RECENTLY DIAGNOSED, SCARED AND NEED SUPPORT..

I BELEIVED I POST MY CONCERNS UNDER THE WRONG TOPIC. I WAS RECENTLY DIAGNOSED WITH BIPOLAR & SOCIAL ANXIETY, I AM TERRIFIED. I HEARD SO MANY STORIES ABOUT FAMILIES SPLITTING UP AND PASSING IT DOWN TO YOUR CHILDREN. I JUST REALLY NEED SOME SUPPORT, MY MOTHER AND FAMILY DO NOT BELIEVE IN MENTAL HEALTH. MY HUSBAND SAYS HE UNDERSTAND, AND MAYBE HE DO TO A CERTAIN DEGREE, AND MY CHILDREN ARE TO YOUNG TO KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON. IF ANY ONE CAN GIVE ME SUPPORT OR ADVICE, I WILL GREATLY APPRECIATE IT.

Welcome to the forum(s), it is not uncommon to be scared at first, with counseling and self-education, can give you insight and reduce the fears and rumours you may have heard.
Most important thing, get to a reputable pdoc., get proper DX and then meds to stabilize you, providing you stay compliant, and keep up with your appts.
If possible, get a loved one involded in this process, sounds like they can use some education about Bipolar, pulling themselves from the narrow beliefs some still have.
I do not have much more to add at the present, got 3d matters to tend to.
But I am around here a lot.

Take care,
DE

i'm sorry that you're so bewildered and scared right now. frequently, our families don't know what to say or how to feel, when we're diagnosed with a disorder that they don't understand. try to find an advocate and keep working on it. i'm bi-polar and i got really good meds and am doing great.......xoxo pat

I understand your fears, it isa scary thing, to be diagnosed with bipolar and social anxiety disorders. What led you to your diagnosis? I hope it was'nt like mine, I was found on the side of the road complaining people were getting killed, you don't mention a scary thing that led up to your diagnosis, so perhaps you are lucky, perhaps your illness is to a less degree than mine. But I'm doing better!! There is hope!! Check out the depression bipolar support alliance, our local site is dbsaroch.org witha link to the national site, where they will identify a meeting near you...the meetings are so reaffirming, you will find you are not alone. Also coming to this website, whether you are posting for yourself or helping others. There is hope, I am doing great now, and the illness has brought me closer to God, and I open up and reach out to my family, and this has brought us closer. Write more about your family, from your message it seemed like your family of origin wasn't helpful yet your spouse is. It may or may not be passed along to your children, it could be either way. Keep coming to the forums! We love you and wish to hear more about how you're adjusting!! Keep your chin up!!

THE THING THAT LED TO MY DIAGNOSIS WAS NOT WANTING TO LEAVE THE HOUSE, SPENDING SPREE(SHOPPING ON THE NET), ANGRY OUTBURST AND MOOD SWINGS. I DIDN'T REALIZE WHAT WAS GOING ON, UNTIL I FELT ANGRY AND OUT OF CONTROL ALL THE TIME. I AM ON MEDS AND START THERAPY NEXT WEEK. THANKS FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT. I HOPE TO TALK TO YOU ALL SOON AND IF YOU HAVE INFORMATION ON ANY OTHER WEBSITES ON BIPOLAR/SOCIAL ANXIETY OR OTHER SUPPORT SITES, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT. I AM CLUELESS ABOUT MY DIAGNOSIS, I ONLY KNOW WHAT I WAS TOLD IN DAY TREATMENT. THANKS AGAIN!

When I was first diagnosed, I did a Yahoo and a Google search about it, trying to get as much info about BP as I could. It's pretty interesting the stuff you can find on the internet these days. There is also some great information right here at PC.

The only advice I can offer is to educate yourself; you ARE your own best advocate. My mantra - knowledge is power, and the more you know about your BP, the more powerful you are to cope with it.

I, too, was terrified of my DX (I'm BP 1). I have learned over the past few years that the social stigma is less than appealing, so I keep my condition to myself (after MUCH trial and error).

You have come to a very open, welcoming place where the social stigma(s) are ignored and you are looked at as a person, not by your disorder.

Welcome to the forums!

Dolfin