Hi everyone
I felt awful that I had posted about my difficulty so came on today to delete it but too late, half the world now knows I am a card carrying loon.


I was really surprised and heartened that nobody was judgemental about it - thank you. I think it will be interesting to see if people now communicate differently now we loonies have outed ourselves. Sorry it's such a long post but what a fabulous thread.
Sorry I don't know how to quote more than one person in a post so will just waffle and you can find the relevant bit for you.
Dauer Thank you for your post, nice to know I am not the only one that struggles not only with this illness but with how my own beliefs actually fit in with the 'norm'. I didn't explain very well about my faith in G-d being constant. Yes when I am manic I pray less but am more thankful to G-d and see the beauty in G-d's creation more. When I am down I pray a great deal more and tend stay in the home reading about my religion. However, throughout these changes in mood my belief that G-d exists does not change.
Please be aware that even years later a mood will suddenly creep up on you, so we are not out of the woods but if we remain aware we can get by very well. Congratulation on taking an alternative path to meds and I hope you stay strong enough to remain that way.
What diet changes have you made? I have been taking Omega3 oil for 18 months and found that a great help. Also my belief is that sunshine helps (hence the decision to live over here).
I agree that Talk Therapy is very beneficial, however I can get just as much benefit from talking to a stranger in the street (or on this forum) as I can from a professional.
Please could you expand or give me a link to the Isaac and binding story. I constantly struggle to control my inner child - and usually lose the fight (and a 42 year old woman playing hopscotch looks a bit daft).


Seriously though, my husband is 17 years my junior but is generally more 'mature' than I am - however I think that is why our marriage works with such an age gap.
TE. Please let me know what your friend says about his belief or lack of belief in G-d. I too was a workaholic, over achiever (took my A levels at 13 yrs, etc) and have met many people who are, that also suffer from this disorder - I have no proof but there must be a link just from the number of us there are. Could you please also ask him about his faith in his own ability - sounds wierd I know but people used to pay me bizarre amounts of money for consultation work and yet I always felt as though I was "playing post offices" and would be discovered as an idiot any moment. I would like to know if this is a common feeling with such people.
Re the issue of quacks & meds. To be honest I would be dead without the meds and for years they helped me to get on with my life but I also believe there is a point in life when many of us have to say no to them and find an alternative path. They have a place and a use but it is true nobody can understand how we feel, what we actually go through unless they suffer the same illness, so trying to explain it to a doctor is like trying to explain rocket science to an ice cream salesman. The other difficulty is that the meds do work - this causes a serious problem, because when the meds work you feel 'cured' so stop taking the meds, then the meds wear off and you are back to square one and no matter how many times you follow this pattern you always do the same thing.
Francis. Islam-itis

oh no, not more meds?????
Wil. Great point about G-d healing, thank you for reminding me. I do not think G-d has cured me but He has given me a way to live a normal life whilst still having my illness.
Re savants - what a fascinating subject. Just look at the number of people in history classed as a 'genius' that have suffered from mental illness to one degree or another. Mathematicians that talk to imaginary people, artists that mutilate themselves, philosophers that walk around naked, etc, etc and where would the world and science be without these 'nutters' that think outside the box?
Paladin. Excellent point and I agree. That was my turning point, when I stopped looking outside myself for excuses/reasons/cures and realised that the problem is part of me and I had to find a way to accept this and get on with my life. Everyone could see my mood swings long before I could, so I started there and began recording my feelings each day, until I learnt to recognise the signs of a mood change. This does not mean my mood swings have ceased but once you become aware of them you become able to live with them.
Are there any websites on teach yourself meditation? I feel this might help me but can't get many non-religious books here.
Thank you so much everyone for allowing me to discuss this openly, not sure I feel comfortable with it but really appreciate the opportunity to explore this.
Salaam