[Thriving101]

Does anyone else with bipolar disorder feel alone ? I feel misunderstood

[bizi]

Welcome to psych central.
I am sorry you are feeling alone.

Start participating here. there are a lot of folks who struggle. We are here to support each other.
And this is why I am reaching out to you. Tell us about yourself if you want to share.
bizi

[Anderma]

I'm new..not sure how it all works, but I am alone and tonight I am so lonely

[*Beth*]

Misunderstood is the first word I would use to describe myself.

Yes, I feel alone and yes: misunderstood.

Like bizi posted, hanging out here will help you feel much less alone.

[~Christina]

Welcome to PC

I’m sorry your struggling right now. Jump right in ! You will realize your not alone we all “ get it”

[Thriving101]

Thanks I just feel like nobody understands my disorder & sometimes I don’t even understand it. Nothing cures it it just is very frustrating even on medicine I struggle a lot with my emotions and moods.

alone and misunderstood pretty much sum it up for me as well.

[Sunflower123]

I often feel alone and I live with two other people. I also feel misunderstood at times.

This is a great forum with many caring and supportive people. Welcome.

Welcome Thriving101! This is a great medium for support -- we don't even have to leave our homes and sometimes leaving home is a real challenge. Jump right in and you will get to know people and feel engaged and unalone!

[Thriving101]

Thanks everyone for being so kind and open

[Fuzzybear]

Welcome to Psych Central..
I often feel alone and misunderstood also.

[KristenRenee]

I can totally relate. I have been on every Bipolar medication there is and i still have symptoms. And a lot of medications for Bipolar have side effects that's almost as bad as the disorder itself. I have come to realize that I have to accept my Bipolar and live with some of the symptoms. I have a Mood Track Notebook that I write in each day. It helps me keep focused and allows me to see by my notes if I'm going into mania or depression. Because of this Mood Tracker I have been able to better deal with my mania and my depressions. It shows me that no matter what mood we are in, it will change soon. I hope I've been of some help.

[Wander]

Welcome!!!

Much of the time I feel alone, especially when I’m unwell with Bipolar and/or PTSD. I’ve lost many relationships to this illness. It can be heartbreaking. As others have said, posting here may help you feel less alone. We can’t give real hugs, but we can give virtual hugs.

To be honest I doubt anyone without a serious mental illness will ever understand truly what we go through. The exception for me is a skilled and compassionate Therapist. Still, he has never experienced it.

Do you have a therapist and/psychiatrist? Once you find good ones it helps immensely. Keep posting here. We care.

yes/ no.

on days like today, I am alone, but I'm okay with it. I don't want to be with anyone all the time and have my life revolve around them (it is also why I'm not in a relationship, I don't want that level of interaction)

when it really hits home though is christmas, birthdays, that kind of thing

no family, no friends, so I'm basically celebrating this stuff on my own.

and that's when it sucks

I mean you think of christmas as a time to get together with friends and family, people you've not seen for a long time, I won't be doing any of that

I'll be sat at home, probably overeating, looking at an overly decorated tree

[Thriving101]

Originally Posted by KristenRenee

I can totally relate. I have been on every Bipolar medication there is and i still have symptoms. And a lot of medications for Bipolar have side effects that's almost as bad as the disorder itself. I have come to realize that I have to accept my Bipolar and live with some of the symptoms. I have a Mood Track Notebook that I write in each day. It helps me keep focused and allows me to see by my notes if I'm going into mania or depression. Because of this Mood Tracker I have been able to better deal with my mania and my depressions. It shows me that no matter what mood we are in, it will change soon. I hope I've been of some help.

I understand I need to start charting down my moods too that may help me thanks for sharing it helps knowing I’m not the only one dealing with this disorder and I get it the mood swings can come out of nowhere even with medicine it’s frustrating.
Hang in there!

[Thriving101]

Originally Posted by Wander

Welcome!!!

Much of the time I feel alone, especially when I’m unwell with Bipolar and/or PTSD. I’ve lost many relationships to this illness. It can be heartbreaking. As others have said, posting here may help you feel less alone. We can’t give real hugs, but we can give virtual hugs.

To be honest I doubt anyone without a serious mental illness will ever understand truly what we go through. The exception for me is a skilled and compassionate Therapist. Still, he has never experienced it.


Do you have a therapist and/psychiatrist? Once you find good ones it helps immensely. Keep posting here. We care.

I have a psychiatrist I can rarely see now because I can’t afford insurance and I don’t have a job right now if I had a job i dont know if I could keep it. My psychiatrist still prescribes me the medication I just don’t go in as much. I have to have medicine though.
Maybe I should try and find a free therapists or something I’m not sure if there are free therapists or not. And I agree people who don’t have this disorder don’t understand us like people who have it. Thanks for sharing. It is hard to keep relationships for me as well.

[Thriving101]

Originally Posted by raging vortex

yes/ no.

on days like today, I am alone, but I'm okay with it. I don't want to be with anyone all the time and have my life revolve around them (it is also why I'm not in a relationship, I don't want that level of interaction)

when it really hits home though is christmas, birthdays, that kind of thing

no family, no friends, so I'm basically celebrating this stuff on my own.

and that's when it sucks

I mean you think of christmas as a time to get together with friends and family, people you've not seen for a long time, I won't be doing any of that

I'll be sat at home, probably overeating, looking at an overly decorated tree

I’m sorry 😔if you ever need to vent you can always talk to me.

Originally Posted by Thriving101

I’m sorry 😔if you ever need to vent you can always talk to me.

thanks.

I apreciate that

[Wander]

Originally Posted by Thriving101

I have a psychiatrist I can rarely see now because I can’t afford insurance and I don’t have a job right now if I had a job i dont know if I could keep it. My psychiatrist still prescribes me the medication I just don’t go in as much. I have to have medicine though.
Maybe I should try and find a free therapists or something I’m not sure if there are free therapists or not. And I agree people who don’t have this disorder don’t understand us like people who have it. Thanks for sharing. It is hard to keep relationships for me as well.

Psychiatrists can be very expensive, even here in Australia. Thankfully for me my pdoc 'bulk-bills' me. This means he doesn't charge the usual $150 extra on top of what the government pays. So I am not out of pocket. I wish you could find a great pdoc who charges much less. Does the medication you are on now help?

[xRavenx]

Welcome here. I'm sorry that you are dealing with these feelings.

I have felt misunderstood my whole life, and it seems to only be getting worse as I get older. I am introverted and don't mind being alone. But I do get lonely, and it is hitting me lately. A lot of people I know are married with kids. I never wanted kids. But sometimes I think about how it would be nice to have a significant other. It has to be the right person. I've had traumatic break ups/relationship experiences that do hinder my ability to trust others fully. Also, I find it hard to meet new people.

I wish I had solutions to offer. It is not easy. I do try to focus on the little things to keep busy, such as decorating around the holidays, doing yoga (not in a classroom setting, but by using youtube videos), reading, going outside (although too cold where I live now), etc. It helps distract me from feelings of loneliness. I try to think about how having this illness does not define who I am, although it often feels like it does.

[Thriving101]

Originally Posted by Wander

Psychiatrists can be very expensive, even here in Australia. Thankfully for me my pdoc 'bulk-bills' me. This means he doesn't charge the usual $150 extra on top of what the government pays. So I am not out of pocket. I wish you could find a great pdoc who charges much less. Does the medication you are on now help?

Gotcha and I know I don’t think there is anyone here in Texas that isn’t expensive. It helps me to an extent but it doesn’t cure me. My moods get worse in the fall and winter time. So lately my medicine isn’t working that well but it’s better than being completely off.

[Quebec01]

I share the same feeling. Hope you found something to distract yourself.

[Row Jimmy]

I only have one or two friends but I don't feel alone. I've learned to operate well on my own. Perhaps it is a personality trait or something I learned when I was young. In short, I don't need people to justify my existence. I just get on with my day and do things that make me happy.