I'm just speaking for myself here, but I was undiagnosed (bp I) when I was using alcohol to fight depression & to combat my negative thinking & dwelling on the hurts from my past. When I got on the correct medication, I was able to think clearly & the past didn't affect me as much--yeah, it was crappy (bp mother; father & mother were alcoholics; mother's suicide; father's emotional coldness)--but I was able to control my thinking much better. I stopped having delusional thoughts that I couldn't control. I started thinking rationally--all because of the medication. I had an incredible weight lifted off me.

I was finally free to have some self-determination in my life. So I was able to quit abusing alcohol, quit smoking, stopped the overdosing on drugs (at least as often as I did before), etc. The medications helped me immensely. Now I am free to make some choices in how I want to live my life. So I'm trying to tackle my weight issue & forgive myself for a relapse I had a couple months ago when I overdosed. I'm not "cured", but my episodes of depression & mania have been greatly reduced. I do have a mental illness, but I can adjust my environment to the best of my ability to negate some of the mood swings that still occur. Thanks for all the great, thought-provoking responses. This was my 1st time starting a thread & I appreciate you all responding.--Suzy