How do people with severe mental illness make it without suiciding?

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lillanigyrl	I am sorry to hear that you are sufferingthe way that you do. I think alot of this can be mind controlled by yourself. Help from a therapist is an extra, but you yourself can do alot of it. First off try and find your centering and what makes you happy. Another thing is to start a good exercise plan, this releases endorphins that helps to stop depression. Surround yourself in positive vibrations. Another thing when you look at your husband try to always remember why it is you fell in love with him. Look at his good qualities...and remember. Have you tried smoking weed? Hey I know people talk about morals etc...but in your case anything that can help you is needed at this point. I wish you all of the best. Embrace life its a gift from God, treasure the fact that you have a husband, and be positive. Concentrate on making yourself better and most of all have faith in yourself. You can do this. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

Sandra B	You are doing many wonderful things to help yourself and you have great awareness of your condition. These are all positive things to cherish. One treatment you have not mentioned is visiting a nutritionist. Sometimes severe mental illness could be exacerbated by an underlying nutritional deficiency. Keeping a journal of what you eat especially around disturbing episodes can be helpful to bring to a nutritionist. An excellent one whom helped me with my bipolar disorder is Bob Dagger at High Vibe in NYC. He even does phone consultations. Also, faith and hope are really all we ultimately have as human beings. Do everything you can to cultivate this faith and hope in yourself. Meditate, pray, or whatever else it is that helps you to feel faith and hope. Best wishes to you. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

Life is Wonderful	severe mental illness. mmm...well some of them simply live in their own world therefore dont suffer as much as other patietns such as yourself. They are not always in touch with the outside world. However when you said your pain is extreme, i can understand. However dont lose your faith over that....the suffering does NOT come from God but from a bad influence that is Satan. Dont dismiss this too quickly.....you said yourself you have tried everything. I encourage you to pray to God to guide you to find him and have faith again. The world will not always be like this....this is not what God intended for us. Please dont give up on finding answers .... Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

57rider	if someone said to you you are absolutely possitively and gave you a 100% gaurantee that everyday of the rest of your life would be terrible and miserable that might be a good reason for a doctor assisted suicide. but nobody can absolutely possitively gaurantee that the rest of your life will be as bad and as miserable as it has been up to now for you. there is always a chance that things might change.as life goes on it might seem like a 1 in 1,000 chance but what the heck you just keep fighting until you get beaten up so bad you get to die. i know i am not suffering nearly as much as you but sometimes i think i worry about what other people say, and if i commited suicide i think people would say what a coward he was,how could he hurt his mom like that,bring grief to his family,etc Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

New Dad	Boy, you have covered all bases for all of my answers except one: Let go of the rage...it will keep you in the past and that will feed your current attitudes and enslave them. Learn to let go. Relax your moods the best you can and it may help. I know it does me. I have ADHD for 45 years and for 44 of them, I was left undiagnosed; and for 40 of those years, I had never heard of these symptoms or the disorder! Imagine the rage of having people tell you "there is some-thing wr-wrong with you, weirdo", but being just as ignorant as they in following through with those insults and saying, "Ok, so what is there to do about the problem?" Instead, people just wanted to talk and not act. That left me with a lifetime of rage! But, I finally learned to let the rage go. It left my chest and I don't feel the tightness that was a companion for as long as I can remember. It perpetuated itself and fed itself. It left me uptight in my chest, so it left me uptight all over. It exploded out when people would call me weird. Since I left the rage behind, I am in a weird control of my life. It feels good to choose, and not be chosen. My body has relaxed and I do not have the feeling of being tired, sore, and weighted down with lead. I feel healthier. Because of this, I HAVE NOTICED THE MEDS WORKING BETTER. Sorry to yell, but if there is one point I want you not skim over, it's this one. I wish you well. I hope this helps. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

tanisha_169	Im 24 and ive been like that since i was 14 , i scare myself alot of the time... my child is the reason im still here.. and i know that 100% Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

caffsans	as a past mental patient= put your trust in God to help you through it=also take some of the courses offered at least on how to live with your illness Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

Christina J	I am bipolar also. I was diagnosed with it right before getting pregnant so I have not been on anything yet. Before I was diagnosed with it, I was always diagnosed with depression and put on antidepressants, which as you probably already know they don't work to well. I would be on them for about 6months, the depression would come back full force and they would double the dose. About 2 weeks after doubling the dose I would go crazy. The worst it ever got was I was sure my boyfriend was going to kill me (and he probably was cuz he was that type) and I had to leave. So I threw all my clothes, the kid's clothes, some odds and ends like pictures, cds, computer, and my camera all in my car till it was full. I asked my mom to wire me some money which she did. I left at about 10 at night in the middle of a blizzard, roads were closing behind. I drove so fast that it took me 12 hours to drive a 14 hour trip, and that was with wasting 2hours in some town deciding if I should keep going or go back. I decided to go back and by the time I did that, the road going that way was closed so I kept driving to where my mom lived. I got there covered in bruises (from the BF) and my mom said I looked like hell. I didn't talk for about a week unless it was something like "Pass the peas please". When I finally did talk I wanted to put my kids in foster care and check into some hospital cuz I knew something was wrong. My mom wouldn't let me do that though and helped me through everything. I think for about 9 months not a day went by were I didn't cry. I did try to get help, I started seeing a therapist and she suggested I go to a medical doctor (she was just a counselor, a very good one but couldn't give out meds) and get antidepressants. I made an appointment at a low-income clinic here and went to the appointment. I was so proud of myself for making the appointment and actually showing up. I got there and it was horrible, all that doctor could concentrate on was my weight and even called me fat. She said she wasn't going to prescribe me anything because she was leaving the area the next month and wouldn't be able to follow up with me, told me to get some exercise, that it would make me feel better and I wouldn't be so fat. She also told me that if I felt suicidal that I need to go to an ER at one of the hospitals. When leaving I went into a panic attack, knocked over some old lady with a walker, I was just trying to get out as fast as I could. I got in my car and started to drive. I got lost because I wasn't paying attention to where I was going and had to stop and call my brother to get directions to get back home. Sorry I know I am not really answering your question but I know how you feel. All that happened about 5 years ago. Anyways what I do to cope. Ya know when your anxiety is through the roof and you want to climb out or your own skin and run away, all your thoughts are racing through your mind so fast that if anyone were trying to read your mind it would be too confusing for them to understand anything. When I get like that I write it all down until my mind slows down. I have wrote for as long as 5hours before, but it gives me something to concentrate on that isn't destructive. It also gives you a good picture of where your mind goes when you get that way, so that when you are feeling clearer, maybe reading it over will give you better ideas on how to cope. I also call my mom and talk things out with her. She knows that when I am like that, that the best thing she can do is to listen to it all and help me sort everything out until I make sense again. It doesn't have to be your mom, but could be anyone willing to listen that won't be judgmental. I hope some of that helps. I know that when you right smack in the middle of the cycle that everything seems so horrible, but try to tell yourself that this too shall pass. Take everything one moment at a time. I say one moment at a time cuz with bipolar people, a day is often way too long to try to deal with all at once. Good luck to you. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

Randy from AR	Start smoking pot.. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

Moonchild	I to suffer from sever depression. I use lite therapy; journaling; many differant therapists; physciatrists, meds, & just hang on to the belief that one day there will be an answer to our problems. I also meditate, read daily affirmation books, & try not to iscolate! Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

cmeneshoba	with the help of family and friends....my mom has a disease that some people have said that it's the worst disease you could die from...look it up its called Huntingtons Disease...a rare genetic disease that she inherited from her father...i'm lucky..I was adopted...but one or both of my little brothers will have it or pass it to their children... Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

PURR GIRL TORI	Oh girl, you're right up my alley...I have been diagnosed with partial bipolar and clinical depression. I currently take Cymbalta and Lamictal, and the Cymbalta really seems to help. I haven't suffered the horrible way you have and you have ALL of my sympathy. I HAVE tried suicide a few times- failed. I have too many people (and my beloved cat) that I love, and I wouldn't want them to be in pain. I sleep a lot, and I've been to a hypnotist and that seemed to help me relax. I also take Klonopin, and that really calms me down. I don't have the highs and deep lows of bipolar- I think I'm just clinically depressed. I've been on Prozac, Effexor, Buspar, so many I can't even remember. The Cymbalta is really helping. I ran out of it a few days ago and I was a weeping mess. It seems like you're doing all the right things; seeing a counselor, exercise ( I really need to stop isolating- sometimes I unplug my phone because I can't stand it- I feel it's an intrusion.) So, you're way ahead of me in the activity department. I just feel...blank. What is a light box? You mentioned you see a counselor, have you seen a psychiatrist? One thing that's helped me A LOT is doing a blog on MySpace. I also read a lot, and it distracts me from my mundane life. I would suggest you get a journal, and try writing just how horrible you feel. Does this run in your family? How were you treated as a child? There's a GREAT book I highly reccomend called "The Noonday Demon: An Atlas Of Depression" by Andrew Solomon. It's worth every penny and it's probably in paperback. Do you get any pleasure and help from your friends? I live alone with my Maine Coon Cat, and I love her more than anything. (Except my 82 yr. old father) What's your agony like- I mean, what triggers your pain and depression? I know you've probably seen your share of psychiatrists - but maybe you haven't found the right one. Have you looked in to maybe hospitalizing yourself for a while- and get some real help. I'm worried for you. Please get in touch with me, and I will try my best to help out. I know all too well the pain and agony and the uselessness you might be feeling. But at least you're not totally isolating yourself like me. What does your agony feel like, and what triggers it? Is your husband supportive? I'll be thinking of you. PLEASE buy the book I mentioned; it really helped me. Please take care. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

autumn_zuber	Well I have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. I found that getting obsesed with something helps. That is how I cope from having flashback of child abuse. Normally I go into politics and religious groups and fight for my view of things. You may not want to get into something so abusive but find something you are really obsessed about and do it (BESIDES sucide) Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

Goldmund	Because life is beautiful even when you are very ill. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

poeticjustice	I've had health problems since I was born, along with depression and anxiety problems. I think being spiritual has helped me, and knowing that it's not really my fault. It's not your fault either. You have to learn to love yourself, and accept the fact that we all have faults that we have to work on. Not all medications are going to work right away, if you don't like the ones you have, you could try different ones. Try not to lose faith, faith is the one thing we have to keep us going. :) Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

minimickimichelle	I suffer from severe anxiety and panic attacks. Being 'normal' and having a mental illness has got to be one of the most exhausting things in the world. When you want to focus on something else, the struggle to focus your thoughts on something other than yourself causes more anxiety and could trigger a panic attack. But the catch is, that part of our problem is that we focus too much on our own pain. My children have been a motivation to stay alive and a weapon I use against myself for not being good enough. Thank goodness I have them. Sometimes I think if I could just sleep a little longer I'll wake up better. I have avoided suicide and suicidal thoughts by sheer willpower. I'm thankful that my meds do work for me and help balance me out. One time my mother told me that she thinks that people who are in so much pain that they commit suicide really grieve her because she believes that they have frozen themselves in their pain forever. Like, instead of heaven or hell they're in their own mental pain for eternity. Boy, that was a thought provoking comment. It has helped me shy away from any self-abuse. I have hung onto my faith in God because if there is going to be any relief EVER, I believe it is going to come through Him. This is something I have been trying, maybe it will help you. Get a portable timer (like a kitchen timer) and set it for 15 minutes. For that time sit quietly and focus on your agony. Consider what has caused you to feel such pain. Analyze it and dwell on it. Try to unravel the mystery inside of your pain. When the timer goes off, reset it. This time set your agony aside for the time being because you'll get back to it in a bit. Now get up and go outside and look at the world around you. The grass, trees, birds, sky, all of nature. Breathe it in, smell its fragrance. Thank it for bringing you this moment of pleasure and joy. Notice the tiniest details...how green the grass is, what would be the designer name of that color? Just dwell in that moment with pleasure. Until the timer goes off. Somewhere in those two exercises is a relief. It doesn't always last very long, but it is better than nothing. I continue to do this exercise and guess what???!!! My joy in life is increasing and my anxiety is decreasing. My meds are working better for me. Every time you're feeling that down, set the timer for 15 minutes and analyze that feeling. Do the rest of the routine and it will help you pull yourself into the next 15 minutes, until you find yourself in the next day, week, month, year. I am sooooo sorry you are in such agony. Just know that you are NOT alone, there are millions of us suffering similarly. I will be praying for you, try to regain your faith, it does help. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

FooFoo	remember, the way you think is the way you act. change the way you think and you will change the way you act. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

Gidget	I have bi-polar and I am surviving I guess that I have to much to live for. I have not always taken my meds. I spent 16 years drunk and using lots of drugs. Two years ago I almost committed suicide and the cops took me to the ER. I was very drunk and I wanted help. I could not take it anymore. So they put me on Lamictal and that worked for awhile. Now my symptoms have been raring their ugly head again so they upped my meds to 400 mg and I am doing a little better. I now work in the mental health Field and helping others helps me. I deal with clients who can not even cook or clean because they have lived in mental institutes all of their lives. Here in Kansas they closed most of the mental hospitals and put them all on the streets. Now I work for a company who is teaching these people to live on their own. It makes me want to stay alive witnessing what they have to go through. Oh I am 33 years old. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

PreviouslyChap	I would seriously consider trying ECT therapy. I have seen it do alot for the patient's I've had that can't be on meds, or the meds don't work. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

Scott	Even the strongest people with a history of mental illness is able to commit suicide. I know, I am one of them. First, if you know the way the brain works and that perhaps there is a lack of a certain protein or chemical being produced or say, the other way around - that there is too much of a certain chemical or protein being produced it will send anyone off into outer limits. However, knowing this and understanding this doesn't mean it will keep you from being depressed and worst. You need, I feel the following: 1. A good support base such as a pastor, good friends and of course family. You need to have full access to these people and they to you. You need to be able to contact them and feel free to open up about how you feel in detail. And, they NEED to LISTEN without talking unless you ask them a question. 2. You need to feel loved. By a parent(s), a spouse, boy or girlfriend. 3. You need to know that others care for and about you, such as your friends and pastor. You need to feel it and hear it genuinely from these people. 4. You need to tell others what you need to help support you in this or in these difficult times. 5. You need things or projects to keep you busy. That is what keeps me busy. I am 56 years old. A guy with former military experience. My children have rejected me. I also went through a bad divorce and also I hurt myself mountain climbing. In otherwords, my physical health depresses me as well. Foremost & most importantly you need to give your problems and your feelings and concerns to the Lord. You do not need to have a religion to do this. Just take a walk and talk to God and ask for his help and guidance. Someone once told me that you can not be on the mountaintop all the time. You need to be in the valley where the manure is to grow. Also, God allows certain things to happen to mature us and have us grow. I don't always understand this or even accept it intellectually; but in my heart I do. It is so difficult. So lonely and you feel like noone else can understand the way you feel. If you get into a fit as you say, this is normal. You NEED an outlet. Easier said then done, right? So, you need patience. Again easier said then done. So one of the best things is to be in touch with someone like myself or others who have depression. I am alone and living only on Social Security Disability because of this depression. Each day is difficult. I sleep a lot. I am told that proper nutrition is helpful. Watch a good comedy. I recommend SAVING GRACE, it is a movie that was filmed in Cornwall, England. Someone recommended it to me and the first thing I did was to look it up on Amazon to read the description. So I did watch it. And, did I laugh. Laughter is very important. While looking at life look at what you DO have and not what you do not have. Remember how lucky you are to be an American. Just think if you were in some other country with this same problem. You wouldn't be understood by many and you wouldn't have so many options available. When it comes down to the bottom line you need to TRUST in the Lord. Read the book of John in the New Testament and alsos Romans. This doesn't mean your problem will go away. It may answer a few questions for you. Please feel free to contact me because we need each other. We need to help each other out and listen to each other. Like the saying goes "it takes one to know or understand one". I wish you only the best and hope that I have helped you. I hope I have helped myself as I don't always practice what I preach. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

Philip P	I know that everyone says this - all the time - 'look on the positive side of life' try that - for me that didn't work!! I had no positvie side of life - (what life) - try this, on a sunny day - get a good book and sit and read it in the sun - the sun helps a chemical in the brain 'make you happy' - if you've got children or relatives or friends - if you ever want to commit suicide - think of them!!!! Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

dtwladyhawk	I will tell you what will happen. Your husband will tire of the fits. He will seek the company of another woman who is well because she would get treatment for whatever ails her. If you had breast cancer would you say' I don't want to hear about recovery' Bull. You would drink poison in order to live. I did. My mother was a sad, complicated, delusional, hallucinating, suicidal idiot. She said she didn't want to take blood tests to take Lithium. Therefore ALL of the people who loved her lived in HELL because we couldn't leave her. She was hospitalized 50 times in as many years due to her noncompliance and total denial of her illness. You have not accepted your illness (its a chemical imbalance millions of people have it) my mom had 86 electoshock treatments. She was on every drug known to man to control her issues. This is not a disease you can lay down on a couch and discuss rationally so don't expect it. Bipolar disorder is by all accounts hereitary. My mom had it, I have it, my daughter has some form of it. The anxiety is the worst you don't know where it comes from and you can't will it away, so I take Klonopin and viola in minutes I am fine. I feel like I live in a stress free rural idyllic country life. It all started when I was a kid, I was very depressed-but no one noticed. Then, years later looking at pictures of this sad little girl, all I wanted to do was hold her. So I did. I hold me on the ground not going bonkers flying around...yes, I am a poet. I started on Wellbutrin after the chemo and radiation for my breast cancer, then we added Celexa, then at my request Lithium. It made all the difference. The Lithium stabilized me. I didn't lose my personality or my creativity I just didn't feel like I had to create!!! The side effect of Lithium was low Thyroid so I am on Synthroid The only way you will get my Lithium (and others) is out of my cold dead hand. And I won't be the one who did it. You do not want to die, you want to live differently. If you love this man, go to the people who know what to do and do it. You won't be sorry and you'll be alive. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

Shy	II have suffered with chronic depression for over 30 years. I've also tried countless meds,ECT, physical therapy,hospitalizations,and therapy. I also have chronic migraine,muscular tension headaches. I am seeking something hopeful,ask your therapist,psychiatrist abouta Vagul Nerve Stimulator, (look it up on the web,has lots of information) I feel suicidal alot of the time, feelBAD, and usually sit or lie on the couch and donot go anyplace.I took a bottle of pills the first time I tried,(19) years ago, the other answer I have is what you just did, ASK for help. Tell your pyschiatrist exactly how you are feeling all the time, so he/she will be able to help you.call 911. Get a friend or do it yourself by going to an emergency room. You will probably be admitted but its beats the alternative even if we dont want to bother or feel like we just donot care anymore. I'm taking Lamictal and Ludiomil. My last ditch antidepressants. The Ludiomil caused a Grand mal seizure so I take the Lamictal to counteract the bad side effects, so Im still trying. Just because you are fortunate to have nice things doesnt cut it either sometimes.Right now keep talking to a therapist, try a new drug even if you think it willnot help. Check up on the Vagul Nerve Stimulator-talk with you doctor about it. It was used to tread seizures but it was found to work for people like you and I. When you search for the information, there will be an adress and telephone number to get a package to explain everything fully.If you are not satisfied with your pyschiatrist go to a different one-hospitals have directories with listing of doctors and you may also get help from a pain mangement specialist. I have one that is excellent and he is also a pyschiatrist and very informed ontreating depression too. I still talk with my therapist. Believe me it is difficult to make myself to help myself by even keeping my appointments,but that is very important' I hope this gives you a little glimmer of hope for you Treatment Resistant Depression. I would not have poured my soul out to you if I didnot appreciate your feelings and feel the pain also. Please keep trying. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

hypno	I don't know the answer. My beautiful sister struggled with the same issues for years. She ended up being so drugged up she no longer really knew where her problems began and ended. While the drugs stopped her from the sadness of knowing her situation, they never improved her life, not one bit. She too thought of and actually attempted suicide many times. This I know, she is gone now and I would give anything to pick her up and take her to the store, hear her voice on the phone, anything of her. Never stop believing you matter, you do. Have you tried alternative medicines; reiki massage, hypnosis, nlp? I don't know if they would help, i am sure they wouldn't hurt. But most of all remember you and your life matter, It is painful also to not be able to help. I know it's hard to have faith when there seems to be no relief. I use to tell my sister to try to accept her life, stop trying to fix it, perhaps as imperfect as it was, it was just what it was suppose to be for some reason none of us can explain. It did help her to know of others whose situation was worse than hers, it gave her a sense of gratitude that in some way helped her accept her life. She had been homeless for a period of time, when we found her stable good housing, it helped her not only to have her own home again, but to remember it could be worse. I don't know my thoughts and prayers are with you. You matter. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

tired03456	Exercise does actually work for me -- 4 miles of trail running every single day is more valuable than medication - it provides balance and focus ... I can go off meds but I MUST run every day for mood management. If that doesn't work for you - you say you lost your faith. Look into Buddhist teachings -- again - it promotes balance of life and all things. And most importantly, I finally found the Love of my life - the man who is my perfect partner and we understand each other's moods and ways like no one else in our lives ... To recap - - run your @$$ off (if you are able) - for neurochemical balance - investigate the Buddhist philospohy to find answers to Why - the unconditional love and compassion of a soulmate .... otherwise - I know I would be dead by now and it would have hurt an awful lot of people Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

Brown-eyed girl	Medication and lots of support. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

devilgal031948	I have also suffered Major depression all of my life and I am now 58 yrs old (female). I have anxiety, bipolar, and post tramatic stress syndrone. I was only diagnosised with the bipolar two years ago and have had only two really bad episodes of it. I have had counseling for years and have used many different kinds of drugs. I am better for awhile and then go back into depression for awhile. I never seem to get better for good, but I keep on plugging away because I really do love life. Even when times are low and I think I want to die because I don't want to live like this in the back of my mind I know things will turn around and get better. What I am saying to you is you have got to be strong and believe in God and have faith things will get better for you too. This is not something of God's work but of Satan's. He has you where he wants you by taking away your freedom and your life when you are at your lowest and he is good at it. You are giving him free reign when you give in to the depression. He has a way of getting into our lives and we don't even realize it. I am not trying to preach to you but I know this is the truth because of the experience I had about a year ago when I attended church for the first time in about twenty years. The overwhelming feeling I had that God had not foresaken me but I had forsaken him became a reality hit me like a ton of bricks. I think most of us lose our faith and question God as to why we have been cursed with this illness, I know I have. I lost my faith a long time ago. But that Sunday my faith was restored and I walked out of church with a heavy burden off my shoulders. I am not saying this is going to happen to you but you never know what is in store for you if you open your heart. I hope you find some peace in your life. This is a hard illness to deal with, but there is hope. Ask your Dr to try some new drugs. I have recently been put on Cymbalta and it has helped me to feel better. Everyone is different and the Dr will know what is best for each patient but it is only a suggestion. I hope your life will find some happiness. Good Luck. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

Newsong	I suffer from severe depression. There are times when I'm alright and other times when I just want out. The only answer that I have is hope in God. He didn't ever say that we wouldn't suffer in this life, but if we put our faith in His son, Jesus, He promises to never leave us. He will give you what you need to hang on and you can trust all of His promises for you. This truth has changed my life drastically and even though I have out-of-control dark times, they are getting more managable and I know that I am not alone and that no matter what - God loves me. Please put your trust in Him! Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

Angel	Wow! You got a lot of great feedback. As you can see, many people suffer with various forms of mental illness and have since the beginning of time. I have my share, including ADHD & Dysthymia. Many of my family members and friends also suffer from various forms of mental illness. Given that and having attempted suicide several times, my conclusion is that the human spirit has a will to live, even when we really think that we want to die. As we awaken each new day, there is a chance that something will happen, either within ourselves or in the outside world that will once again give us hope. Even if we don't think we want it. I believe that depression is deeply connected with spirituality -- the world can be such an awful place and very difficult to understand. Sounds like you are really trying to get out of the depression, but if you don't address your spirituality, it probably won't happen. Exercise & hobbies are very healthy -- counseling can help if you have the right therapist, meds are effective for some conditions & persons, but depression is so deep, that spirituality is the only way to begin to touch it. Whether you believe in God, nature, whatever -- all of us must feel that there is some type of purpose to this madness we call life. Keep up the good fight! Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

skittle	I've live with my aunt who is diagnosed with being bi-polar and schizophrenic. Let me tell you i know how you feel in a sense. She's so bad that her and I have been in 2 fights physically and i dont even know how many verbally, because she doesnt take her medication properly. She also has tried to commit suicide, one of the times she tried 5 firemen had to wrestle her to the ground to get her into the ambulence. BUT despite all of that, she has her kids to live for. :) She does anything and everything for them. From my experience, i think you just have to be patient, keep your faith, and maybe find an activity that you enjoy at home, or take an art class, pottery, computer....etc anything your intrested in to keep your mind occupied. :) Good luck :) Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

lost_but_not_hopeless	Different things work for different people at different times for different reasons.. and there is no single answer that applies to everyone when it comes to the conflicting emotions that being bipolar brings out in us. I find distractions.. I live my life one distraction at a time.. there are many different kinds of distractions out there. (I am using this as one right now, actually) .. and when this doesnt distract me anymore I will read a book that I have been working on for a few weeks .. or play an online game that is something new and different and forces me to use my brain to think it through and it distracts me from the thought or feeling that I dont want to be overcome with. Medications or natural cures of holisitic concotions.. and all of that work for some people .. if taken by the right schedule and the right combinations at the right time at the right stage of the Spectrum of the illness.. Religion is the Salvation for some. Good for them, they are the lucky ones. I am unlucky. My only advice would be to find something new and immerse yourself in it .. spring is here, try gardening? You live in the country?.. try going for a walk in a previously unexplored place. You don't need to be a tree hugger to find tranquility in nature. Get yourself a pet, maybe? I know my dogs are more beneficial to my illness than any medication combinations have been to this point. Those that are afflicted by bipolar illness are said to be gifted artistically.. could you be as well? Try sketching, learn an instrument to play, write short stories about nothing and fill your computer full of meaningless babble. The option of considering Suicide is simply my way of telling myself that the illness is getting the best of me for that moment in time and I need to be doing more constructive things with my time. Over time, I have trained myself to consider how my actions will affect those around me. I take a second to think before I speak or act. I know when I am acting impulsively, most of the time the outcome will be negative for myself and those around me. And I now that if they are still around, after all my illness has put them through, they deserve much better of me. Dont give the illness the opportunity to creep into your head and get the better of you. Be proactive about it .. Do Something. And, yes, there really is sooo much left to do. One distraction at a time. Good Luck :) Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No