mbcasey, I'm so sorry to see you deactivated. I know how hard it can be at times, but I also know that it can and does get better. There are good days and bad days....but the good days are worth waiting and fighting for. Don't give up. Please. Good luck to you.

I'm not very sure but i think i might be bipolar. several of my aunts and cousins are bipolar. do you think i might be too because i have days where i'm all over the place.

I'm so happy to see you guys talking about this openly!!

Keep up the great conversations even if they hit a little low point. Someone will be around to perk them up again that is going through the same thing.

good docs

the right meds

support groups (positive support groups)

and your mingle family who loves you

I understand what you all are going thru as my stepson is bipolar.. He refuses to stay on meds and now smokes marijuana because it makes him feel better than the meds.. not good! I'll keep you all in my prayers..

I remember going through that phase myself, where I thought that pot was doing a better job than the meds.

I was diagnosed with bipolar myself back in 1993, not even a month before my 10th birthday.

My advice is stay on the medication, and if you feel that the medication isn't working AFTER they have taken time to get into your system, don't hesitate to let your psychiatrist know. Do NOT self medicate. If for ANY reason you feel suicidal or even homicidal, seek IMMEDIATE medical attention. Keep a record of your daily thoughts, it will help you determine if/when you are about to have a "relapse" so to speak.

My ex would always go drink gallons of alcohol, thinking that was the way. Despite him also taking pills for it. He loved to party anyway, but it didn't help with his illness. I was more of a nurse to him, more than anything.

I'm actually bi-polar. I'm a type 2, basically a pretty level one. So, 90% I'm happy, the other 10% is pretty bad, like, really bad.

I currently take one medication for everything, and my doctor is a great person, as he has a lot of experience with bi-polar.

Being bi-polar isn't anything anyone can cure, or shake off. The best you can do, is learn to try and control your emotions to some degree, or try a medication. I also used to go to some very intense therapy because of a suicide attempt I tried last year.

But, I'm in control of myself, for the most part. When I have a bad day, a down day, I can do something as simple as make a few bracelets, write a couple poems, a lot of different things to blow off the depression and anger that comes with it. I'm a lot better then I was, as I was dominated by emotion.

I was diagnosed when I was 18, so yeah, I've known about my problem for... 4, almost 5 years. It was hard to get through, but with help, support, and good friends I've managed to shake off the worst of it, for the most part. I have no need for self abuse, the idea of suicide doesn't appeal, and I can actually dish out my own medication after becoming heavily addicted to a sleep aid.

It takes time, and effort. A hobby which helps you blow off negative emotion is a must, because it'll help shake of a bad day, and perhaps turn it into a good day. It's all a matter of finding what it is. :)

I know it's easier said than done, but try thinking of the here and now, and not the future. They may/may not think that just surviving a whole 24 hours, is a big achievement alone. Well it is. Baby steps, really.

My better half has bipolar 1,social anxiety,severe recurenr major depressive disorder and post traumatic stress disorder. Recently they put him on depakote after a trial on lithium. The depakote takes a couple weeks to get its levels up in yer blood stream. He is a new person ... they added an antihistimine called visteril, for the anxiety...after 1 week we were out and happy for 4 days in a row..an still goin!!! Hang in there!! His Dr. did however tell him that as a nite time sedative, he could smoke a lil mother nature.

WOW TALK ABOUT KARMA,
Had a red head lady friend, that im sure she had the same problem,
or multiple personality , alot of it was brought on by unresolved childhood issues, self medicating, and sexual addiction, we are not speaking at the moment, so she has a chance to "find herSelf".
the power of the mind is a marvelous tool , it takes practice everyday, and gets easier the more you practice. your first and greatest revelation was admitting you have it !!!!!!!!!

heres sumthin I came up with..
"a person can only reveal where their strengths are
until they admit where their weakness is hidden. "
my favorite uncle had bi-polar, we had some real good times and some very bad times, then he found his weakness, took the right medications, and we had some of the greatest times, talks and laughs
Ever, I miss him Very much, and was with him when he took his last breath. i will see him again soon and be Ridin the Harley,s !!

hope a bit of this rubs off on you, "Stay in the Light"
its peaceful in the Light.

oh yeah truth is way more people are bi-polar than you think there are millions of people that are bi-polar and dont even know it. I myself am bi-polar scyhizaphrenic so I really have to make sure to take my meds and not get down on myself to much. I used to think this is stupid i have to take a pill to make me normal but after time of me not taking my meds showed that i am crazy and my life was spinnning out of control I finally decided to give the meds another chance and thank god i did. Thats the hard part finding the right meds and the proper dose of that medication but once you do find that perfect combo they really can change your life for the best. Problem was it took 14 years to find the right med combo and dosage and the only way to find it is trial and error but now that i have found it i am so much better off. I am happy again and dont have sudden outbursts and no longer fear that everyone is judging me and talking about me because I have learned how to control my emotional reactions. Us bi-polar people are extremely emotional and uncomfortable either with ourselves or with what we think other people are thinking or saying about us, and thats when our emotional reactions come out cause we just want to be so called normal. Truth is we are normal we are just more emotional and we can let it get the best of us sometimes. Learn how to control your emotions, dont think you are to good for meds or therapy, and quit worrying about what other people think of you and you will see that what used to be a very emotional reaction to a situation is no a very pleasant subject that you can talk about in confidense. Yeah it sucks we have to work a little harder to control ourselves more appropiately but that makes us stronger individuals in the long run because we have been dealt adversity and we learned how to manage it and live a very happy life. Number 1 key meds dont work overnight some take months to work correctly cause they have to replace chemicals in the brain that for some reason we have uneven balances of, dont give up on meds to quick and some will have a bad reaction to you but once you find the right med combo with a good therapist one that you are comfortable with you will see that it isnt as bad as people say it is and a good productive "normal" life is out there for us we just have to work a little harder to have that happy life it took me 14 years bu I found it and even though i am going through a divorce right now and dont get to see my son anymore and yes i still love her, I really am happy I am no longer an emotional rollercoaster. 1 thing that sucks is it is very hard for a significant other to go through especially cause they want to help and understand and they cant they will never understand it and there isnt much they can do to help it except remind you to take your meds everyday. You got to stand up and say i will not let this control my life anymore and just take your life and happiness back. It might take awhile so dont get discouraged if it isnt a quick fix but once you find it you will discover what true happiness is iI promise