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noname223

Archangel
Aug 18, 2020
5,199
The answer is probably individual. There is the vulnerability-stress model as far as I know. So everyone has a limit. Twice in my life I studied so much that I collapsed.
However my bipolar disorder was the reason for that. Before my first collapse I thought it is great how resilient I was. Quite the opposite is true.

I think it is way easier to prevent a psychosis than to prevent a mania for me. Because usually the mania triggers the psychosis.

When I was young I wanted to become a politician. I still envy the resilience of these people.

I was in a mixed-manic episode prior to my first psychosis. I estimate I probably studied like 12 hours or more daily for 4 months till my first psychosis happened. WIthout any break. Some people laughed at me for being so stupid or I blamed myself for it. However to that time I did not know I am bipolar and that was the reason why I studied so hard/strong agitation. Moreover I barely slept which was pretty counterproductive. It is cynical with 7-15 my mom hit me for studying too less. And with 15 she hit me for doing too much. Sick world.

Prior to the second psychosis I studied less. However I stopped taking medication which backfired completely and fueled my mania. I studied maybe 10-11 hours for 5 months again with no break. Then I got the second psychosis. The studying is deeply pathological and it is very much entrenched in me because of the abuse.

I tried to live the life of a 9 to 5 worker. Made me extremely crippling and severely depressed. Was fired because of that.

Now my last shot I try it with college again. I notice I increase my work load more and more with every semester. I survived the first semesters without becoming manic again. I take huge amounts of medication but they don't work perfectly.

I really noticed I falled into bad patterns of behavior. My studying becomes excessive again. Slowly it increases. At the start of the semester I allowed myself to study 4,5 hours per day with one day as a break. Now at the end of the semester I studied 3 weeks without a day as a break. It started with 5-6 hours a day. Then I fully panicked and started to study again 7-8 hours again. The only thing that prevents a mania is my addictive medication.

I think the only reasonable thing is to take less courses. I am not sure how pathological that studying is but it is clear I am susceptible to external pressure. I hope with this strategical move I stop this development. Because if these things go on there will happen something very bad.

There are two possiblities: Either I become addicted to benzo or z-medication or I get a new mania. Both could lead to me suicide. I hope very much that I can outsmart my illness with having less courses.

That was a lot about me. Personally I am not good at saying where my limit is. I often don't feel exhaustion. I think this stems from bipolar and my abuse. I don't treat myself nicely. The first time I studied so much I hoped to die because of karoshi.

Now I come to other people. I think many things determine your stamina and resilience. Your education as a child, your genes and mental development. To a certain extent one can try to improve it. By finding positive ways to cope with stress.

I envy people with major resilience. I think many politicians have it. At least most in high positions. They negotiate sometimes the whole night. I would become ill after one. And that is their lifestyle. At least where I live. It is said Angela Merkel had extreme resilience. However sometimes you read about politicans in lower positions who struggle. It was revealed one was taking meth to cope with the stress. Another German secretary on federal level committed suicide when the pandemic started.

Now to one country I like: Japan. When I was younger I admired Japan. Now I know the work life balance is horrendous there. Way too many die due to karoshi which is insane. I read about the schedule of famous mangakas. You can find them when you search for it. Some cannot be true. I read a lot about mangakas but I think there is a lot of misinformation and many stories are rather myths. No human being could stay productive with 3 hours sleep 6 days a week. I don't know the details anymore but that was roundabout a number I still have in mind. However I am no expert but for me it sounds like bullshit.

Well my memory tricked me a lot. Just searched for another mangaka schedule and it sounds more plausible. 1 day 2 hours sleep, 2 days 5 hours and 4 days 7 hours. Still probably way too much. Not sure if it is true. It is kind of fascinating for me when people dedicate themselves to something. I always saw an appeal in that. But I tend to be way too extreme about it.

I only study part time but would you call 7,5 hours per day for two weeks soon before an exam as too much? My friends told me that was extreme. I am just not average at it. I am extremely self-disciplined probably to an insane and unhealthy amount. Perfectionism is killing me. The direction I am heading (more and more stuying) is not good. I hope next semester I will take less courses. Without the addictive medication I would have relapsed a long time ago. However I always say to me never increase the dosage because this is the point where it gets really dangerous. Yeah and I am close to that point.

What do you think? Holy shit how long that thread has become. Not sure how many threads I can write till I collapse but honestly they are rather relaxing for me because I am reflecting during it and I listen to sad music which cools me down.
 
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jodes2

jodes2

Hello people ❤️
Aug 28, 2022
7,737
Yeah depends on the person. Pretty hard to do
 
HybridSpectre

HybridSpectre

Life sucks
Jan 24, 2023
34
I gotta tell you man, I've not heard of a condition that makes you study too much, until now. To some people, like me, they'd certainly love study with the intense resilience and focus you have. But on the other hand, sadly, looks like life didn't leave you without painful condition to make your existence even shittier. So sorry about that 😞. Gosh I hope your overworking gives you a smile at the end of the semester with A* in all course units 😀. I'm curious though, as I don't know what it's like to have BPD, is the prescribed dose regimen of your medication addictive, or do you like impulsively take higher dosage, no judgement?
 
leeloosnow

leeloosnow

Warlock
Aug 28, 2022
725
there's been years of my life i could work 10-12hrs, plus taking care of the household, cooking etc, plus go to the gym like 6-8hrs per week, and had to drive from work to home to errands which consumed 1-2hrs a day. no clue how i managed that, i was definitely at a better place mental health wise, not sure if the activity improved the mh or the other way around, seems to be a correlation of some sort for me there.
at times my depression, addiction, overall mh has been worse it's a struggle to do anything at all, even ordering pizza and self-care feel exhausting. have found bz's helpful but yes i also find them highly addictive and with some possibly icky side effects. if i'm good about taking my meds tho my moods are more manageable/regular/predictable.
best of luck to you, certainly isn't easy to manage all that and have ppl understand how it is. hugs!
 
FuneralCry

FuneralCry

Just wanting some peace
Sep 24, 2020
38,393
It must be really horrible for the people who feel as though they have no choice but to torture themselves in this way. No wonder so many decide to ctb.
 
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noname223

Archangel
Aug 18, 2020
5,199
I gotta tell you man, I've not heard of a condition that makes you study too much, until now. To some people, like me, they'd certainly love study with the intense resilience and focus you have. But on the other hand, sadly, looks like life didn't leave you without painful condition to make your existence even shittier. So sorry about that 😞. Gosh I hope your overworking gives you a smile at the end of the semester with A* in all course units 😀. I'm curious though, as I don't know what it's like to have BPD, is the prescribed dose regimen of your medication addictive, or do you like impulsively take higher dosage, no judgement?
I think this result of studying so much is the product of child abuse often in the context of school work, Bipolar which gives me the energy to work that much. And a lot of OCD behavior. I think Funeral Cry is right this is like torturing yourself

I take a lot of usual antimanic medication and an antidepressant to sleep longer. All my medication have inter alia the reason to sedate me and calm me down. I take addictive medication especially for one reason. Without them my sleep is very superficial which increases manic symptoms. So far I never abused them. I rather take them strategically.
 

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