Hi Alison,
I share your burden
I have suffered from this mental illness all my life and have had 3 break downs
I was always hyperactive as a child and back then the normal thing to say was "they grow out of it",
unfortunately I didnt and was formally diagnise when I was
20.
I went and had an assessment and started therapy, which helped, but I was still struggling to cope, so my doctor suggested medication and I found that the medication and therapy has given me quality of life
I also sought a natropath, and that too worked but I found the therapy helped in re educating my mind to deal with the attacks
Tests have also shown that my illness is biological and genetic-its just the way my body is made so I do my best to cope. My motto is "if I go to bed at night and ive coped , then it has been a good day"
It is one of the cruelest mental illness in this day and age and it is a terrible frightening experience that I wouldnt wish on anyone.
It may take a little while to work out what medication suits you best-I have tried many and have found a balance with what Im taking now.
The important thing is to stay on your medication, even if you are feeling good-to treat the attacks properly they suggest a 12 month period. Many people start taking their medication and after a while start to feel better so they stop and the attacks return-I also have done that too with terrible consequences
This illness can be successfully treated, so please dont despair, just make sure you have a great doctor who knows what they are on about and have a support system around you-I didnt and it was a lot harder.
Please contact me if you have any more questions or just need to talk-it makes it easier to deal with if you can talk about
[email protected]
Take care,
Gypsy xo