We are super sensitive, imho part of bp, and may also vary with our moods. Sometimes nothing anyone says can bother me. Other times i'm easily ticked off. I've screamed at some of the posts I've read... but right now thinking back on those it's like, meh, no big deal, really, let it go.

I've always been a hippy and avoiding doctors and medicines unless totally necessary. What changed for me was when my daughter attempted sui at age 14, and it was touch and go in the picu. She was then hospitalized, I had no experience with such a thing, never pictured it in being in our lives. I knew about my grandma's gorey sui, but it was before I was born. I was only told about it in my teens when I was depressed and suicidal. (at that time I decided I had to break the chain of sui in my family, and that's a good thought for me, I have a strong will). So I was desparate for help and they said she needed meds...realizing this is some dangerous thing that apparantly runs in my family. And then my son got depressed and then we're all dx'd bp... and it's mayhem. Trying to force the teens to take meds has not worked... I take some and they seem to help.... for now.

The views on bp vary widely. I still think it's part of my personality, and that meds can help when it flares up and I feel ill from it. I'm also well aware I'm lucky I don't have a more severe case, havent heard voices or hallucinated. But both my bp kids have those schizoaffective experiences, but they are choosing to go unmedicated for the time being. Maybe, if things happen for a reason, I have a less serious case so that i'm more able to care for my babies...

Just my ramblings, I'm glad you are here creativelight I'm thinking about things again that I havent thought about in some time.