[persephone46]

i hate this position I'm in right now. i know i have bipolar, and I've known for a long time. but i can't go to anyone for help or refuge. my parents expect me to be their perfect child. the one who has a high IQ and goes to the ivy league school. they're are nowhere near the type of parents who are equipped with handling any mental disorder. my mom is a little out-there clueless and just weird, I'm not really close with her all that much. my dad has the worst temper, and he's pretty scary when he snaps. i can't go to any of my best friends with this because they all have depression. maybe you, like me, are wondering why i can't tell my emotionally unstable friends that I'm like them. i just know they'd accuse me of not knowing what it's like, that I'm wrong and of course i couldn't have any problems because people as rich as i am don't have problems. that's how they see it, and i hate it. right now is when i need any of them most though. I've been depressed for the last 3 weeks straight and it's never been this long before. usually it's only a week. everyone is starting to get pissed at me and they're starting to avoid me. i don't see how i can tell anyone

[TgrsPurr]

OH MY GOSH!!!!! Everything you said was totally me. It's like reading my biography. Wow! I'm a little takenaback by this.

Anyway, I'd like to know how old you are to see if your in a position to get help on your own regardless of your family and friends. Have you been officially diagnosed by a professional? And if you have, do you know what type of bi-polar you have? Have you done any research on your own about bi-polar?

Sorry, don't mean to overwhelm you with questions. I'd just be better able to offer some help if I knew these things.
As far as your family is concerned...they may not be the support system you need and there are good ones out there who can also help you to deal with your family. By the way, bi-polar has a tendency to run in families! They may not be willing to face this because it would mean facing themselves???
As for your friends...I can only say that if they truly love you they will be there for you as best they can. Perhaps knowing there's not alone will help. Explain that this type of illness does not discriminate on how much money you may or may not have. Explain to them your exact feelings, thoughts, stress and pain you are experiencing and then perhaps they will see that you all can truly relate to one anothr. I will also say though, that considering there state right now, they may not be the best people in a position to help you, comfort you, encourage you and be willing to put their own issues aside to have compassion for you. When anyone is experiencing something like depression, it's hard to see beyond there own turmoil and pain. And that's understandable! Again I tell you, there are support systems out there who understand these things. This forum is one of them!
Bi-polar must be treated medically. There is no way around that. It's a chemical imbalance and not a psychological, emotional or mental problem (these are a symptom of this disorder!). Medication is what corrects that chemical imbalance and helps you to function better in your life and with society. I'm not sure what to tell you as far as getting that medical attention, except to say that it ought to be a psychiatrist and not a general practioner. Psychiatrists are specifically trained in these types of doctoral needs.

I hope I haven't overwhelmed with all I've said. I've been successfully treated for bi-polar for quite some time now and I believe myself to be in a strong position to help guide, support you, encourage you and perhaps answer some of the questions you have.
Thinking of you! Tgrspurr. xoxo

[January]

Do you have a school counselor to whom you can speak? You need adult support.

I was supposed to be a "scientist working behind closed doors" by the age of twenty. My Dad loved to brag on my intelligence but didn't mind destroying me in the process.

Go to an adult. If you are in college, go to Social Services. Get the help that I didn't have sense enough to know I needed.

I wish you well,

January

[babs92]

Welcome to PC. TgrsPurr is right, you need to see a psychiatrist and get an evaluation done as soon as possible. Please post and let us know how it goes.

take care

welcome to PC.......pat