Are you accepting of your diagnosis?

More or less. I refuse to view it as illness though, in the classic sense of the word. As in "I am not ill, I am troubled."

How old were you when diagnosed?

21.

Current treatment choice/why?

herbals (SJW tincture), some calming herbs (valerian, , omega 3, lecitin, bach essences.

It helps to target the most obvious symptoms and somewhat lessen them.

I also try to eat healthy and have my spirituality "right" and be in good place altogether.

Did your lifestyle change since being diagnosed?

I try to be more considerate with myself.

Your opinion of meds vs alternate treatment?

I am bit skeptical of meds. Sure they help. They are mind alterning substances...so they make you feel... different. I don't like when they are presented as a must or "correcting imbalances" or "vitamins of brain".

If meds work for you, that is great. But if not, I find the pushy attitude horrible. I don't like how sometimes flat effect and smothered personality is presented as normal. When people are told "you only thought you were smart, cause you were manic" when complaining about feeling dumb... and so on.

Level of education? did Bipolar affect your abilities?

MA in International relations, BA in ENglish/IR. Teacher's licence and tourguide licence...

how BP affected my education? Maybe this cerf hoarding is part of it. It certainly makes me bit sporadic and I picked quite difficult topic for my diploma thesis, which led me to have to prolong by a semmester. On the other hand, I am passionate and can thrust myself in things more than normal people.

Do you work, if so where?

I work from home.

Family life? Who do you live with, how do you all cope with this disorder?

I live alone. I cope alright.

Do you feel your quality of life has been increased or decreased since experiencing Bipolar Disorder?

Depressions suck and are responsible for scars on soul. Highs... are enjoyable for most part. I wouldn't want to give it up.