Constant illness over the past several months, related to anxiety/bipolar?I have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and a slew of anxiety disorders, and am still trying to find the right medication or combination of meds to treat it effectively.
Over the past three months I have been constantly ill. Every day it's something different - gastrointestinal problems, "unidentified" viruses, ear infections, walking pneumonia, asthma flare-ups, a low-grade on and off fever that has been present at least 1-2 days out of every week for the past 12 weeks, night sweats, severe insomnia (something I have always had but has gotten worse), weight loss (15lbs in the past three months, without trying) etc.
I do not have any sort of chronic or immunocompromising disease like diabetes or HIV that would cause me to be so frequently sick. I had blood drawn in August and it was completely normal, and have been tested for the flu several times with negative results. My doctor's only answer is that it's "mental stress" and that is the reason my immune system has been so weak and I have not been able to get better.
Has anyone else experienced this with bipolar, anxiety, or any other sort of mental illness? How long were you sick for, and how did you finally get better? I am doing absolutely everything I can to avoid getting sick - I wash my hands frequently, I take vitamins and probiotics, I exercise (as much as my asthma allows), I'm doing everything that I know how to do to stay healthy and none of it is working.
I am meeting with my psychiatrist again next week and plan on asking her what her opinion is, but I was wondering if in the meantime anyone could share their experience. I just feel like there is something really wrong with me, it's hard to accept that this could all be because of my mental state.
Thanks in advance for your help.
Posted by JobSeeker
Interesting question because I've wondered the same thing myself!
I have GAD (generalized anxiety disorder) and I'm happy to say it's mostly under control and quite tolerable. However, before it was under control, I constantly had gastro problems (very typical physical symptom of anxiety), heart palpitations, a unusual PAP smear test result which then resulted in several uncomfortable tests over many months, and other misc. conditions which I can't even remember know because it was ridiculous.
I do think it's possible to have other medical conditions come on when you have anxiety (I can't speak for bipolar) because of the lack of sleep (and night sweats, waking up in a panic in the middle of the night), lack of appetite, constantly running on adrenaline and general lack of feeling well both mentally and physically. At the time, I felt like I was falling apart in mind and body. However....
I did get myself under control with therapy and eventually anti-depressants. I have been feeling much better mentally and physically. The insomnia, shaking hands, lack of appetite, racing heart etc. have gone away. My abnormal tests started coming back normal. I felt quite tired for awhile after months of poor sleep and high adrenaline but my energy has come back almost 100%.
Keep in mind, a lot of your physical conditions are due to the anxiety/bipolar (lack of appe, no sleep etc). There's lots of info on the net about physical symptoms for anxiety. The mind is a powerful thing.
Sorry for the long post but I have great sympathy for anyone who has mental health issues. I want you to know you aren't alone.
I'm glad to hear you're seeing a psychiatrist. I'm sure they'll get you on a great treatment plan.
Good luck.
Posted by free spirit
yes, I have gone through the same thing....medications only mask the problem...I took meds for over 15 years and still felt depressed as well as suicidal...you must work on your cognitions(thoughts)...
If you perceive or make a decision somewhere along the way that you are a "bad" person and responsible for other people's emotions, for making them feel "bad", then you will go through life hating yourself, thinking you are "evil", perhaps without knowing it. You may feel constantly ashamed and guilty. You will continue to create situations where you feel bad about yourself, where you think you have done something wrong. You will, in all likelihood, create your life where things always seem to go wrong, and relationships and life will probably become a fearful thing for you.
And, all of this will change as your perception and understanding of how the universe works becomes clearer - such as the understanding that no one can create the reality of another. And your life will also change when any false perceptions you have about yourself, as well, are made conscious - and you change them.
When you know that you are responsible ONLY for what you believe and what you feel, and when you KNOW that others are responsible only for what they feel and believe, that feelings and beliefs about reality can only come from within, from what each person chooses to believe, there is no longer shame or blame, guilt or self hatred. Then you have the opportunity to believe and create your life in any way you choose - in a good way that works for you. You no longer believe it if others try to blame you, and you no longer blame anyone else for your life. That is being the CREATOR of your life. You choose consciously, not unconsciously, what you want to believe - you perceive yourself and life and others in a way that is positive and allows life to work harmoniously for you.
If you remain a victim, in victim consciousness, things don't change, because victims never heal. How can they, if they never accept that they are the ones responsible for creating life that way in the first place? You can't change something if you don't think you created it to begin with - or, if you don't believe that you even HAVE the power to create or change anything. Victims remain stuck, thinking it's someone else's fault, and that someone else has the power over their life, to create their life a certain way, instead of themselves.
As soon as I give up 100% responsibility for creating my own reality, as soon as I give up the responsible role, as soon as I think someone is doing something to me, I have become a victim. Other's responses to me are, in reality, only a reflection of my own energy, a reflection of whatever energy I am putting out, or have inside of me.
In other words, if you have a perception that someone is a hurtful person, you must have a belief that you will be hurt. They then just play the role for you that you are expecting. You create what you believe in.
When I come from the lower vibrational state, I will be viewing things as judgments. I will make judgments about myself or about another. The higher vibration is to see whatever happens as a mirror of myself in the Now: "I see you doing that. I want to judge you for it. Instead, I will see that it is a reflection of the energy I either hold in myself, or have held in myself. So, I realize that I do that, or have done that."
I ask myself, "Am I still doing that? Where do I still hold that judgment (which I want to put out on you) about myself - where do I still think that I am not ok?" I identify the judgment I'm making against myself. I ask: "What part of me do I still not love, and therefore I judge it?" Then I look at the other person and think: "I don't need to judge them. They are simply being a mirror of my own issue." I ask: "What in me created that in my reality?" In reality, all of us are really asking for love, which is what we all truly want.
Saying: "What is the mirror to me?" instantly removes the judgment. Then there is no charge. There is only acceptance. Acceptance is the higher vibration. It is above forgiveness, because forgiveness implies that something has been done wrong. Acceptance says all is happening perfectly, as it should. All is perfect. Whatever is happening enables us to grow, if we look at it from being the Creator, not the victim. If we look at it all as perfect, we immediately move into the energy of Love, Trust, and Peace. Then there is no judgment. If it's complicated, it's not Truth.
Know that if you feel anger or any other unpleasant or uncomfortable emotion, you must carry that energy within you. It isn't because of what someone else did. The situation just reflected what was already there in you. Then you have the opportunity to see what the mirror is for you, to see what you carry within yourself so that you can heal, grow, and change - therefore, seeing your reflection in another or in a situation is a posit
Posted by H3412
Hi. I have similar scenario (meaning major illness) and I would recommend to try meditation (you can buy tapes that help you achieve deep relaxation state, and once deeply relaxed to imagine all the bad stuff "leaving" your head - it's like you physcially see that negative energy coming out and then imagine the sun and its golden energy coming into your head and body "guide it in with your mind's effort".
I have been able to achieve so many things this way, and stop some illnesses caused by body and mind being under stress and anxiety.
You have to practice this, but eventually anyone can do it. No guarantees - but can help you get ill less often! Good luck! :)
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