[comediktragedi]

So, I am open about my bipolar disorder. I believe that this disorder is a way for me to reach out to people that have similar experiences, and help them find a way to cope with it. At least that is why I believe I am open about it. I also believe that the more people that I trust that know I have it, the safer I will be in the long run. Last year, when I was having major troubles coping at school, it worked out exactly like that. My roommate, and my friends were able to tell even before I was when I was getting to a place where they needed to call outside help. I am grateful and thankful to them because of that.

Now, all summer I have been dealing with my bipolar pretty much by myself. I was at home with my family who aren't big supporters of the "crazy meds" that I'm on. Not to mention the church that believes that my parents should have simply beat it out of me when I was young. But like I said, I've been dealing. Fairly well too.

Now I come back to school, and I'm being treated with kid gloves. Yes, bipolar sucks. It is a mood disorder which means (gasp!) it effects my mood. It does not effect the fact that I don't like people being loud in my house after I have told them that I'm going to bed. It does not effect the fact that yes, I am going to get a bit upset when people say that whenever I get angry it just means I need to increase my medicine.

One girl in particular, one of my housemates. I love her dearly, she's a really sweet girl. However every single weekend we end up getting into an argument over the fact that she invites four or five of our loudest friends over to our apartment rather then going to theirs when they all know that I like to be alone to write on Friday nights. I like my quiet. I picked the roommates that I picked because I knew that all of them like to go out to parties. Of course, this year all that has changed. They find it necessary to stay in and get drunk. Which is another thing that bothers me because they know two things; 1.) My father is an alcoholic, and therefore I don't like alcohol even in the house, plus we are all underage and 2.) the last time I did get drunk, it messed with my meds and I ended up hospitalized.

To end this rant (sorry I really didn't mean for it to be this long) does anyone have any clues for how to enlighten my friends that not all of my emotions are controlled by what they view as my "crutch"? Without of course beating them into the ground? Because that is what it is coming to...

[beadlady29-old]

((((((((((((ct)))))))))))))))
suodns liek u is in very difficutl situation. it is difficutl wehn ohters aruodn us do not respetc uor needs adn wishes. it is difficutl to remember taht we cannot control others, only uorselves adn uor own reactoins.
bead hears,
bed lissens,
bead sits down adn offers smiels of comfotr.
we is juts a pm away

beadlady

safe

[Bellax3]

Hi,
I think the only way for them to get it is to tell them- tell them that you aren't effected by the bipolar 24/7, that most of the time, if you're pissed, its because your pissed, not because of the bipolar. I think its time to put your foot down- tell them that you won't accept any more drinking, or late night parties. If they don't listen--it may be time to get new roomates.

Good luck

[comediktragedi]

I wish I could get new roommates. I live in an on-campus apartment, and if I wanted a new room I'd have to go back to the dorms, which are already over crowded because they accepted too many freshmen. Some dorms even have three people in a dorm room made for two. >.<

[Junerain]

There is beauty in what you wrote, about reaching out and helping others like you You can do a lot helping here, at this website, I am sure. You seem to understand your new diagnosis well. It is too bad if you felt alone with it, over the summer....ever thought of joining a support group? Or trying a different church? As far as your situation right now, how about googling, on the internet, the need for bipolars to be a in a quiet environment, if there is info on that somewhere, and showing the information to your roommates. Sometimes literature is the best way to educate. I notice you are new to psychentral and I enjoy you already Write more?

[MyBestKids2]

I despise people walking on eggshells around me. It makes me uncomfortable and angry. I'm doing the best I can, taking my meds, see my T weekly. Geez, what do these peeps want???

Good luck!


Dee

[Schatje]

Originally Posted by comediktragedi

So, I am open about my bipolar disorder. I believe that this disorder is a way for me to reach out to people that have similar experiences, and help them find a way to cope with it.

I'm like that too. A lot of people that are bipolar don't understand why I do it, but I do. It takes a lot of strength to open yourself up to the criticism. Perhaps a bit more information about the disorder needs to be passed on to the roomies though.