Another new person. I was actually diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2005, in what was supposed to have been my last year in college. I lost my insurance coverage in 2006 and stopped taking medication, and tried to deal with things without any help. This past April, I picked a fight with my boss that resulted in me quitting my job on a very unpleasant note, and proceeded to spend nearly everything I had on expensive clothing. I didn't even care about the lack of income because I was convinced I was going to be rich anyway from writing three books and starting my own clothing line. (...if you guessed that I don't even know how to sew, you would be correct.) I won't go into details, but that wasn't even the worst thing I did.

Long story short, I ended up at the hospital where I was started on Depakote. The medication seems to be working, though it's taken getting used to after so long with no meds. The thing is, now I'm having to face up to the huge bills and the debts I now have to pay, unemployed, and that is not helping my stress levels one bit. I really need a regular doc but I'm on the county's waiting list and there's no chance before March of me getting in to see anyone. I'm just exhausted and mortified and really just sort of want to hide from the world for a while. But I know that can cause a depression spiral for me, so right now I'm trying to work past how tired and discouraged I'm feeling. I finished my degree when my family had written me off, and I'll find a way to get through this too.

Nice to meet you all.