[mel19892]

Hi All

I have bipolar 2 and GAD, over the past 6 years i've made a lot of progress.
I have two jobs and can socialize with people a bit easier now. I'm currently on 100mg of Seroquel and 20mg of Lexapro.

But I have a issue, I'm still living the same as I did when I was really sick.
When I'm not working I'm in bed all the time. Even though I can talk to people I still have no friends, I have a hard time relating to people and I think it may be because I isolated myself for so many years.

I was hoping some of you could tell me how you managed to get on with life while having/overcoming a mental illness.

Thank you
Melissa

[LettinG0]

I don't have any great advice, just wanted you to know I was thinking about you and that you are not alone.

I work and manage the functions of daily living but that is about it. That takes all I've got everyday. I only socialize when I can't get out of it. I prefer to be home alone.

[Pastel Kitten]

I don't have friends outside of the internet, and I haven't in years. I'm living with my boyfriend but I find it very difficult to socialize with people outdoors. I think I've developed some sort of social anxiety. Finishing high school was a challenge that I really had to commit to because my depressive phases worsened by a lot, in 11th grade. I missed so much school - I just could not function. My boyfriend really helped me to pull myself together, but he is really the only one there for me in person. He helps me cope through my ups and downs. I make it a goal to do at least one thing I enjoy each day. I have faith that once I get on proper meds/treatment I will be able to work or at least leave my house without breaking down. I'm taking it one step at a time. Wishing you luck

[WibblyWobbly]

It's so hard. When you're sick and it consumes your life you forget how it is to operate otherwise. I've only been out of the game for a year and a half and now that I'm starting to reconnect I have a lot of anxiety about it. The few times I've been out I've abused pills to keep myself disconnected and relaxed. Obviously this is not the way to do things. I just started therapy to work on my issues. The immediate benefits have been that it forces me to get out of the house more than usual and it forces me to hold a conversation with someone for an hour. The practice helps.

[gayleggg]

I set me a schedule and stick to it. I get up at the same time every morning, and go to bed at the same time every night. I schedule small projects for each day and spread them out through the day.

I have only one friend but try to talk to her every couple of days. As for as finding friends, I started out with a hobby I liked doing, mine was quilting, then signed up for a class and met my friend.

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[CopperStar]

I think actual friends are pretty rare in general. I can only think of two people from my past with whom I felt like we had an actual bond. The rest of my "friends" were people who wanted something from me, in one way or another, and vanished when they grew bored or felt inconvenienced, or found something better. In my observations over the years, that's how a lot of "friendships" between people are. I think it's how most people are in general. Strangers never talk to me unless they want a cigarette. If we're around each other long enough that they ask for several cigarettes, they become my "friend". But that's really nothing special or worth anything. And when I'm already dealing with MI symptoms, I don't have the energy or patience to go through the song and dance of playing pretend with people, especially not for the sake of a parasitic, fake "friendship". I think neuro-typical people just have more energy and resilience for the song and dance, making it appear like "normal" people have lots of "friends". I would rather hold out for someone special and be alone otherwise, though. I consider it a blessing of insight from my mental health problems, a silver lining in a way.