My parents never told me that I was diagnosed and, more importantly, didn't tell my psychiatrist about what happened so I was "re-diagnosed" as MDD and given a bunch of antidepressants that eventually caused the mania. Depression cycles always feature the worst parts of my personality. Those are the facts, and this is my story. I’ve also learned more about bipolar disorder this past year, than what I thought I knew during the time we dated. San Francisco, California, ... Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa About Blog Our Lived Experience is a community where South Africans affected by bipolar disorder share their stories, please contact us if you'd like to take part. I love this. "All that said, I have a pretty good life.". I'm the nurse. I had a manic episode two years ago that I am still recovering from, but for the most part I am "stable" and we're decreasing my antipsychotic. He prescribed me depakote which took away the mania but I was still depressed and empty. I don’t know how I did it but I managed to keep him out of the hospital. But good treatment comes at a very high price. Life is great and I'm the happiest I have ever been. Take joy in the accomplishments that you do have. This could indicate that mental health professionals are now more adept now at diagnosing the disorder, but more research is … Can you guys offer some words of advice and some success stories so I know there's a light at the end of the tunnel? Ever since I was diagnosed with bipolar 2 10 years ago in high school it has been a struggle. It's not going to be easy. My husband and I made it through it all and he's never broke his commitment to me "for better or worse" We've been married 7 years and together for 14 years. If you would like to send in your story and have it posted here, send it in here with "BP Story" in the subject. (Author’s note and disclaimer: The following piece details my story of overcoming a serious and potentially-fatal mental illness, bipolar II, … I still have bad days but things are getting better. No one told me what my diagnosis was or helped me, other than giving me risperdal & klonopin, which are pretty much the two drugs approved to treat BP in teenagers. There are still days where I think I rule the world and the next day I'm not be able to get out of bed. You know the trope: One minute characters are catatonically depressed, and the next they're so manic they think they can fly off a building. tDCS is a non-invasive, well … Be a part of something that cares about who you are. My Story with Bipolar Disorder . Cookies help us deliver our Services. As the years progressed though, the challenges of school and due dates got the better of John, and he began to develop anxiety and had difficulty sleeping. Every day. The thing about bipolar disorder, there is help out there, but it is extremely costly. I had one final exam left before spring break. About 5 1/2 years ago, I drank so much in one night that I damn near killed myself. I was so confused and couldn't tell the side effects apart from the drugs because I didn't know why I was taking them or what they are. Any other time I have seen it portrayed in the media, for example in the show Homeland or Shameless, it really sparks my interest and makes me want find more examples of it in shows, books, documentaries etc. I'm currently going through a rough patch. I was able to graduate college and hold down a job. And if someone won’t give you a chance because of a label, consider yourself lucky. even if things seem uncomfortable, they're only for a time. Press J to jump to the feed. I practice law because solving problems for others is really the only thing I've ever found even moderately effective at motivating me. Bipolar Stories: Real-Life Experiences I'm settled into the first stability I have ever had as an adult. I then self-medicated the mania with alcohol. Psychosis can occur in both bipolar I and bipolar II. Screw, spend, sleep: My battle with bipolar disorder When the mania kicks in, I'm ready to conquer the world -- on no sleep. It hasn't gotten "easy." It was tough and took me a lot longer than it took everyone else, I struggled a lot but now...now I work as a Peer Specialist for a crisis mental health team. I am the worst version of myself. I wouldn't have this position without the experience and lessons afforded to me by this diagnosis (or the diagnosis itself). The trick is navigating through the risks that sex can present in bipolar … I have bipolar I, BPD, Anxiety and depression issues, and PTSD. I still felt moderately/mildly depressed so he put me on lamictal too. Ask for help, and accept the help that is offered when you ask. Allow yourself to be proud of the small things. Bipolar disorder does the dirty work for me and filters out individuals who tiptoe through life. This resulted in her being admitted as involuntary. I also have a blog, in which I share my stories about living with bipolar disorder. It took me years to admit something was wrong. By using our Services or clicking I agree, you agree to our use of cookies. By using our Services or clicking I agree, you agree to our use of cookies. Reddit - Bipolar Disorder. Personal stories focusing on various aspects of living with Bipolar Disorder - manic depression. I honestly can say that up until the end of college I had no discernible signs of a mental illness. The mania was unreal and almost made me questioned my own sanity. I felt better but I was still depressed and having some mood swings. I see my story as more of a survival story. Now she's on meds, she is still coming to terms with what happened when she was manic. Cookies help us deliver our Services. I'm supposed to dispense the medication not take it myself. But once you find a good medication the hopelessness will disappear and you will finally feel alive again. Would you agree that finding the right medication is my highest priority right now? Bipolar 2 may be up to 3-4 times more common than Bipolar 1, and for reasons that are still being studied, the disorder seems to be becoming more prevalent. Have a great job, an apartment, just got a new job, opened my own small business... None of these things could have happened if I'd acted on suicidal thoughts. It did take some time for me to understand that taking that extra pill when I needed it wasn't a failure on my part and it isn't going to lead to addiction as long as I continue to only take it when I need it. Your Stories The Ryan Licht Sang Bipolar Foundation invites those affected by Bipolar Disorder and their families to share their stories. Stay strong, but ask for help if you need it. His parents encouraged him, but seeking professional help was not an option. I hope this part helps. I gotta say I cried most of the year and thought a lot about leaving my marriage behind. Good luck! If you're lucky your insurance kicks in to help offset the cost. Treatment may help control symptoms. My shit started to get bad when I was 16, I had a mixed episode where I felt suicidal very often. There are still days where I think I rule the world and the next day I'm not be able to get out of bed. It definitely made me feel not alone. The thing about bipolar disorder, there is help out there, but it is extremely costly. So far these past few months have been stable. My psychiatrist figured out I was bipolar and took me off the depression medications. The Out of Darkness project is an innovative form of the illness narrative, medical stories that reveal how people travel through and confront suffering in the hope that their experiences can be of value to others. Bipolar disorder usually includes manic and depressive episodes, but there can also be … I did well on Lithium for a while but one day it just stopped working. The Producers of CBD oil bipolar reddit has a good Reputation and distributes already a long timespan the Products is the unanimous result - it's consequently sufficient Knwo-how there. Thank you to the moderators of r/BipolarSOs for allowing me to post here!. But I've achieved more than anyone expected of me. Today I approach dating with one purpose— to have fun. Things have gotten a lot better. Quarantine triggered a lot of manic episodes and ended with him losing multiple jobs, leaving me as the sole provider for a while. I was embarrassed. I would say keep stickin' it out and know that there is help out there (on here for example!) A non-zero day might just mean that you woke up and showered, maybe cleaned something. http://www.reddit.com/r/BipolarReddit/comments/2ripic/today_i_submitted_my_particle_physics_phd_thesis/. Because of this, it’s important to hear about a variety of experiences. My bad anxiety and depression went away. This group always gave great advice and helped me so much last year with what I wAs going through. I never thought I’d ever had to cut his debit card so he wouldn’t spend recklessly. Good, call that a success. I'd been warned by so many people that taking pills would turn me into a "zombie." Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. “I was fiery and ferocious, capable of lighting up a room or just as easily burning it down.” —Julie Kraft. The bad days don't happen as frequently is the best improvement and now I am able to keep some extra buspirone on hand for when things get too bad. People with bipolar I can experience a … Don't lose hope you can and will find the right medication to bring you back to life. But you've got to keep going. I was 23. Try to find it and take baby steps toward it every day. Have you had a non-zero day? John’s sleep pattern became worse as he got older, and began averaging four hours of … All that said, I have a pretty good life. ... Sabrina's Most Recent Stories. You can get through it, just take it one little step at a time. My life was chaos for a long time. And hey, here I am now! In that span, I tried to take my life three different times—2007, 2008, and 2010. Facebook Twitter Reddit LinkedIn Tumblr Pinterest Vk I am usually a very understanding and supportive person but these past experiences really brought me to a breaking point. I was on schedule to graduate after spring quarter. Everything was new. Depression cycles can last for years—my longest lasting from 2006 to 2010. I'm a 17 year old female and am amongst the still short-term strugglers of bipolar disorder. I wrote this earlier this month: http://www.reddit.com/r/BipolarReddit/comments/2ripic/today_i_submitted_my_particle_physics_phd_thesis/. It breaks my heart. Everyone’s experience with bipolar disorder is a little different. It's important to stay on top of your medical history. Essentially, they're portrayed as co… I went to my psychiatrist last year for depression I tried prozac, Wellbutrin, ect for depression. I am part of a team of researchers at New York State Psychiatric Institute/Columbia University who are currently recruiting participants for a research study looking at an investigational treatment for self-injury called transcranial direct current stimulation, or tDCS. This feels like a nightmare scenario for me as her husband not being able to find out anything at all. I don't have a real success story. For me it means getting some billable work done and making some money. I also read a biography on Marilyn Monroe that showed her struggle with bipolar and it was extremely interesting. I have been an RN for 10 years and am currently working towards my master's degree - FNP. Being in a relationship where one or both partners have bipolar disorder is not easy. I managed to hobble through school and university by making good use of my support network and coping strategies. I haven't found the perfect medication. I love that you still find the bright side and that you can still be thankful for successes even though you wouldn't think anything of them if you didn't have to deal with all this in the first place. I read many stories bout bipolar, i assumed that if my wife is within my radar extramarital wont happen. I don’t even know if everything I typed even makes sense, but it feels good to let it out. The fact is, we all have issues, whether you live with bipolar disorder or not. Maybe there's something like that for you. For those with a dual diagnosis of bipolar plus substance use, entertainment journalist Conor Bezane has been there, done that—and he compiles inspiring peer stories to share. And yet, for all of my professional achievements, I am … The therapy we went through helped us build a stronger relationship and we are now more open and communicative with each other about our feelings. They didn't work they just made me have terrible mixed episodes that landed me in the hospital. I just feel even more helpless than before and really regretting not sitting down with my wife and getting medical power of attorney designations filed. There's a lot to read but the information is ten years old [at best]. But the hard work can totally be worth it. Sex is not one of them. Bipolar Disorders. There are a couple of already popular bipolar subs but having a specific sub just for relationships is important in order to facilitate a community of support. I agree, you agree that finding the right foot priority right now feel! Me depakote which took away the mania was unreal and almost made me questioned my sanity. Then, I 've been sober and taking my medicine I and bipolar II meds! 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