Hi everyone,
I came here because it helps to hear from other people dealing with
bipolar disorder, I know a lot about what it is and kinds of meds that are out there but it's nice to just talk with someone who is in the same boat
as I am.
I started having symptoms when I was around 21 but was misdiagnosed
for almost 20 years I was given medication that made things worse and
doctors didn't seem to know what was wrong with me, I just thought I was crazy and would end up in a mental hospital. I had to move back home with my parents who were clueless about my behavior and I
finally did end up in a psych ward for a few days.
I managed to struggle through life and got married and had a child, it was a wonderful time little did I know it was a manic phase and within time I
plummeted down to a deep depression. I started seeing a pattern to these
drastic mood changes and went to psychiatrist and explained how I felt
and told him my brother suffered from the same behavior and self medicated with drug and alcohol and died at the age of 30.
He told me I was a pretty classic case of bipolar1 disorder and I wanted to
hug him, I finally had a name to my disorder. I've been on Lithium for 25
years and it's been good to me.
Recently I was divorced and ended up living on my own, it had been a very stressful and unhappy time time and I have developed an anxiety disorder as well.
I can't afford a therapist and none of the friends I have left don't want to hear me complain about how hard my life has become.
There was a peer to peer group near me but it fell apart.
I don't want to spend this time in my life hindered by my disorder but I'm
feeling bad about myself and it's hard to move on life is hard enough without a mood disorder. It would be nice to hear how others are getting along with their lives and maybe I have some things to share too.