Does BP occur in 1% of the population? We are the unlucky one percent.

hamster-bamster · Mar 31, 2012, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VenusHalley

hmmm, my country is a first world country, and 1400 is average income, which too many will never reach.... hmmm... yes, there are places in the USA where you can make it with this, and you will still be well off... and yes, secure. I would not recommend moving out of first world... unless one is prepared to have their world-view shaken. It might be a good experience, but living in bad place is not a way to save money...

I just think you are being overly negative at the moment... it is alright to feel that for a bit, but not to dwell in it. **** happens, and one has to deal with somehow. It's okay to feel bitter and down about it, but it will not solve anything. One needs to mourn for a bit and then go and live.

This is meant to be encouraging... as I do believe we humans are hella resielent species.

I live in Silicon Valley, and $1400 does not cover the rent for a one-bedroom apartment. But as mentioned here, there are other places in the US that are much, much cheaper. I will need to move. This gives me hope. Now I will need to live off credit cards until I get disability. Now I worry that I will not get disability and will become homeless. And I cannot forget that I used to have every opportunity to live comfortably, and had I cared to find the medications mix that I am on now 5, 10 years ago, I would not need to worry about homelessness now. That hurts.

hanners · Mar 31, 2012, 11:05 PM

I've been having a hard time with my diagnosis. I'm angry a lot for it. It's funny, because I've lived my entire life with a myriad of health problems, straight from birth. I've never known healthy, and I've always just taken it in stride. This however, has been different. I kind of wish I'd never heard of the "kindling theory", because I blame my mother for this (she was physically and continues to be emotionally abusive), and have so much anger directed at her. I feel like she got off scot-free, and now I'm stuck with this illness that will be with me for the rest of my life, and which has already had devastating consequences for me (my manias have put me into debt to the point where I can't even afford to buy my own food; I'm relying on the food bank because I'm putting every spare cent I have into paying off what I owe).

dragonfly2 · Mar 31, 2012, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anika

The only thing I want to say about money amounts pertaining to disability that's being discussed in this thread, is that none of us are comparable. We all live in different countries, or areas, different costs of living. When I saw that you could get a house for 300-400 rent a month in Virgina for example, I was like wha?? A bachelor suit in the worst area of town where I live is 750-900 $. Food costs will be different for us all, and medical. We really can't compare by amount of money alone.

And that's not even taking into consideration the currency exchange rates. 1400 Euros is about $1900 USD, not $1400, which can make a big difference.

And it is amazing how much the cost of living can change depending on what part of a country you are in. Even things like climate can make a big difference - my heating costs alone are about $250 a month.

hamster-bamster · Mar 31, 2012, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dragonfly2

And that's not even taking into consideration the currency exchange rates. 1400 Euros is about $1900 USD, not $1400, which can make a big difference.

And it is amazing how much the cost of living can change depending on what part of a country you are in. Even things like climate can make a big difference - my heating costs alone are about $250 a month.

That is a good point. I will need to take this into consideration when choosing what US city to move to.

venusss · Apr 01, 2012, 02:29 AM

Dragon, I was talking the US dollars. If we talk my currency, it would 25000:/ And we are talking country that might go bankrupt in few years.

What I was pointing out, that there are FIRST WORLD places where it is possible to live with this money.

I don't know. It's maybe through my life I learned to realize some things are not end of the world.

Hamster, I am sure you can find a way to get by and find decent place to live with the money and find a way overall.

dragonfly2 · Apr 01, 2012, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VenusHalley

Dragon, I was talking the US dollars. If we talk my currency, it would 25000:/ And we are talking country that might go bankrupt in few years.

Sorry - I misunderstood.

into-the-night · Apr 02, 2012, 07:54 PM

It’s interesting to see how many negative posts are there. I honestly wouldn’t give away my condition even if I could. ... On the other hand, maybe I’m only saying that because it’s nearly 04:00 a.m. here and I’m mildly... something.

Nevertheless, I do think that in overall the illness has given me more than taken. Sure, I’ve done some whacky stuff and I do feel sorry for ruining all those relationships. I would have never thought I could cause so much pain, unintentionally yes, but still...
*But* I’ve felt, I still feel, the world so intensely (like everybody else in this forum

) and I’m grateful for that. I feel as if bipolarity has given me the opportunity to (occasionally) feel truly at home with the world. And however rare the occasions, I do love it still. I think the condition has made me more insightful, more loving, a better person.
(And I won’t probably think so couple of weeks later.)

Apr 02, 2012, 07:59 PM

Well, I'm never going to say that I like having Bipolar Disorder, because I don't.

What I can say, is that each person in this world has their own set of struggles. And frankly, there are far worse things that I could suffer from than Bipolar. I have a mind that can think intelligent thoughts, I have legs that can walk, I have eyes that can see and ears that can hear. Yes, I may have this difficult mental illness. But it can also be managed, if enough time and patience is put into it.

It took me 9 hospitalizations and over 3 years to realize this, so I can understand if many of you don't share my perspective. It sure took me a long time to get here. But instead of focusing on what's bad in our lives, why not focus on the good things too?

Resident Bipolar · Apr 02, 2012, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by melissa.recovering

Well, I'm never going to say that I like having Bipolar Disorder, because I don't.

What I can say, is that each person in this world has their own set of struggles. And frankly, there are far worse things that I could suffer from than Bipolar. I have a mind that can think intelligent thoughts, I have legs that can walk, I have eyes that can see and ears that can hear. Yes, I may have this difficult mental illness. But it can also be managed, if enough time and patience is put into it.

It took me 9 hospitalizations and over 3 years to realize this, so I can understand if many of you don't share my perspective. It sure took me a long time to get here. But instead of focusing on what's bad in our lives, why not focus on the good things too?

This illness has been nothing but bad for me. I've been getting help for over four years now and things are only getting WORSE. I've lost a lot of the people close to me, I am occasionally unable to go out because paranoia or psychosis is too bad, and I find it impossible to hold down a job.

venusss · Apr 03, 2012, 03:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by melissa.recovering

Well, I'm never going to say that I like having Bipolar Disorder, because I don't.

What I can say, is that each person in this world has their own set of struggles. And frankly, there are far worse things that I could suffer from than Bipolar. I have a mind that can think intelligent thoughts, I have legs that can walk, I have eyes that can see and ears that can hear. Yes, I may have this difficult mental illness. But it can also be managed, if enough time and patience is put into it.

It took me 9 hospitalizations and over 3 years to realize this, so I can understand if many of you don't share my perspective. It sure took me a long time to get here. But instead of focusing on what's bad in our lives, why not focus on the good things too?

You know how much I am proud of you for coming to this point? That is a lotta work, and you are one brave chick.

I recently read kinda meh article about acceptance. It viewed acceptance in the godawful terms. Life long condition that most likely will get worse (I do think that this is what you stuck with and that there will be hard times... but I think one can learn to sail through more smoothly. It's like learning to walk in heels. Just because you stumble and trip few times does not mean you will be like that forever. But no, your fabulous heels will never feel comfortable*).

But just because there isn't any "cure" doesn't believe we are doomed. Stop chasing normal. Work with who and what you are. You can change, but you have to do the work yourself. Others can help a bit. Show you the directions, throw you a map. But you have to make the decisions, take the responsibility. It doesn't come easy, it is not supposed to.

* I apologize if my metaphore offended anybody, but that is my style. Hey, at least I don't compare you to Bosnia or Somalia.

Trippin2.0 · Apr 03, 2012, 03:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by melissa.recovering

Well, I'm never going to say that I like having Bipolar Disorder, because I don't.

What I can say, is that each person in this world has their own set of struggles. And frankly, there are far worse things that I could suffer from than Bipolar. I have a mind that can think intelligent thoughts, I have legs that can walk, I have eyes that can see and ears that can hear. Yes, I may have this difficult mental illness. But it can also be managed, if enough time and patience is put into it.

It took me 9 hospitalizations and over 3 years to realize this, so I can understand if many of you don't share my perspective. It sure took me a long time to get here. But instead of focusing on what's bad in our lives, why not focus on the good things too?

You've grown immensley in the time that I've gotten to know you. Really proud of you, hope you are too.

mommyof2girls · Apr 03, 2012, 04:02 AM

I agree that we may have this mental illness but it can be managed.....With the right meds and a good outlook on life anything is possible.... We can lead a fulfilled enriched life.....

Irreplaceable · Apr 03, 2012, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trippin2.0

Ok, listen up folks who are lucky enough, yes I said lucky, to get disability... Please read further before labelling me a total biatch.
.
There is N0 way a dr would render me disabled, I've been out of work for 13 months now. They say our job market is skeletal and my credit record counts against me (manic debt) . My dad never had life insurance, he left my mom with a HUGE amount of debt as he wasn't paying the rates and utilities regularly. We live off of my mom's PENSION, pension in SA is PEANUTS, it's like just over $100! And food is M0RE expensive in the poorer areas. Why? Idk, maybe our govt wants to keep the poor poor. I have N0 internet, God has intervened to keep me sane, and my cellphone connects even tho it shouldn't

(so if I suddenly dissapear, it just means my network discovered me)
.
My sister tries to buy groceries once a month, but even so, there is atleast 1 week, sometimes 2, where we are living off of handouts from neighbours, or borrowing money that my mom's pension has to pay for. Most nights I have supper at my friends house cos I feel guilty about being a healthy 27y.o deadweight. I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE TONIGHT'S SUPPER CAME FROM, the cupboards are bare, but my mom is cooking. It won't be anything spectacular, but our bellies will be full.
.
My 8y.o daughter has had to adjust dramatically over the last 6 months, she asked me 'are we poor now?' i said no. We have a roof over our heads, clothes on our back and food in our bellies. Money will make a comeback in our lives...
.
No, I'm not having a pity party of my own, I would rather you guys didn't know any of this, but i'm trying to put things in perspective for those who think disability is the proverbial end of the world.
.

The government is barely giving hand outs the way that they used to because of the economy. The economy tanks and poor people, myself included, feel it the most. I'm employed but most days I feel like I shouldn't be. Like Trippen, its likely that I would never even qualify to get disability. Even though I feel bad enough in the head to the point where I want to straight snap on coworkers some days...We all know that stress can make your bipolar unbareable at times. Well, I'm there right now. Guess what? I get to decide between buying food for my daughter or buying my meds. Guess which one wins? Pdocs and meds, no matter how much I need it, I can't do it now. Disability is not an option for me. I'm the bread winner. If I leave my job, everything around me will fall apart...If everything wasn't based on just my income, I would consider it. Work and surving comes before my health unfortunately.

TheDragon · Apr 03, 2012, 03:44 PM

Just for the record, bipolar affects about 2-7% of the population, varying in different countries. Just saying.

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