Hi,
My name is Michelle. My bio actually covers quite a bit. But I'll just go ahead and repeat some. I have a B.A. in Psychology. I got interested in Psychology because there was mental illness in my family. I didn't realize at the time that I would be later diagnosed with mental illness as well!

But things were always tumultuous for me. I was also adopted when I was 5 and some bad things happened to me before then I am told. I had a fairly happy and privileged childhood after being adopted but I was always so emotional and sensitive so I was told.

Then things became really bad when I went away to college. But I think at that time I went without a diagnosis well partly because I was resistant to counseling and well wasn't everyone partying and blacking out in the process? (insert sarcasm here). One counselor I did ask about the possibility of bipolar and she said maybe depression or generalized anxiety disorder but that my mood swings weren't severe enough for bipolar.

So basically 10 years later after a constant struggle with binge drinking, men (fear of commitment, etc.), constant anxiety, some insomnia....I had a manic episode BIG time. I call it a mental break down. I wound up in the hospital suicidal. NOW the docs say I have bipolar.

Now 5 years after my diagnosis (sorry for the long story) I'm better, almost, almost killed this drinking problem, still have a fear of commitment but working on that. Let's say final goal well is to just to be able to turn to others that understand and most recently really starting to focus on losing all the weight I gained after starting the meds.

And as for a side note outside of bipolar I LOVE the outdoors and began rock climbing after my diagnosis, it helps A LOT!