[ouch]

I was just diagnosed with bipolar II. I'm scared. What does it mean about me? Feel so lost. Feel I can't handle anything...

[Shyguy88]

The website has good information about bipolar disorder for bipolar 1 and 2. I have bipolar 1 disorder with rapid cycling and mixed states and yes its hard to go through the mood swings so I try to take the right medications to help me, but I still go through my mood swings but not as bad without the meds...don't be afraid of being diagnosed with having bipolar disorder, just because we are stuck on the emotional rollercoaster its just a disorder and with the right meds you can be in control of the disorder. Just hang in there and everything will be ok

Please don't be afraid. I know easy to say hard to do. One thing you may or may not experience is being a medication guinea pig until they find the right meds and dosage. To help get through the bad times have a long list of coping skills. The mor you have the better because sometimes one thing that helps may not work another time. Also coping will not make everything better. I see it as if this coping gets me through the bad time without going into a full blown crisis then it worked. Hope this helps.

[dkbear]

One thing for me when I was first diagnosed was I thought, does this mean I am crazy? There is such a stigma of mental illness and while depression and anxiety seem to have made it over that stigma, things like bipolar and other mental illnesses have not. After I educated myself and educated my close family members to exactly what was going on, I realized I was not "crazy," I had a brain disorder that needed medication. It may take you a while, like twirls01 said, before you get the right medicine, so be prepared for the possibility of trying several before you get the right combination.

A good therapist is very, very helpful as well and you may also not find the one you fit with right off the bat. My first one did not seem to know anything about bipolar. My second one is wonderful and I look forward to seeing her every week.

It is very stressful though, especially at first, but it will get better as time goes on. It is also helpful to have a friend or family member to call on when you are having a bad day.

Hope that helps a little.

[ihope4life]

It does take a long time to accept it, and every time my meds need to be adjusted it's difficult again. We'll support you through it. Sometimes my offline support group was what kept me going.

[ouch]

I just feel so lost! Started taking Lamictal (in addition to Celexa) and am having trouble remembering appointments - even things that I have every week. Scared that meds are messing up my brain. I feel they are, but am scared to stop, but tempted...

[petraoz]

Hi Ouch,

I am new to this forum and was very recently diagnosed with Bi-polar 2. I have also started taking Lamictal and from what I have read from others on this website, it sounds really good.
Everyone reacts differently though.

I feel the same way as you about the diagnosis, but joining a forum like will hopefully give you some strength and hope.
I do believe strongly that you can become stable again (though I don't know myself at the moment what that is!).

NEVER loose hope, we'll probably have though times, but they will pass and keep looking for supports, information and medications which work for you.