Comments on: Can You Have Bipolar Disorder and Still Be Happy?

By: Leslie

Leslie — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 01:57:20 +0000

I’ve had bp for 2 decades now and I’ve learned that you can “sneak up” on most medications without suffering failure. There are incredibly good anti-psych drugs now. If one doesn’t work, another one likely will. When you are suicidal, see if you can manage to get away for a week and visit the emergency room knowing you may need to stay a bit.

If a counselor is terrible, he or she is terrible and likely there is another that is just fine. I’ve had 3 terriffic and 8 horrible. Same with Psychiatrists. Some are just ridiculous. Try another. If you stay feeling emotionally ill check things like your thyroid and hormones. Sometimes when I feel “off” I compare it to when I’ve been dehydrated. Something is just “wrong”. Then it’s time for some blood tests.

If you keep dwelling on what is emotionally painful there are terriffic things you can do to get out of the ruminating your counselor can learn about this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eye_movement_desensitization_and_reprocessing It works! It really does. It’s for those with what seem to have trauma disorders. Emotional trauma can be diagnosed because bipolar creates it’s own trauma.

I went 2 and a half years just fine, then I messed up on my meds when I just wasn’t paying attention, then wasn’t right for quite a while.

But get the right doctors and counselors and I highly recommend a PSR and a Case Worker.

By: Dominic

Dominic — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 19:12:26 +0000

I enjoyed your writting.My biggest prob is in relationships.My mood swings destroy them over time.I want to be happy but more than 1 girlfriend has told me I dont.I hate that I put whover Im with on pins and needles.My meds seem to work well most of the time,I know without them Im a danger to myself and others.I am going to try to be more positive thanks for your words—-

By: tracy

tracy — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 14:01:40 +0000

I just read a post from Wes. I am much older and was only just recently diagnosed with Bipolar disorder. I have been medicted for depression for years and it took many difficult and negtive trys for me to find one that worked for me. i am saddened by Wes, ecause when I look back on my life I believe that I have had this since I was in my twenties. I had no idea that I had this, but I always knew I was different. People around me knew. I pray that Wes see his message becaue I was not helped at all by my parents at all. They only hurt me and thought I was crazy. I still srughle, but I think that hs a lot to do with being dignosed in my late forties. i truly believe being diagnosed in todays world will make a huge difference. i did go on to find a wondeful husbamd and I have raised three very normal kids into adulthood. i know Wes and others struggling at a young age can do it too. I thank you michelle for your up lifting message as I still struggle with long lasting harmony with my moods. God bless.

By: Wes

Wes — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 20:54:43 +0000

I am a 20 year old student living in florida and I was recently diagnosed as bipolar. I have the worst mood swings, ranging from euphoria and intense mania, to the worst depression you could imagine, and crying all day for no reason. I am never ever angry and I seem to always look at the positives in life but when one of my epiosodes hit, everything changes and I am suicidal. Everytime I’m depressed I think about dying and how easy it would be and I have no one to talk to. My parents think i just have a fucked up brain (already said exact words) and my friends just don’t want to hang around a depressed person all the time. when I get hyper people just think im on drugs.

I was perscribed abilify and it made things worse…but im still looking for the right medicine. This post helped and I hope everyone on here with BP disorder the best

By: Bobby

Bobby — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 19:54:55 +0000

Thanks so much for posting this! I am also living a good stable lifestyle living with BP, even though yes it was a hard long struggle at the beginning to get where I am, I’m so thankful to be alive everyday and make the most out of it all!

By: diazepam

diazepam — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 23:31:48 +0000

I think your opinions are quite interesting, I enjoy reading what you write. Hope to hear more from you. Subscribed.

By: Matt

Matt — Wed, 12 May 2010 13:57:23 +0000

I don’t understand how you can separate yourself from Bi-Polar. I look in the mirror now and I haven’t got a clue who I am, I don’t recognise myself or have any idea what my personality is.

To me, there is no separating myself from Bi-Polar as I can no longer remember who I used to be before I had it.

By: Michele

Michele — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 22:42:22 +0000

Zee–

I’m so pleased that you found my post a positive and encouraging one, as that is what my goal is. I do not believe that bipolar disorder is a death sentence. If you go to http://www.bipolarcentral.com, you’ll find more positive articles that might help you. Also, read through some of my old posts, as they will help you as well. The biggest thing is to remember that YOU ARE NOT YOUR DISORDER! There is still a real, creative, intelligent, positive, successful and someday stable YOU inside there! Don’t let the bipolar steal your identity from you, and don’t be intimidated by the disorder. With practice, you will learn how to manage it instead of it managing you. Good luck, and God bless.
Michele

By: zee

zee — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 19:50:42 +0000

Thank you so much for this! I was also diagnosed with bipolar almost a year ago, but I still really really hope somehow it’s not true. I knew I was having a depression but after I first started taking antidepressants, there were 3 days when I felt hyper and couln’t sleep, so that apperantly means this is probably bipolar.
The beginning involved lots of crying and sulking about my misery, and the constant thinking that I was a “damaged” person and expecting horrible things to happen in the future. Only after I was told by a therapist I visited once, that I am overthinking things and am being way too pathalogical about this, I realized that it is the diagnosis that brings me down, not the actual sypthomes. the constant thinking about this disorder and dreading I have no chance for the future is what makes me miserable.
When I put that aside, I actually feel good, I keep going on with my life, and really appreciate what I have. I am happy, and this whole depression experience has made me more open to trying new things and be more present. This can change when I start digging again the information about bipolar, and mostly you find the negatives. However you inspired me – I’m so happy to see that you are coping so well. I wish there were more positive messages out there like yours.