Quote:
Originally Posted by Emster
Ladies, Gentlemen, boys and girls! It's time for my big question that I would love as detailed as possible answers to really help me out with, pretty please 
What I want to know oh so badly, is the quality of life you all have in regards to a few things that I will outline. I am trying to determine the best method of treatment for this condition and the impact it has on your quality of life and your feedback will help to no end!! 
Are you accepting of your diagnosis?
How old were you when diagnosed?
Current treatment choice/why?
Did your lifestyle change since being diagnosed?
Your opinion of meds vs alternate treatment?
Level of education? did Bipolar affect your abilities?
Do you work, if so where?
Family life? Who do you live with, how do you all cope with this disorder?
Do you feel your quality of life has been increased or decreased since experiencing Bipolar Disorder?
Again an answer to all these questions will help so much, thankyou thankyou!!! -Em |
wow...im going to have to write a book..this isn't going to be simple because my bipolar is complicated by ptsd.
I am accepting of my diagnosis now, but I was not when I was first diagnosed. ive been diagnosed 3 times. the last time in 2007 after I had a breakdown. that is when I took it seriously. I was 44. I was also diagnosed in 99. I stayed on meds for a couple years but then figured I was better. I was first diagnosed in probably 93. I tried meds for about a month but didn't like the side effects. I didn't believe I was bipolar so I quit. I have been exhibing bipolar symptoms since I was 16.
my current treatment choice is meds. I realized I had to take them or I was going to kill myself. I am stable on meds. it took nearly 3 years to find the right meds but life is completely different now that I am not cycling any more. it is so nice to be stable.
I tried so many ways to get stable prior to taking meds. I cant think of anything I didn't try. nothing worked. I knew it was meds or die.
I have a BSW. I completed it when I was very ill. I was hospitalized twice while going to school. as I said, it was complicated by my ptsd, being triggered by the subject matter at school which aggravated the depression and triggered the manias. I believe I was rejected from grad school because of the difficulties and my bipolar behaviors in the bsw program.
I work as a social worker at a family resource center. I run 6 different programs.
I live alone. my children are grown. I feel I am coping best with the bipolar as meds have stabilized that. I suffer from anxiety, agoraphobia, ptsd, DID and the quality of my life is diminished because of those disorders. Still, I am high functioning and pretty successful overall.
I hope I have answered your questions sufficiently. feel free to pm me if you need any more information.
