[gina_re]

How did you come to find PC? And how has it changed/helped your life?
I'm just curious how we all got here. I think I came across this website back when I was probably doing research for a paper for school. By that time I had already had my diagnosis.

[Confusedinomicon]

I came here after getting a bipolar dx and being hospitalized. I've since had a dx change but I still like visiting on occasion.

[Pastel Kitten]

I came here after my old counselor suggested I was bipolar and to have a pdoc evaluate me

[Imah]

Searching the web for people with similar experiences. I didn't know how much having a place to talk about bp would help. But it really does.

<3

[wildflowerchild25]

I was a big forum user when I was a teen. Most of my friends were online. with the advent of social media when I was around 18 I stopped visiting forums because I could connect with my friends through MySpace which was a godsend for someone as socially awkward as me. And I got better; I didn't need the depression support anymore.

However when things went south when I was 25 I was searching for information on bipolar and this forum came up. I remembered my time on forums as a teen and I figured it might help to have somewhere to talk about what was suddenly going on again. And I was right. I've been coming consistently for about three years and you have all always been there for me when things have been rough.njust having somewhere to come where people understand and don't judge is very helpful.

[TishaBuv]

Searching info about depression, found this site.

[DesigningWoman]

My counselor kept advising me to try online forums. I thought it was ridiculous. I went to one meeting of a mental illness support group in my town. After revealing I had PTSD from sexual trauma, a guy in the group asked if I had a boyfriend. In the meeting! I thought he was joking. Gross joke, but whatever. then he kept asking me to go have drinks with him at a bar after the meeting. He even pressured me after. I declined. I was sorta flattered as he was very handsome but kinda scared. Only later did I realize how heinous that behavior was.
Anyway, that was the only meeting specifically for mental illness in town I could attend. Yeah, not going back to that one.
So I decided in a moment of weakness (feeling lonely) to google "online bipolar support groups". Here I am. I have only been doing PC over a month. It has been good for you. I feel less isolated. Also like I can in a little way help people like me.

[bbTofu]

Was looking for an active forum to share own and read other's experiences with mental illness and inner-struggles.

I have difficult time sharing my friends and people that are close to me when I feel bad, I feel like a burden and can't believe that anyone will be capable to "hold" that burden or hold me.
Here it's easier to express.

I also study the human-mind in a way, social work involves lots of psychology. Maybe my perspective will help someone sometime, I don't know..

Great question gina_re

[BipolaRNurse]

I'd occasionally lurked here, but I joined the day after receiving my BP diagnosis in 2012 and have been fairly active since. And I'm so happy I did, because all of you "get it" and I never feel alone...at least not in cyberspace.

[Serzen]

Searching about ocd. Such a cool place!

[Hashi/bipolar mom]

I googled BP and support after my DX last June. When I was pregnant with my son I had severe pre-partem anxiety and depression. I had an online support board that literally got me through the pregnancy! I also like that you can be anonymous if you would like. I think it gives the freedom to share more which in turn can help you more. I really like coming here. It helps the more you are here because people look for you and come to somewhat care for you. At least I think they do! LOL

[notthisagain]

I was dx'd bipolar in 2014 and was hoping to find support. It's been very helpful.

[NoIdeaWhatToDo]

I found PC after googling bipolar after my dx a couple years ago. I, also, have been amazed at how helpful it is to have somewhere to post about my symptoms where they are understood and I am supported without feeling like it's a burden to others or that it will be misunderstood and will cause stress/panic (especially when I'm feeling low).

Also, I often find when I'm perseverating on something that if I write it out here, it decreases how obsessive I am in thinking about it. Not always, but enough that I try it when other coping mechanisms aren't helping.

[wiretwister]

I sometimes think I have always been here ... no idea how I got here ... but by my start date about 8 months after my ip ...

[gayleggg]

I found it in a web search. It has given me a place to come where people will understand what I'm going through. And a place to make friends.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I was on another bipolar forum but it wasn't very active so I searched for other forums to get the same help and support and found this one. There's even people responding to threads in the schizoaffective subforum!

[hopeless2015]

Searching for info on bipolar after first IP and diagnosis. So glad I found this place

Sent from my XT1058 using Tapatalk

[beautifully.broken]

I came across this forum when I was feeling completely alone in my mental illness. I needed to be able to discuss ha.ving bipolar disorder and also abusing alcohol. Today I am 133 days sober but at times my bipolar/anxiety/depression keeps me trapped in my house. Ughhh, It can really suck. Tonight I was going to go to an AA meeting but I could not imagine putting on my clothes and leaving my house. It was overwhelmingly difficult and at times I feel like I may be the only person that has a sponsor in AA but at times if I'm too depressed I even stop communicating with her. I really like AA and the meetings but at times I feel alone there, just knowing I will miss meetings and not follow through with things because a lot of times I just can't. Soooo, I'm glad to be here with all of you.

[boogiesmash]

I originally was diagnosed with major depression then later on to bipolar. My pdoc recommended support groups to share and learn from others.