widespread, very common, and perhaps even overprescribed, some critics might say. Read more

P.S. on My Film

Just after posting my last post, I got a comment from someone saying she think’s I’m manic.  You know, it is ignorance like that which really urks me.  It is that kind of ignorance I am trying to work on removing from people’s minds.  Just because a person with bipolar disorder is happy, motivated and focused, someone is bound to say that person is manic.  Even though we’re all free to share our opinions, I’m free to delete those comments off my website which promote ignorance - so that’s what I did. “Delete Comment.”  Sorry, lady, whoever you are.  Not!

My Film

The last couple of posts on the site were actually re-posted yesterday since there were some technical problems.  Sorry for the Oops!  Anyway, things are changing rapidly these days…I have a great lead on getting the film financed, but will keep at my own work, just in case, to make sure that we can start shooting within 90 days.  I’d like to wait until the Arizona heat calms down a little bit first so as not to take too much energy out of my cast.  Sometimes, in life, there are bumps on the road to success and fulfillment.  That’s just part of the trip.  But, when you have a dream, you have to put that forward and everything else behind you.  My film is my dream, I know I will get it made.  Nothing will stop me.  Not money.  Not skepticism.  Nothing.  I will make this film, no matter what.  And we will start shooting within 90 days max!  No more holding back, no more financing falling through.  This film is going to change the way people look at mental illness for the rest of time.  It’s my path, my destination and my continuance.  It’s what I’m supposed to do with my life to carry me onto the next experience.  I want to help the world, and only as someone who is out there in the world can I do that.  I’ve let my belief system hold me down for too long.  Now, my beliefs are changing, opening me up to possibilities I never knew existed.  When I was a kid, I used to imagine what it would be like to be interviewed by Johnny Carson.  So, get ready Jay Leno, I’m coming to your show.  The time has come.

Going Home

Well, things are basically wrapped up here in Switzerland.  Not everything is taken care of, but I can’t afford to stay here any longer.  The next months will tell the tale of how good my work was here.  I’m heading back to Arizona, home for lack of a better word.  I continue to work with my friend on our blog project and will be doing all that I can to save as much money as possible over these next months so I can make my film.  Every time I’ve looked outside myself for the financing, it’s fallen through…so, I’ve decided to work, save up money and make the film through my own efforts.  Sometimes, if you want a job done, you have to do it yourself.  I look forward to the next months of work and learning.

Finally

Yes, finally things are starting to seriously look up.  Gosh, have I learned a lot about patience these last four months in Switzerland.  There’s been tons going on, more than I can mention, but needless to say it’s all coming together in a great way!  I strongly believe that my film will be getting financed very soon, which means I will be able to share with the world my story about my recovery from bipolar disorder, the same story that millions of others share.  I can hardly wait!!!

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