[cwam]

Hello all.
I was wondering at what did you realize that you might be bipolar? What was the defining moment that you decided you need to look into it more or seek help from professionals? What was it doing to you that you know you needed to do something about it? Alternatively, was it a professional who first tipped you off to the issue?

I am anxious to hear about all of your experiences.

[dreamrunner]

I knew something was terribly wrong when my drinking became out of control and was into a lot of self harm.My depressions were frequent,like falling into a dark pit.

[Direction]

Ulitmately it truely was when it started entering my work...I had always been fairly successful there...even though my world was crubbling...

Had been seeing a pdoc for about 2 years...my marriage was failing with a gap widening over a 3 year period...

the pdoc ignored my requests to explore more about BP and BPD...it pissed me off when he indicated he was making some changes in his philosophy of prescribing me a benzo...I was to meet with him in two weeks...went to refill and he cut my prescription down 3/4 and so I didn't see him...still waiting to get into a new pdoc...he had now cut my prescription down to 1/2...I kept taking my regular dosage...

I saw the kids T while waiting for the new pdoc in the same clinic...

I had gotten dx with BP and BPD fairly quickly and started taking Lamcital...and finding ways to deal with both...

Ulitmately it was me pushing...my dad was bipolar...i had looked over the last 25 years (now I'm about to turn 37) ... they symptoms were stairing in my face...I wrote down the various stages of my life...high school...college...marriage...divorce...and other topics...it brought the new people up to speed...

I've gone in a bunch of directions hope this helps a little

[Shyguy88]

When I found out and diagnosed with Bipolar disorder was when I was in the psychiatric hospital. I found out about the disorder and was like "wow this describes me perfectly". When I was in High School my grades fluxuated up and down quite a bit like my moods going up and down. And also when I was young I was diagnosed with ADHD and Depression with speech and language learning disability, so I think I had it my whole life but I just found out earlier this year.

[PlanningtoLive]

I went to the doctor because I couldn't stand the mood swings, the depression, that "crawling out of your skin" sensation all the time. My temper was out of control and so was my spending. My gp was an awesome doctor and diagnosed me and put me on some meds right away.

[Pughead]

I guess since my pre-teens I knew that I was a little "off". Things just progressively got worse with age. I didn't seek help until a few years ago when my kids were born. It was a stressful time and I knew I needed help. I didn't get the official DX then, but wasn't surprised when I did a year or so later. When I started looking up BP and saw hypomania, I knew that was me. So the DX of BP II was no shock at all. Unfortunately, I seem to spend a lot more time in depression, which brings out BPD like behavior in me and it's very scary.

But, I really didn't realize it was a possibility until after I sought professional help for the first time, and even though was DX'd with major depression, I started researching online and then pretty much figured it out.

[drummergrl]

Hi cwam!!!
I guess I would have to say that when my depression would not entirely go away. I never had any relief from any one kind of medication from my early adulthood. It wasn't until a year ago that I finally told my fdoc that this wasn't right
and I couldn't keep adding anti depressants to the list. He sent me to a pdoc to be diagnosed. After about an hour with him he told me I was suffering from bipolar 1 disorder.
That I probably always had this since my mid to late teens,
and carried this stigma around the last 30+ years. I was misdiagnosed about 30 years ago.
I have been on the right meds. now for the past year, and I feel better than I've felt my whole life!!!! boy, what a waste
spending all those years so miserable.
There is a family history of disorders in my family, but being from a proud southern matriarch....in those days you just didn't air your dirty laundry!!!

You just took it on the cuff and made do with it.
I am better today because I shunned that old family laundry
stuff. I wanted to feel better...........now I do!!!

I did not realize as much as my college room mate that was a psyc. major. She kept trying to convince me that I was manic not overly motivated. I did not listen until I became depressed and overdosed on pain killers. The docs at the psyc hospital diagnosed me.

[jattitude74]

All started 13 years ago, diagnosed with severe depression and the prescribed prozac, i never took it and ealt with mood swings, highs and lows, depression severe anxiety. Time went on and things got progressively worse. I was very explosive and just not myself. My husband said I was exhausting. He couldn't take it any more and told me that if I didn't get help he was leaving,,so off to the gp i went wnd the said i had severe depression and GAD. took meds nothing changed,, went to pdoc, was diagnosed with bp,GAD and ocd. Been dealing with the news of having a messed up mind--no offence to anyone-- for about a year now and i still do not want to accept it. But hey, what are ya goona do? All I can do is try! Jen

[jattitude74]

What about you??

[xp1155]

A couple of months ago. Since 1999, I have been diagnosed as major depressive, dysthymic, PTSD, and anxiety. One psych threw in panic disorder with mild agoraphobia. I am not convinced I am bipolar. He is the ONLY person to suggest it. The doc said I was depressed and my "normal" days are my "mania." However, I don't fit the criteria for hypo-mania and I don't buy that normalcy can be considered mania. That doesn't make sense to me. If I have bipolar disorder, it's not your typical bipolar disorder.