Are you alright?

I know I post way more when depressed. I get it. Having bipolar disorder is hell. But is anyone doing ok out there? Is something going right for anybody??

I'm doing GREAT.....probably manic, but who cares? In June, I was in a very dark place. But I've turned it around in July - gym, running, food, sleep, meditation, medication, treatment, driving around with the sunroof down in 95 degree weather, ice cream 5x a week, firm schedule, all positive mojo. I can't remember the last time I had a "who gives a bleep" attitude. After all the battles I've been through, it's fun.

IMHO - BP shouldn't be "hell". Not in my book. I've turned it into a positive, not a crutch. It gives me purpose, humility, and a sense of self. I am who I am. Nothing more, nothing less. Would I be in shape at age 50 if I wasn't BP? Probably not. Would I have quit drinking if I wasn't diagnosed with BP? Probably not. Would I focus on becoming a better person if I wasn't diagnosed with BP? Probably not. Would I drive down my street cranking Van Halen like a daffy teenager? Probably not.

Trust me when I tell you - I was a flaming asshole for 30 years. I don't want to go back there. Not for one minute. I was diagnosed with BP over a year ago. My immediate thought? "I've arrived."

Sure, I'll be back down in the "low" at some point in time, but I'm ready for battle.

I've been stable for about five months. I've had a couple of bad days here and there but mostly grief related. I got a new job which I'm excited about and have a great summer job. I come home from work now and feel happy, like I accomplished something, not like I want to shoot myself in the face. I don't have a sense of dread and anxiety when I get up for work. I hope my new full time job will be just as good.

My son is doing well. He's an intelligent, sweet little boy. He is still very energetic but I don't think it will be as much of a problem as I initially thought when he starts kindergarten. He listens well most of the time. Bedtime is our biggest obstacle but I think if I can come up with a plan and implement it consistently it will be better. So things are going well in that regard too.

I'm starting to get my eating on track and have stopped gaining weight (not losing any but hey, whatever).

I have my brother's wedding coming up in about a month. I am very excited and so proud of my brother. I love my soon to be sister in law. She's one of my best friends.

So everything is going pretty well for me right now. I have plenty of room to go up on my antidepressant if that becomes an issue again. So I'm looking forward to the future.

could not be better ... obsessed as hell ... but other wise great ...

I've been stable for this whole year of 2016 to date after completely losing it in December and being diagnosed. Life doesn't always seem like it's going right but it's nice to be stable. I'm still not working but everything else is going well.

And I like this question

I love this post. Thank you for sharing. I agree that I do not use it as a crutch. Instead it drives me to work harder and stay on top of my relapse prevention. You can't control many illnesses, so you do the best you can.

I'm so happy you're doing better! I know it's been a struggle for you. And you have a new job! Things are looking up and I truly hope it continues in this direction for you!

I love you Tigger!!

Stability is a wonderful feeling, isn't it? It's great to not only see, but to come into the light at the end of the tunnel. I love your positive outlook! I hope you continue on your journey of stability.

Nice of you to ask how everyone is

I'm doing okay right now. I had a really rough few months but now I'm on meds that seem to be working, my separation really is for the best, and I'm starting to look toward my future. I just hope it lasts!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thank you for asking.

I'm doing okay. I still have a bit of anxiety from one of the new meds, but at least I don't have the soul-draining depression I had a few weeks ago. Stability still seems to be far off but I'm feeling better and I hope I reach it here soon.

I'm the best I've been in so long. Trying to sort some things I've learned the last few years out but finally as stable as it gets for me and staying there which is possibly a first in my 14 years of treatment.

no.

wish i was though.. been a long time since i've felt all right

I'm glad you are well! I remember you going through a difficult time and it's great that you are able to work through such a draining process. I wish you that you continue to move in a positive direction with everything!! Your future looks bright to me!

Med adjustments are a process to go through. Sometimes the initial side effect goes away, and anxiety is no fun at all. So I hope that goes away as well. But I'm hopeful for you since you are no longer in the deep dark abyss of depression. And I know how horrible that feels. I'm glad you're headed towards stability, I wish that it gets here sooner rather than later for you.

You definitely are so much better than you were last year. It really has been a long and difficult road to stability for you. Your determination to get there is inspiring and I hope it is long lasting.

I'm sorry you are not well. We all have those experiences that nothing seems to go our way. I'm hopeful for you that you feel better sooner rather than later. Continue to seek support from all of us here. I wish you well. Please take care of yourself.

No, I took far too much Tylenol yesterday and it has very bad effect on me not to mention how bad it is for the liver. I took some for my hip pain and then some more and some more, so I am very sick today and can barely keep my eyes open. I do have some NAC to counteract the effects on my liver (hopefully).

I really don't know why I do these things, I don't think I want to die.

I can only imagine how difficult it is to deal with the pain after your injury. And sometimes you do whatever it takes to deal with it, despite the consequences. After my dental surgery, I went through a bottle of vicodin and half a bottle of ibuprofen within two weeks. Sure these are two different scenarios, but sometimes you're just in the moment and don't care. I pray that you feel better. Please take care.

RIpose-Have you tried Naprosyn? (prescription aleve). You can't take it with lithium but it is really effective. I had ankle reconstruction surgery 2 years ago and my surgeon didn't allow any anti-inflammatory for 6 weeks so any pain was Norco, Percocet, or tylenol. At 6 weeks he prescribed the naprosyn and it was amazing, probably better than the Norco.

Yes(!) There are little patches here and there, but overall stable a few months now(?)(!) (I'm TERRIBLE with time perception, and can be wildly off, but I think it has been.) June started off rough, but it was situational grief. July good.

I tend to be a bit afraid to "say it out loud". Fear of jinxing. All I know is that it is better than it has been in a long time. Last night I found myself shopping online and buying something at 3am and not being tired. I don't like shopping (in fact it's one of my alerts to going hypo) and am in NO position to, monetarily. But I think it's alright (keeping an eye of course, because it's not an entirely isolated incident/hypo alert signal...).

Many things are going not-at-all great, but I'm mostly just handling it(!) Or refusing to think about it, lol. Those things have a HIGH potential to wreak major havoc. But that is then and this is now.

It won't last. Never does. Going to enjoy it while it does though.

I hope you feel better soon gina_re! Being down can feel interminable. But it won't be. Told Mr. Jinx to just be cool so I could share this with you.

Sending good vibes your way!

Yikes. I just remembered I'd packed a bag to go in before the situational thing hit. Ok, so maybe more than a "little patch". Maybe a big wobble in fact. But it was moderately short-lived in the scheme of things, and I'll still stand by the overall assessment.

We all have our ups and downs, it's the nature of the illness.
I've definitely have had that feeling of not saying that I'm ok out loud for fear of jinxing myself. But I'm hoping you have everything under control and continue to enjoy your stability!
Oh and I'm doing just fine, life is good over here. My concern is for others who may not be blessed to enjoy the stability that I currently have.