Hi Anne!

I'm sorry to hear about all that you've gone through, and the failure of your family members to support you. It sounds like you have an incredible partner though -- that he's reading up on bipolar to understand and help you better is quite admirable on his part. What a good catch! You must be more stable than you think to have attracted such a well grounded person.

About the meds, from what you've listed it seems you were never given a mood stabilizer (just two antidepressants and an anti-psychotic). Anti-psychotics only treat the mania, not the depression... and without a mood stabilizer, antidepressants will cause more mania. The most important med for a bipolar person to take is a mood stabilizer; I've never heard of someone recovering without one.

I'm glad you're finding the forum helpful. The meds issue is an area that I've gotten alot of help and recommendations in, and I highly recommend asking how others responded to a drug (side effects and such) before trying it out yourself. Of course, people respond differently to the same meds, but in general there are some meds to stear clear of.

How does the legal system work regarding equal opportunities for employment? Ideally, you shouldn't be discriminated against because of having a mental illness. In weighing the pros and cons here -- even if employers do dicriminate against you -- how good would it be if you got a job, then were unable to keep up your duties because of mood swings?

Also, you don't deserve your mental well being to be compromised for a job. I'm sure lots of people in the UK have mental illnesses, and like Sezzie said, a therapy group might be helpful, too. You could at least get practical information on things like this.

Have a great Friday!

Jessie