Those familiar with bipolar disorder know that mania does not necessarily mean extremes in happiness. Sometimes, the mania is manifest as anger, aggression, irritability...or a combination of those.
I think this was the case with me yesterday. It makes it a challenge to deal with at work. I'm under a lot of stress and maybe that just exacerbated it, but I picked a fight with my husband and showed my butt at work (nothing like stripping naked or anything, but it was totally out of character for me.) I was cursing a lot (mostly the "s" word and the "d" word) and I was mocking this other nurse (she is one of those snotty, arrogant, nasty people no one can stand, even the ADON says she was hoping this nurse would have quit by now). I'm not defending myself for acting like an orifice but if you knew this nurse...you would understand. I was very animated, verbally and physically.
As a side note, I was a busy body, too. My alertness and attention to detail was greatly enhanced. I was actually overdoing my job until another nurse left early and a lot happened that left me overwhelmed late in the evening. Then, I turned back into that other person. Still, patient care was not compromised. If anything, I think my job performance was better.
But aside from that, I'm usually very quiet and agreeable. But enough about me.
I would like to know if you work with manic depressive nurses who are usually sweet-natured and easy to get along with but who, once in awhile, gets a little "different."
I'm not sure the answer is always to give someone a pill because of this. I knew a nurse who seemed to always be manic. She would fly up and down the halls and she admitted that she spent her checks before they got there. She had a problem with spending, spending, spending. She was a little hard to work with because she was a perfectionist, but she was an excellent nurse. One of the best nurses I've seen. I would have hated to see her put on Lamictal and Clonidine for the sake of "treatment." I think this would have destroyed who she was. Not that I'm trying to compare someone with manic depression to Beethoven, but do you think he would have accomplished what he did on Depakote?
What is your experience in dealing with manic depressive nurses?
Those familiar with bipolar disorder know that mania does not necessarily mean extremes in happiness. Sometimes, the mania is manifest as anger, aggression, irritability...or a combination of those.
I think this was the case with me yesterday. It makes it a challenge to deal with at work. I'm under a lot of stress and maybe that just exacerbated it, but I picked a fight with my husband and showed my butt at work (nothing like stripping naked or anything, but it was totally out of character for me.) I was cursing a lot (mostly the "s" word and the "d" word) and I was mocking this other nurse (she is one of those snotty, arrogant, nasty people no one can stand, even the ADON says she was hoping this nurse would have quit by now). I'm not defending myself for acting like an orifice but if you knew this nurse...you would understand. I was very animated, verbally and physically.
As a side note, I was a busy body, too. My alertness and attention to detail was greatly enhanced. I was actually overdoing my job until another nurse left early and a lot happened that left me overwhelmed late in the evening. Then, I turned back into that other person. Still, patient care was not compromised. If anything, I think my job performance was better.
But aside from that, I'm usually very quiet and agreeable. But enough about me.
I would like to know if you work with manic depressive nurses who are usually sweet-natured and easy to get along with but who, once in awhile, gets a little "different."
I'm not sure the answer is always to give someone a pill because of this. I knew a nurse who seemed to always be manic. She would fly up and down the halls and she admitted that she spent her checks before they got there. She had a problem with spending, spending, spending. She was a little hard to work with because she was a perfectionist, but she was an excellent nurse. One of the best nurses I've seen. I would have hated to see her put on Lamictal and Clonidine for the sake of "treatment." I think this would have destroyed who she was. Not that I'm trying to compare someone with manic depression to Beethoven, but do you think he would have accomplished what he did on Depakote?
What is your experience in dealing with manic depressive nurses?
I have one cooworker that is absolutely a pain in the ass when she is manic. She makes the whole atmosphere of the unit miserable. She cusses, raises hell with the MDs and generally hates everyone she works with. Other days, shes fine. The nurse you describe has issues with spending, chances are she also had difficulties in other areas of her life. What about the difficulties that she causes for herself and others with her behavior? You can always justify behavior for what ever reason but do you think your behavior was appropriate with your husband and your cooworker (even though shes a pain in the orifice?????? Many places would have canned you for that.
It's not uncommon for people who have bipolar disorder to be in denial about how bad they really are and to justify their behavior. Why so resistant to meds? Lamictal is only one of a bunch of meds that is used. It takes a good psych doc to adjust the meds so that you AREN'T "destroying" who you are.
I can certainly understand the frustration, and the desire to avoid medications if not truly necessary. I also understand that with biploar symptoms, it can be very difficult to draw a line - there's a spectrum of behavior and who's to say what's too much at a particular time?
The thing that came to mind when I read the first posts was "what happens in the future?" I remember during my psych rotation we discussed a case involving a highly successful bipolar woman who actually enjoyed her mania because it allowed her to get so much done. She was a successful businesswoman and felt that a medication that "normalized" her would hinder her. Well, she continued in her life and had her cycles, but the thing is that they became more severe and more debilitating. By the time she started meds, she'd lost a great deal. I don't think she was able to return to a stable baseline. From what I understand, this is not uncommon with bipolar. Left untreated, it may seem benign or even, to some, helpful.....but it also involves changes in your brain that could become permanent. The more cycles occur, the more changes are made.
Now, maybe you were diagnosed inaccurately and maybe not. But for those who bring up the downsides of medication, I just think it's important to think about the downsides of no medication as well. Just my two cents, as it's a disorder I haven't personally experienced - I've just had friends and patients who struggled with it.
Although I don't know any nurses with bipolar, I do know several people with the disease quite well, and from a non-bipolar POV, they can be quite overwhelming, demanding of those around them, and energy draining! Please do not take that wrong, it just showed me how important it was for them to continue to take prescribed medication.
I hope you're getting the care you need to manage your bipolar, please make sure your HCP knows about this!
And thank you for being so open about this.
Those familiar with bipolar disorder know that mania does not necessarily mean extremes in happiness. Sometimes, the mania is manifest as anger, aggression, irritability...or a combination of those.
I think this was the case with me yesterday. It makes it a challenge to deal with at work. I'm under a lot of stress and maybe that just exacerbated it, but I picked a fight with my husband and showed my butt at work (nothing like stripping naked or anything, but it was totally out of character for me.) I was cursing a lot (mostly the "s" word and the "d" word) and I was mocking this other nurse (she is one of those snotty, arrogant, nasty people no one can stand, even the ADON says she was hoping this nurse would have quit by now). I'm not defending myself for acting like an orifice but if you knew this nurse...you would understand. I was very animated, verbally and physically.
As a side note, I was a busy body, too. My alertness and attention to detail was greatly enhanced. I was actually overdoing my job until another nurse left early and a lot happened that left me overwhelmed late in the evening. Then, I turned back into that other person. Still, patient care was not compromised. If anything, I think my job performance was better.
But aside from that, I'm usually very quiet and agreeable. But enough about me.
I would like to know if you work with manic depressive nurses who are usually sweet-natured and easy to get along with but who, once in awhile, gets a little "different."
I'm not sure the answer is always to give someone a pill because of this. I knew a nurse who seemed to always be manic. She would fly up and down the halls and she admitted that she spent her checks before they got there. She had a problem with spending, spending, spending. She was a little hard to work with because she was a perfectionist, but she was an excellent nurse. One of the best nurses I've seen. I would have hated to see her put on Lamictal and Clonidine for the sake of "treatment." I think this would have destroyed who she was. Not that I'm trying to compare someone with manic depression to Beethoven, but do you think he would have accomplished what he did on Depakote?
What is your experience in dealing with manic depressive nurses?
I had one. Technically, it only takes one episode of increased energy, hyper behavior, etc. to be labled bipolar. I actually have substantial frontal lobe damage from a horseback riding accident I had when I was 13 and was told by a psychiatrist that when I have episodes like this I am actually having seizures. He started me on Lamictal and was going to increase the dosage and add other medications but I became pregnant and stopped it. I felt horrible when I was on that medicine, like I had a lobotomy. I still had emotions but I could not act on them.
I'm not sure I buy what the psychiatrist told me.
At the same time, if this was real, isn't it a shame that a diabetic or someone suffering from a medical condition that could affect their mental state could have an episode where they were delirius and "showed their butt" yet this would not be forgiveable in someone who was labled bipolar?
The biopolar person would get their "butts fired" while the diabetic would receive sympathy for their infirmity.
Mental illness is one of the saddest, most complicated, misunderstood illnesses a person can have. No, I don't want sympathy. Maybe I'm not mentally ill, maybe I'm just a fool. Either way, it isn't fun.
The difference (I'm the wife of a diabetic), is that a diabetic who becomes delirius is hypoglycemic, and needs IMMEDIATE medical attention.
As you said, you STOPPED your medication...this is where people begin to get frustrated. The diabetic who stops their medication risks ending up in a diabetic coma.
Unfortunately, diabetes has more immediate medical consequences, bipolar does not.
The difference (I'm the wife of a diabetic), is that a diabetic who becomes delirius is hypoglycemic, and needs IMMEDIATE medical attention.
As you said, you STOPPED your medication...this is where people begin to get frustrated. The diabetic who stops their medication risks ending up in a diabetic coma.
Unfortunately, diabetes has more immediate medical consequences, bipolar does not.
As far as stopping medication, I was instructed to do so immediately after finding out I was pregnant.
But could a manic episode not be considered a medical emergency? What if the person was clinging to the side of a skyscraper because they felt so invincible? I look like a big fat toad and while I'm fully aware no one would want me (except for my money) I was finding myself thinking naughty thoughts when I would see a handsome man. I don't usually do this. Well, it's embarrassing to admit but I don't like to hide anything.
I'm not feeling as feisty today. I'm more myself, but I remember what it was like to feel how I felt yesterday. I even think I would be annoyed with myself when I get the way I get, if that makes any sense. That is what makes mental illness so hard to deal with. A lot of times people really can't help it.
But could a manic episode not be considered a medical emergency? What if the person was clinging to the side of a skyscraper because they felt so invincible?
I think it would be an emergency that circumstance. The problem is, how many people know you are Manic? If nobody knows you are Manic, then they think you are just being mean. If you let people know about your illness (at a time when your are NOT manic or depressed), and ask them to help you recognzie when you are being manic, that would help make the situation safer.
I commend you for having the courage to come on here to get advice on this. I have only seen this disease from an outside point of view. I can't imagine having to live with it.
Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.
Offering support to the OP is o.k. But, please do not advise as to how to manage a real or potential medical problem. We cannot, per TOS, offer medical advice.
Sorry, I wasn't trying to offer med. advise, I should have said I encourage her to go to her Dr. and ask about getting treatment if she really feels she has this problem. My apologies. I was posting in a hurry and didn't think it through.
Bipolar, as with many other illnesses are treatable. I don't know why there is so much stigma attached to mental illnesses. If your shoulder hurts or you are having a problem with it, you go see a doc. But if your mind hurts or has a problem people resist going to see an MD or counselor.
And mental illness or problems like that are usually covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act. So even though I said it and they may try to "fire your butt", you do have some protection.
But go for an evaluation. You will feel better and so will I! You are not the only one in this boat!
I was diagnosed bipolar 11 years ago and in that time I've gone years on meds and years off. Whenever I ask myself "Am I reacting like a 'normal' person here?" and find that maybe I'm not, I get back on the meds. Lately, after almost 3 years of being very stable w/o meds I've taken a shine to Dennis-Leary-style ranting. Since I'm not the only one who has to deal with me, no matter how clever and interesting I may think I am when I'm manic, I went ahead and got a prescription for Zoloft this week, to hopefully bring me back down to that nice Stepford Wife "Normal" everyone else has before my coworkers start complaining about my "negativity". That's just me, though. I hope you find what works for you.
Specializes in Onco, palliative care, PCU, HH, hospice.
I was diagnosed with Bipolar several years ago, in that time I've been through so many medication changes it's not even funny. The only way I've made it through is by seeing a therapist in addition to my psychiatrist. The past year I've had an increase in my cycles and sometimes it seems work can exacerbate these. Generally, when I'm manic I am more productive, but it comes with a price I'm not able to sleep good so I become sleep deprived and then I spiral down into a depression which are the most difficult for me. Luckily I've learned to become more in tune with myself, I can usually tell when I'm starting to become manic or when I'm starting to spiral back down again so that I can take the steps I need to prevent myself from going to far i.e medication adjustment, extra therapy sessions, etc. Sometimes I do have to enter the hospital for stabilization since I've had such a hard time with finding medications that help to manage my symptoms. When I need to go to the hospital or if I'm too depressed or too manic that I know that I cannot do my job safely, I call in. At my old job when I was honest to my manager about my disorder I was persecuted for it, I'm luck now that where I work my manager has been incredibly supportive. It's ironic though, this disorder has and continues to cause so much strife but on the flip side I've found that I'm very good and much more compassionate towards psych patients on our unit, two sides to every coin right?
I have my issues, but at the end of the day I know that I'm a good nurse. Yes, people with bipolar disorder can be "draining" to those around them but being the person with bipolar disorder particularly one where each treatment seems to fail, is much more taxing and draining. Anyway, if you feel your behavior is abnormal, please be evaluated, any type of mental illness that is left untreated will progress and often has one outcome if left untreated.
blueheaven
832 Posts
I have one cooworker that is absolutely a pain in the ass when she is manic. She makes the whole atmosphere of the unit miserable. She cusses, raises hell with the MDs and generally hates everyone she works with. Other days, shes fine. The nurse you describe has issues with spending, chances are she also had difficulties in other areas of her life. What about the difficulties that she causes for herself and others with her behavior? You can always justify behavior for what ever reason but do you think your behavior was appropriate with your husband and your cooworker (even though shes a pain in the orifice?????? Many places would have canned you for that.
It's not uncommon for people who have bipolar disorder to be in denial about how bad they really are and to justify their behavior. Why so resistant to meds? Lamictal is only one of a bunch of meds that is used. It takes a good psych doc to adjust the meds so that you AREN'T "destroying" who you are.