I think it'd be fun to get to know each other a little better

1. Why did you join the BP forum?
2. What's the silliest/dumbest BP-related thing that someone has said to you?
3. What is the best piece of BP advice someone has given you? (Could be a forum member, psychiatrist, etc. who gave it to you.)
4. Random fact about yourself

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1. I joined the BP forum because I have no support system IRL. I needed some fwiends.

2. My old therapist said that you can't be bipolar without going on a shopping spree and telling everyone about it.

3. Labels and medications are important, but don't focus too much on them; focus on getting better.

4. Part of my rib cage is missing cartilage (born that way), and the cartilage is what holds the ribs together to form a rib cage. So, 1 rib on each side isn't actually connected to the rib cage. It makes stretching and deep breathing kind of painful because the 2 ribs don't move with the rest of the rib cage. The 2 ribs basically poke out because they're not curved either. lol. That's why it can hurt sometimes. Pretty weird, isn't it?

[manicminer]

1. For information, but found a lot of support.
2. "stop using that as a crutch"
3. "Mindfulness"
4. I've only ever broken one bone: my left occular bone. I hit a mini-van while riding my bicycle and among other things, broke the windshield with my face.

[bizi]

I needed more support.
don't use your bipolar as an excuse for bad behavior.
(what? you just think that I am naturally mean?)
track your moods and sleep, eye opener!
I give pedicures to the elderly in their homes for a living!
bizi

1. What brought me to bipolar forums is that i like to write and compute and and like to give and get support. What brought me to PC is that i hung out on the About.com bipolar forum for years until it became poisonous. I became frightened by a post there one day and never went back. I like it here but some things about the About.com app were better, like how you could address your message to a specific member and they would get an email notice and reply and it was more like a conversation, more back and forth. Here when you write a message often times you don't get any feedback and it's disheartening.

2. The silliest and dumbest things people have said to me about bipolar are: A.) One woman in my Scrabble club said her relative was 'wacky and probably bipolar' and B.) One woman in a church group said she didn't like mentally ill people. Both times i kept quiet. I'm not really 'out' tho i guess i changed my avatar to my face so maybe that is changing!

3. No one has really given me a good piece of advice about bipolar. Well, maybe my GP once said to seek to 'modulate my hypomania, not squash it entirely.'

4. A random fact about myself is that i was into competitive Scrabble for years and i memorized all these high-scoring seven-letter words in 65 groups called 'bingo stems' of about 30 words each and they all have silly mnemonics called 'anamonics.' Some of them were: "Did it twice in bed with picky former lover," "Lonely bride humps TV" and my favorite "A.M. handsome, P.M. dogface"! I won Bingo Champ that season over all the elite players and got a certificate!

[Anxiousvalkyrie]

Originally Posted by bluebicycle

I think it'd be fun to get to know each other a little better
[LIST=1][*]Why did you join the BP forum?[*]What's the silliest/dumbest BP-related thing that someone has said to you?[*]What is the best piece of BP advice someone has given you? (Could be a forum member, psychiatrist, etc. who gave it to you.)[*]Random fact about yourself[/LIST)

1. For information but I found a lot of great support.

2. Someone once told me that 'everyone is a little bipolar so don't act like you're special'.

3. That I shouldn't let it define me. Easier said than done but good advice nonetheless.

4. I really, really love music. I've seen probably over 100 bands / artists play over the years and met a lot of really cool people over the years.

[Standup2me]

[QUOTE=bluebicycle;5249492]I think it'd be fun to get to know each other a little better

1. Why did you join the BP forum? I needed to talk to people who understand what it is like
2. What's the silliest/dumbest BP-related thing that someone has said to you? [COLOR="rgb(153, 50, 204)"]When I told my best friend she said that it would be impossible for her to be friends with a nutcase [/COLOR]
3. What is the best piece of BP advice someone has given you? (Could be a forum member, psychiatrist, etc. who gave it to you.) [COLOR="rgb(153, 50, 204)"]When you are manic, and need to spend, spend, spend, the dollar store is your best friend[/COLOR]
4. Random fact about yourself [COLOR="rgb(153, 50, 204)"][/COLOR]

I have done voices for ad campaigns. Chances are pretty good that you've heard me

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1. To get and give support for myself and those with bipolar disorder.

2. You're not having anymore children, are you?!?!

3. Stress is the killer for bipolar disorder. Managing stress is critical.

4. I used to be a model.

1. Why did you join the BP forum?

because friends and family deserted me, and i need the support
2. What's the silliest/dumbest BP-related thing that someone has said to you?

someone asked me once "so how can i become bp as well?. is it like a club?"
3. What is the best piece of BP advice someone has given you? (Could be a forum member, psychiatrist, etc. who gave it to you.)

never hold anything back. just say things how they are. you will always get best results
4. Random fact about yourself

i'm not afraid of spiders and actually quite like them

[jpb4815]

1. I joined to get more information and support of this roller coaster that is BP life.
2. Cant you just get over it, everybody is moody sometimes(a GP asked me that)
3. BP is not an excuse to do the things that you would not normally do.
4. I was once a world ranked golfer trying to make the PGA tour, injuries killed that dream, but I still play some mean golf.

[xRavenx]

First of all, I enjoy reading everyone's answers. I see people here have done some very interesting and cool things!

1. I joined in June when I was in need of support and wanted to connect with others who have Bipolar, since not too many people in my life understand.
2. One of the stupidest things: "Pretty much everyone has Bipolar Disorder nowadays."
3. Get plenty of sleep and do not neglect yourself and your needs.
4. I've been a dancer since age 3 (tap, jazz, lyrical, ballet, modern, etc), but took a break. However, one of my goals is to possibly open a studio someday since this has been a dream of mine since being a young girl.

[raspberrytorte]

I joined the bp forum because I'd just had my first episode induced psychotic break and was totally freaked out from it and wanted to talk with others who had bp and could possibly relate.

I honestly can't think of the silliest/dumbest thing anyone has said to me about bp... It's probably my old coworker who told me that everyone has mood swings.

The best piece of bipolar advice anyone has ever given me, in all honesty, is the pdoc I had before this one who adamantly suggested I take invega because if I didn't bipolar was going to ruin my life... If only I had followed her advice because two weeks later bipolar did ruin my life!

Random fact about myself: I live in my pajamas and smoke like a chimney. I'm hot. lol

Originally Posted by shattered sanity

someone asked me once "so how can i become bp as well?. is it like a club?"

Haha. That's awesome!

"The BP club is exclusive. Sorry. But do let us know when you unlock the secret to becoming BP. Then we'll send you an invite."

[Anxiousvalkyrie]

I think it's super fun to read everyones answers too!

[Unrigged64072835]

Originally Posted by bluebicycle

I think it'd be fun to get to know each other a little better

1. Why did you join the BP forum?
2. What's the silliest/dumbest BP-related thing that someone has said to you?
3. What is the best piece of BP advice someone has given you? (Could be a forum member, psychiatrist, etc. who gave it to you.)
4. Random fact about yourself

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Joined the BP forum once I found out I had BP instead of unipolar depression. People here make more sense to me, strangely enough.

The dumbest thing was when someone said to me, "You don't have depression; you just need to get your act together."

I'm sure there has been lots of good advice. I just don't remember a particular one right now.

I served 22 years in the US Air Force. How I managed to do that and not get tagged as bipolar was amazing. I've been diagnosed with unipolar depression for a long time, though, including during my military service. Surprisingly enough, it wasn't bipolar that helped me retire; it was I couldn't keep up with the physical requirements.

[Coconutzo]

1. My therapist suggested a support group and I was too embarrassed/afraid/shy to go to one in person

2. Mental illness is a "privileged white girl" problem

3. " Stay on the meds and off the Bolivian flake. Find the right shrink, go routinely, and tell him the icky parts first. Fight the urge to slap the next health care professional baring life skills or coping tips for a better tomorrow. Get up. Get the blood flowing. Go somewhere. Anywhere. Except to the shooting range or Ohio. Call someone, anyone. Some fifty five million Americans have a mood disorder, and everyone of them feels a little less alone when they meet a fellow traveler."

4. I'm head to toe covered in tattoos

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Miss Laura]

1. I joined to get help for myself but also to get help re my work as I worked with men who had Autism

2. Silliest thing said to me "You don't look Bipolar"

3. My Support Worker told me I have gotten through worse times so if I ever feel bad with manic or depressed remember I'm going to pull through this I'm stronger than I look and feel
*
4. Random fact.... have started a 10 week CBT course never been involved with Psychology before and it's hard as anything. Just finished week 4

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[VerMOZZica]

I joined the BP forums also for support and information.

The dumbest someone ever said to me about my illness is you`re not trying hard enough to get better.

The best advice hmmmmm I can`t think of anything at the moment.

My favorite musical artist is Morrissey but hey you might have guessed that already. :P