[sofia13]

Hi Everyone,

I am new to this community and am so happy to have found you all! I am 32 years old, originally from the USA, but have been living abroad for the last five years in Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, and now Italy. I love blue whales, living next to the ocean, tie-dye, running, tattoos, and Gustav Klimt's paintings!

As I have grown older, my Bipolar has become more difficult to keep in check. I have tried so many different avenues to deal with my Bipolar, Anxiety, and Depersonalization, but I finally realized I should seek support from people who can empathize. So here I am.

Change is really difficult for me to deal with and sends me in a spiral, yet the life I lead calls for constant change and challenges. It's something I can't give up, because I was SO unhappy living in America.

I recently broke up with my boyfriend because maintaining a healthy relationship while navigating the stormy weather in my brain became impossible.

I just feel alone and already writing this, to you all, makes me feel better.

Xoxo,
Sofia

[Daonnachd]

@sofia13 Hello! Welcome! We're happy to have you here.

We have lots to offer. Compassion and understanding come first to mind but perhaps most importantly we are good at "listening" so you can jump in and share wherever you like. I hope that we can help calm that stormy weather.

[fern46]

Welcome. I'm glad you found us. I look forward to you sharing or just listening. Jump right in on any of the threads. It's a good group with lots of support.

Welcome, sofia13! It's a nice place here, I think you'll like it.

[Soupe du jour]

Welcome to PC's bipolar forum, @Sophia13 We're glad you joined us.

You seem like an adventurous person. I have been to Thailand and Italy, as well. I thought of a longer term stay in Thailand, but rather stayed a while in Taiwan. This was years ago.

I am a US citizen, too, but plan to move with my Czech husband to Czech Republic for about a year, then to France. Maybe you can give me some pointers on adjusting to life in the EU. We can support each other.

I am a Gustav Klimt fan, as well. The Kiss is a wonderful painting. I will likely live within a two hour drive of Vienna next year. Maybe I can see it, in person, then. Vienna is on my list of places I next want to visit. I've never been there, despite driving through some parts of Austria. Have you ever seen the movie Woman In Gold? I really liked it. I have read that that painting now hangs in the Neue Gallery in NYC. I go to NYC from time to time, but don't recall ever visiting that gallery.

[Breaking Dawn]

Hi, Sofia! I'm so glad you decided to join us. I feel we will definitely benefit from you being here & I know many people here will help you, as they have helped me & others here. We have lots of forums here to explore & find friends in, even fun games to play. Anyway, good luck with everything in your new life now! I wish you all the best! Hugs & love to you!!

[*Beth*]

Welcome, Sofia! I love your name. Had my son been a girl we were going to name him Sofia. As it is, he's a Noah

I'm so glad you're here. I also struggle with derealization, in addition to bipolar disorder. Do you know that extreme anxiety is often part of the BD package...I've had some pdocs call severe anxiety part of a "dysphoric mania." (I also have a lot of tattoos, haha.)

This board is active with a great group of caring people. You can always do a check-in (and read others') on the Check In #50 thread.

Which part of Italy are you in? My son went to university in Northern Italy, then in Paris. I've not visited Italy, but have, France.

[Fuzzybear]

Welcome Sofia! There is a lot of support here

[Moose72]

Good to see you, Sophia. Jump right in! The check in #50 goes quickly, but you'll get to know a lot of people there quite easily. (It's usually on the first page, near the top so easy to find!)

[~Christina]

Welcome to PC Sofia Just jump right in

[bpcyclist]

Originally Posted by sofia13

Hi Everyone,

I am new to this community and am so happy to have found you all! I am 32 years old, originally from the USA, but have been living abroad for the last five years in Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, and now Italy. I love blue whales, living next to the ocean, tie-dye, running, tattoos, and Gustav Klimt's paintings!

As I have grown older, my Bipolar has become more difficult to keep in check. I have tried so many different avenues to deal with my Bipolar, Anxiety, and Depersonalization, but I finally realized I should seek support from people who can empathize. So here I am.

Change is really difficult for me to deal with and sends me in a spiral, yet the life I lead calls for constant change and challenges. It's something I can't give up, because I was SO unhappy living in America.

I recently broke up with my boyfriend because maintaining a healthy relationship while navigating the stormy weather in my brain became impossible.

I just feel alone and already writing this, to you all, makes me feel better.

Xoxo,
Sofia

Welcome, Sofia. I relate to a lot of what you write. I was diagnosed at 41. 56 now and the illness has just become more and more difficult to treat. Maybe heading for Clozaril. I connect w you on that stuff.

I am single. Would love a partner, but who wants to be with someone whose brain is broken? There are a lot of bigoted people out there. They do nlt understand or care about my sick brain.

Check out the checkin thread. We need some new blood. We support each other there.

Ciao!!

[BeyondtheRainbow]

Welcome to PC Sofia!

[*Beth*]

Originally Posted by bpcyclist

...I am single. Would love a partner, but who wants to be with someone whose brain is broken? There are a lot of bigoted people out there. They do nlt understand or care about my sick brain.
....

My husband has a mental illness and we've been together for nearly 40 years. I think that if there are 2 people with mental illness and both are working at recovery - and both are committed to working on the relationship - a relationship is very possible. That's not to say a relationship with a neuronormal isn't possible, either. Don't give up, cyclist!

[swimmingly]

Welcome home, Sofia. I'm very much a work in progress. Struggling myself a lot lately. Always willing to listen, should you need an ear. Otherwise, let us know what YOU need. You have all types of folks with all kinds of stories and we usually can provide options or ideas. Very glad that you found us.

[bpcyclist]

Originally Posted by BethRags

My husband has a mental illness and we've been together for nearly 40 years. I think that if there are 2 people with mental illness and both are working at recovery - and both are committed to working on the relationship - a relationship is very possible. That's not to say a relationship with a neuronormal isn't possible, either. Don't give up, cyclist!

Never.