Living with Bipolar Disorder: The Conundrum

Reading my text books (Stahl’s and Maudsley) I have no idea what I personally need in answer to my illness.

I have a positive response to Mirtazapine (NaSSa or tricyclic) (now stopped) as it helped me sleep too, albeit better at lower dose (15mg) as it blocks the H1 receptor or interferes with it at least, but I had a negative response to Sertraline which is an SSRI like Fluoxetine I’m taking now. Sertraline made me fit when I took Tramadol too, serotonin Syndrome? Never going to find out.

Serotonin is found in the gut and there’s a gut/brain axis that isn’t fully understood how it works with regards to mood. When I started my antipsychotics (Quetiapine originally) I was eating like a madman and I put on about two stone in weight and went up to 93 kg. Since I started Olazapine I have been put on fluoxetine as it works well with Olazapine and I have noticed that I have lost weight, most notably the way my clothes fit me as they are looser and then the fact I eat once a day if that. However, when I do eat I find myself getting hungrier the more I eat. It’s odd to explain.

My antipsychotic is a dopamine blocker and my antidepressant is a serotonin inhibitor, is my issue then conductive to both issues with the levels of serotonin and dopamine in my brain? Is it possible for Psychotropic testing to evaluate your DNA and see how you metabolise and respond to each medication?

I have periods of no expression or enthusiasm for playing my guitar or writing my blog. Then when I get hypo manic or depressive I get my expressions back and I have motivation to write or do something productive. Even if I have depressive phase I can write a few. Words or play a few chords on the guitar and sing some lyrics about the situation I’m in. Being manic I’ve found looking back at my writing I don’t write it down complete. I miss words out and sort of expect the person reading it to get it. It’s sort of rushed. Also my handwriting is completely different from manic me to depressive me. And everything in the middle. It’s crazy.

Computer Enhanced or El Natural?

I’ve put one of my pictures through an app that enhances your photos. I’ve posted below. Please if you would comment A or B as to which photo you find the best. The photo on the left is photo A and the photo on the right is photo B. Thank you

7 Word Story #17

“Every member of parliament trips on glue”

Today’s 7 Word Story comes from a comment by Ian Brown, former lead singer of the Stone Roses. It’s flippant but true about every government establishment in each and every country around the world.

7 word Story #16

A slight bit of improvisation here from one of my favourite films. Thanks for Se7en, my 7 word story is simply The deadly sins;

• GLUTTONY
• GREED
• SLOTH
• ENVY
• WRATH
• PRIDE
• LUST

If you enjoy the film and I’ve made you put it on and gain now for a bit of nostalgia or even if you have never heard about the film before and I’ve captivated your curiosity to check it out, please do. It’s a belting films staring Morgan Freeman, Brad Pitt, Kevin Spacey and Gwyneth Paltrow 🎥🍿

Living with Bipolar Disorder Explained: An Overview

Attached is a PDF of a summary I wrote a couple of years ago with the help of the NHS. It’s mainly just a generalisation but it does include some personal experiences. As it was potentially to be used for distribution to other patients, all bases needed to be covered and not too specific or focus on just one part of the illness.

Please feel free to share, comment or re-blog if you wish. Hopefully It can be of help to someone somewhere 👍

Bipolar Disorder Explained.pdfDownload