Both my younger sister and I have been diagnosed as bipolar. My diagnosis came after I was in a car accident and suffered a tramatic brain injury. It seems that I always had a bipolar tendency which was the reason I was always self medicating with alcohol and sex. They kept my mind from racing and not shutting down. I come from a family of 6 children and other than my one sister the others do not understand our condition. It is so nice to talk to someone who understands and I'm hoping this forum will also give me that feeling of being understood.