Capricorn1975:

Bipolar is a part of my life, but it is not my life.

Having suffered with it since 2000, I guess you could say that I've made peace with the fact that I have this illness. I can choose to wallow in it or I can choose to learn all that I can, investigate methods for coping with the illness, work with my therapist and doctor to control the symptoms, and live life to the fullest. I choose to do the latter.

I want to encourage you to work with your doctor to find the right chemical cocktail for you and if possible, begin seeing a therapist who can give you methods for combating the illness in other ways. Whatever you do, don't let your diagnosis become your life. You have too much to give and too much to accomplish to allow this to happen. With hard work and persistence, you can begin to manage the illness instead of having it manage you.

Also, I don't know how spiritual you are, but for me this has been one of my main weapons in fighting my illness. I am Catholic, so I attend mass daily and partake of the other sacraments as often as I am able. This helps keep me grounded and gives me a larger perspective with which to view my illness.

I would encourage you to explore your spiritual side as well. I am sure that this will help you as much as your medication and therapy.

Good luck in the future. I am sure that you can emerge from your illness a better person, as have I.