Post responses below

A lot of interesting news, though some of it was not accessible. The system denied access to the article about drinking alcohol. Eccessive drinking is no good for anyone, bipolar or not. But I believe that it is ok to have a drink or 2 on special occasions. Life isn’t much fun if you have bipolar anyway. A cheerful drink with friends now and then could do less harm then thinking all the time that “I can’t do this, i mustn’t do that, because I have bipolar” which I think would give you more stress. Of course you have to be sensible and drink in moderation, preferably with food, and of course don’t drive.

Marijuana is generally known to be bad for mental illness. If you have bipolar, smoking dope can probably make it worse. I used to know a woman who refused to take bipolar meds and self-medicated with dope and drink. She was rapid cycling in and out of episodes all the time. However, I don’t think using marijuana would actually cause bipolar or any other mental illness. Possibly it could cause drug induced bipolar type symptoms. Just my thoughts and observations – I’m not a doctor or a scientist.

Clive’s story is very interesting.

It seems that I am meant to live as though I were in Hell. If there is a Hell, I am living it. For seven Hellish years, I have been suffering. If it isn’t one thing, it is another. I am afraid to get out of bed. Honestly, I think someone or something is out to get me and I have not been diagnosed as dilusional. I don’t see or hear things that are not there. I just don’t get it. Why me? I have a valid question…Why me? Why can’t it be someone else for a change? Why does it always have to be me? Why won’t God let me have my way and let me die? I keep trying to take myself out and I wake up in a hospital room…damn it, not this time. I can’t even succeed at suicide. Life is so bad that I can’t even do myself in. Think you have it rough. You should hear my story. It would make you cry (or laugh), I don’t know. I won’t take all the webspace telling you my tears of woe. Just know that there is someone out there that has the worst life ever, it is ME. No matter what, whoever you may be, know that there is someone out there who has it worse…it is ME. How funny…I think God created me just to show what misery really is. It is ME!