I'm a big advocate (almost annoyingly so) of not drinking if diagnosed with any form of BP. I quit about 6 months ago and it has done wonders for me. Don't get me wrong - I *like* to drink and could roll with the best of them in my time. But those days are done. I now know it doesn't help me so I don't do it.

Looking back, I can now correlate my binges to being manic. I just didn't know at the time I was BP. Alcohol just added to my anger and frustration when I crashed too. As someone with BP, now I just call quitting part of my treatment plan. Plus, I don't feel like I need to "keep up" with society anymore because alcohol is the social lubricant. That's also a plus - I don't spin myself in circles trying to keep up with my "friends" and that holds down the mania. Bonus!

It has been a tremendous relief to me to have moved away from alcohol and I don't miss any of it. Being sober gives me clarity of thought. Please consider it.

Good luck - please stay well and rock on, Sister Rose.