Quote:
Originally Posted by Medicated
I can completely relate on the feeling incompetent thing. I think most of the people on this board can relate. Bipolar can be very damaging. It took me six years to finish undergrad because of it. It also almost ruined my graduate career when I was hospitalized for a major depressive episode last fall. I often feel that, because of my illness, I just can't live up to what the world expects of me and my peers.
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<Raises hand>. Oh yes. I never did finish. Major depression hit, dropped out and every subsequent episode was brushed under the rug. I, and those around me, just blamed me for not having enough self-control or ability to "snap out of it". (Did manage a 2 year degree 10 years later.) Because of being diagnosed so late (and previously being misdiagnosed with MDD -- the self-blame continued when the ADs made things worse...I really felt altogether defective), I never mourned the loss of normalcy. After all, those 26 years weren't normal. I very much DO mourn the loss of so many years when I might've stood a better chance if I'd had care. But that's what sweeping it under the rug did.
Boy, medicated, did you ever hit it on the head when you said about not being able to live up to what the world expects. That is one thing life has taught me, and try as I might, still very much struggle with. For me that's been the hardest aspect of acceptance.
greylove, at least we've all got each other...