Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie_J
...Just out of interest, what were you like as a child?
If you were diagnosed later in life, did you face the same questions?
Is it impossible to prefer yourself, honestly, without hypomania?
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*Very shy (barely spoke in early years of school) and lived in my own world. This was by far the predominant, but l could also be rather obnoxious, loud and dominating (like with my cousins). At least by the end of elementary, though still very shy, it was very wise to not mess with me. Rarrr!
*Diagnosed earlier half of 40's (Though it was blaringly obvious since 20.) I actually didn't struggle with dx much, because it explained sooo much, and helped to replace my self-flagellation with understanding. Couldn't
change the past of course, just understand it better.
*I vastly prefer myself with the good parts of hypomania and hate my horrid behavior with the bad parts of it. I self-loathe in depression, soooo, it's not impossible, but I don't. It's good and pretty rare for me to feel self-confident in much and I really only experience that in the good parts of hypomania. (Except in creativity, which is always with me. It's the only thing I never doubt.)
Quote:
Originally Posted by dragonfly2
...On a more existential note....I am in the camp of people who say "I am bipolar" as opposed to "I have bipolar". ...Some people choose to distance themselves from it, saying "I have bipolar (but it's not who I am)", and that's okay too...
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Me too. It's not that I think it defines me (explains: yes, defines: no), it just seems simpler, like someone saying they're diabetic. "Have" diabetes or be diabetic, makes no nevermind to me. (I
do have a very big problem with BP being used inappropriately, like "bipolar weather" or as an ignorant casual slam.
That's where semantics matter to me.)
Haha, Charlie... "deep as a wet floor"(!)
So true!