Does anyone here feel bi-polar ruined their life?

I feel like if I wasn't bipolar I would have already graduated college and I wouldn't already have a failed marriage under my belt. It seems to make the basics of life so much harder.

I don't know if it has ruined it, but I feel like I have a tougher life than a lot of people. I see classmates with degrees, real jobs, houses, and kids and I wonder what that is like?

One day I suppose... one day...

I would have to say yes to that.It has ruined relationships, jobs, kept me from making decent decisions, almost gotten me arrested for some of the things I've done in temper fits, and made me less of a mother than I would have liked to be. I loved my children, did anything for them, but I started early with the bad decisions and dropped out of school, and therefore couldn't provide enough for them. Probably most of their memories are of me screaming and throwing things, or else in depressions so bad I couldn't get out of bed. And the worst of it all was, my father took me to a psychologist when I was 16 or 17, and he dx'd me with symptoms of manic depression then, and said I should be put on medication, showed signs of future alcoholism and/or drug abuse, whole nine yards. My father put the report away and never told me, my mother, or anyone else until I was dx'd with bipolar at the age of 31. I felt like I'd been robbed of my life.

I certainly feel that way. At 17 or so, my father took me to a psychologist because I had a meltdown of sorts, and his findings were that I showed signs of manic depression and if left untreated (by medication), would probably end up with problems with either alcohol or drugs or both. It also said some other things that came to pass. I have ruined relationships, jobs, jaded my children's early memories of me, who knows what else. I think they probably have more memories of me screaming and throwing things, or else stuck in depressions so bad I couldn't get out of bed than any child should ever have. I dropped out of school, so I was unable to provide all but the basic necessities for them. I've made many bad decisions because of impulsiveness. And my parents blamed me all along, which I understood, except I couldn't seem to help myself. I even went to doctors in my 20's, and was dx'd with depression. Only when I was finally correctly dx'd with bipolar, did my father finally say something about the report he was given way back when. I feel like I was robbed of my life. If I had been treated all along, maybe things would have been different. I pray every day to ask God to help me accept what is, and deal with what I have to work with now.

I feel it's def affected my life negatively. My racing thoughts impulsivity panic etc etc etc. I feel like my life would be completely different without it.

It has not ruined my life but it has taken a lot. I have a wonderful supportie husband but his life would be much easier if I di not have bi polar

Hello capricorn. I feel as if bi-polar has ruined parts of my life. For example, I never know when I am going to fall into a depressive funk, and sometimes the depression is chemical. Other times it is "s**t happening". Right now I am in a "s**t happening" funk.

Also I never know when I am going to go into mania. I am sure that is unfair/scarey for my husband to see. Then again, he needs to get off his duff and educate himself on my disorder.

what doesn't kill you can only make you stronger. because of bipolar i am more sensitive,wise and all. i was arrogant,rude before now i am humble. luckily my is bipolar 2 not as serious as many here.

i just keep on telling myself-its just like diabetes-its another obstacle in my life and i can overcome this.(my bipolar is way worse than diabetes but sometimes self deception works)

For me the diagnosis was a relief because I finally realized the reason for all the chaos in my life. There is no easy answer though, was it the bipolar or me that ruined my life? Is my life ruined or has it always been a rollercoaster of highs and lows? It felt great to finally have a name for what has plagued me for so long, my reason for always getting to the finish line but never crossing it. I can understand now why I always felt out of control in my own body, so wanting to succeed but always sabotaging any opportunity I had. My diagnosis feels like a curse, im left with the issue of trying to control my life and managing "it". There is no cure, so the brief periods I have now when I feel stable and functional I try to put my life back together and focus. So the answer did bipolar ruin me? Yes and no. Its a lot harder for me to distinguish now when events or issues in my life are caused by bipolar or just life. It is easy for me to say my entire life is ruined by bipolar and the choices ive made, but part of me wants to take the blame. It doesnt seem fair and I have a lot of guilt for things ive said and done to innocent people in episodes beyond my control. But blaming the bipolar always adds to my guilt, others no matter how hard they try will never understand the hell we go through. They will view blaming bipolar as an excuse, a cop out, or a way to avoid taking responsibility for our actions. It helps to know others are out there who do understand.