quote:

The hardest part i have found is coming to terms with the fact that i have a mental illness and learning to accept that my harmful actions are biological not psychological.

quote:

ORIGINAL: sirsholly

quote:

The hardest part i have found is coming to terms with the fact that i have a mental illness and learning to accept that my harmful actions are biological not psychological.

Would it be as difficult to come to terms with a cardiac issue? The brain is an organ, just like the heart 

quote:

ORIGINAL: eyesopened

quote:

ORIGINAL: sirsholly

quote:

The hardest part i have found is coming to terms with the fact that i have a mental illness and learning to accept that my harmful actions are biological not psychological.

Would it be as difficult to come to terms with a cardiac issue? The brain is an organ, just like the heart 

With all respect I believe that is exactly what she is saying.  The brain is a biological organ.  Too many people think behavior is all a matter of changing one's thinking when there are biological (brain function i.e. chemical/electrical) reasons for behavioral problems.  Once we as a society start understanding that boilogical factors are the cause of the majority of mental disorders the more folks will be willing to seek treatment.

http://www.nami.org/

quote:

ORIGINAL: DesFIP

I can't imagine you've gotten much support from your family on this and that may be part of why you're not committed to treatment. It is hard to get past that "only crazy people see psychiatrists/psychologists" thing.

The thing is, that in many ways bipolar is just like epilepsy. In fact the newer meds are variants of epilepsy meds since although the symptoms are different, being emotional rather than physical, the cause is the same. The hard wiring in your brain is bad.

Asperger's can learn to relate to others, through therapy.
Bipolars need therapy too, in order to learn all the stuff you missed because you were dealing with the bipolar symptoms.
But first you need to be stabilized.

If the onset was in adolescence, you might benefit by seeing an adolescent psychiatrist for a proper diagnosis since the disease manifests differently in pediatric or adolescent onset than adult onset. And then a referral to a regular psychiatrist.

As far as meds go, what have you tried. Lamictal and/or Seroquel?

quote:

I agree with everything (including the med suggestions) except therapy. Therapy is a scam, a crock, a rip off, snake oil, a waste of money, a waste of time and energy. One might as well take their hard earned cash and flush it down the toilet. "Therapy" is the biggest crock of B.S. since Bush's WMD/Iraq, or Moses parting of the Red Sea. :)

quote:

ORIGINAL: sirsholly

quote:

I agree with everything (including the med suggestions) except therapy. Therapy is a scam, a crock, a rip off, snake oil, a waste of money, a waste of time and energy. One might as well take their hard earned cash and flush it down the toilet. "Therapy" is the biggest crock of B.S. since Bush's WMD/Iraq, or Moses parting of the Red Sea. :)

thank heavens not everyone agrees with you 

quote:

ORIGINAL: VanessaChaland

I agree. Not everyone should agree with me. That would be foolish.

Show me one example or case where someone (the patient, not the therapists bank account) was helped by someone else charging them $200 an hour for "talk therapy" and I will kindly shut the hell up.

No really, show me. I really want to know. Whats that? You have no evidence? What a surprise, I am shocked!!!!!  :)

P.S. Are you by chance a therapist, lol? :)

quote:

ORIGINAL: sirsholly

quote:

I agree with everything (including the med suggestions) except therapy. Therapy is a scam, a crock, a rip off, snake oil, a waste of money, a waste of time and energy. One might as well take their hard earned cash and flush it down the toilet. "Therapy" is the biggest crock of B.S. since Bush's WMD/Iraq, or Moses parting of the Red Sea. :)

thank heavens not everyone agrees with you 

quote:

ORIGINAL: VanessaChaland
I agree with everything (including the med suggestions) except therapy. Therapy is a scam, a crock, a rip off, snake oil, a waste of money, a waste of time and energy. One might as well take their hard earned cash and flush it down the toilet. "Therapy" is the biggest crock of B.S. since Bush's WMD/Iraq, or Moses parting of the Red Sea. :)

quote:

ORIGINAL: CatdeMedici

Just because you love someone, doesn't mean they are right for you, or the dynamic that ensues is healthy for you.....

quote:

ORIGINAL: VanessaChaland

I agree. Not everyone should agree with me. That would be foolish.

Show me one example or case where someone (the patient, not the therapists bank account) was helped by someone else charging them $200 an hour for "talk therapy" and I will kindly shut the hell up.

No really, show me. I really want to know. Whats that? You have no evidence? What a surprise, I am shocked!!!!!  :)

P.S. Are you by chance a therapist, lol? :)

quote:

ORIGINAL: sirsholly

quote:

I agree with everything (including the med suggestions) except therapy. Therapy is a scam, a crock, a rip off, snake oil, a waste of money, a waste of time and energy. One might as well take their hard earned cash and flush it down the toilet. "Therapy" is the biggest crock of B.S. since Bush's WMD/Iraq, or Moses parting of the Red Sea. :)

thank heavens not everyone agrees with you 

Choosing not to stand mute here.  I agree with Holly and will go a couple of steps further by saying that I am a licensed counselor who has benefitted greatly from the work that I have done with my own counselor.  I sought her counsel after I separated 'cause, at 32 (At that time), I'd never been out of a 17 year relationship (15 year marriage) and thought that there might be some negative ramifications of that life change even though I knew it was for the best. 
Her assistance and our collaborative effort has been a great help in several areas of my life and she's been openminded and respectful enough to better understand what polyamory and D/s are to best assist me.  I am not a fan of many or even most in my profession but there's my experience refuting your assertion. 
And, alas, most of us aren't making $200 an hour.  I wish I was, that would be fabulous but it's just not the case. 
OP--You know the issues, you know the behaviors.  I am wondering if the diagnoses are correct.  Also, someone pointed out that a GP proffering meds versus a psychiatrist are different matters.  Most psych meds are given by GP's, often times because clients go in asking for a particular med due to a commercial they've seen, so there's a fair bit of self-diagnosis.  Not the best thing in general.  Repetitious studies have shown that a combination of medication and therapy have the best efficacy (benefit) for issues like you've described.  Given those issues, I would not expect therapy to be short-term but rather an on-going process.  Very reasonable concern about wanting to trust your counselor: I believe in being an active consumer of medical care just as I would be regarding any important product or service I was purchasing.  Interview multiple counselors if you need to.  If you are ready to make the changes in your life that are contributing to the discomforts, it will take effort and diligence but it's very do-able. 
Best wishes, 
  Davan

_____________________________

May you live as long as you wish & love as long as you live
-Robert A Heinlein

It's about the person & the bond,not the bondage
-Me

Waiting is

170NZ (Aka:Sex God Du Jour) pts

Jesus,I've ALWAYS been a deviant
-Leadership527,Jeff

(in reply to VanessaChaland)