Bipolar Disorder Support Group

Bipolar disorder is not just a single disorder, but a category of mood disorders marked by periods of abnormally high energy and euphoria, often accompanied by bouts of clinical depression. This is the place to talk about your experience with bipolar disorder, learn from others' experiences, and find support.

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New! :)

dogs1995
dogs1995
Hi everyone!

My name is Em and I just recently joined ds.org. I'm 20 years old and I was diagnosed with bipolar II in september- although I've been displaying symptoms since I was 15-16.

I also have severe social anxiety which has made it really hard to talk to my friends and family about what's going on- it took me 5 years of emotional turmoil, psychotic breaks and suicide attempts to finally just see a GP for a referral. This makes it really hard for me to cope as my personality is very quiet and I don't show a lot of emotion and I end up bottling a lot up (which, as you guys know, makes things a lot worse).

Which is why I've decided to join this site! I hope to meet some great people on here who understand me and who, hopefully, I can provide some comfort to as well!

I guess my question for you guys is: how long did it take you to get help/what finally made you do it?
Community Leaderacuriousfish
acuriousfish
welcome to the board.

I was diagnosed late in life, I was nearly 50. I'd been treated unscuccessfully for depression and anxiety for decades but no one had figured out what was going on. I set up my own private appointments to see two psychiatrists to discuss my belief I was bipolar - both said they thought so. Then I had a major life event and that tentative diagnosis went to a definate.
spacekat
spacekat
Greetings and Salutations, Em!! Welcome to the group! I've been in and out of hospitals since I was 13, and (after too many delusions and/or hallucinations) my BP diagnosis has morphed into schizoaffective disorder which is kind of like a combo of BP and schizophrenia (mine is paranoid sub-type). I've met so many wonderful friends here on this site and received and (I hope) given as much advice as I can. This is a great spot to be around others who are much more like you than you thought possible!! Nice to have you join us!
Precious97
Precious97
Welcome to the board!! I was diagnosed bipolar 1 in the spring of 1996 when I was 16. I had a complete meltdown and my therapist at the time suggested that I see a psychiatrist who almost immediately diagnosed me as being bipolar. I didn't fully understand what that meant until a few years ago when my pdoc now said I'd have it for life. That about killed me. But there are worse things.
SensitiveHoboLady
SensitiveHoboLady
Hello and welcome. Diagnosis can be complicated. I was treated for depression in college also while getting diagnosed with thyroid troubles. A few years later after I moved to a big city friends and coworkers were 'worried' about my erratic behavior and took me to an er where I ended up getting admitted to a psych ward. They instantly filled me up on lots of medication and did a little therapy, but it's taken me many years to understand I need a little bit of medication and More Therapy.

Great folks here. Welcome.
JennS
JennS
Welcome to DS. I had a huge nervous breakdown about 12 yrs ago after a series of traumatic events.

Hugs.
Community LeaderSunCloudJD
SunCloudJD
Hi and Welcome Em.... this is really a great board and we have a very good anxiety board here as well that's quite active... Big hug...x

http://www.dailystrength.org/c/Anxiety/support-group
TC40
TC40
Welcome! I think I had issues since I was in 4th grade. I had bad anxiety but didn't understand what it was. It didn't help that I grew up in an abusive household.
daftoptms
daftoptms
Welcome! I was also dx later in life. I was 40 and the catalyst was the death of my mother. I just fell apart completely and was hospitalized.

It explained a lot of past behavior as well. You are not alone.

Made great friends here and you are too!
MayB
MayB
Welcome Em!

This is a great place to hang out and there are so many good people here... Medical advice is one thing but knowing what other Bipolars think I'd very helpful...

I got diagnosed at 24 after a huge manic event that lasted months a year later I was hospitalized after a botched suicide attempt.

Took a while to iron it all out... With the help of a good pdoc and a lot of good friends I made it....
BabyShelby
BabyShelby
Hi Em!! Glad you found this group!

It took 20 years for my BPII diagnosis. My first symptom, and most lingering, is an inability to sleep. I ran on the slightly manic side as far back as I can remember with 2 or 3 low periods per year. When I got to college I discovered alcohol could fix that. Sadly, I ended up on the addiction side of treatment and didn't get a proper diagnosis until 13 counselors, several alcohol treatments and much pain and grief later.
irishwriter
irishwriter
welcome!

Glad you found DS it has been the best therapy ever for me!

dx'd with depression at about 15/16, then clinical depression, then chronic dysphoria! bipolar 1 dx came years later. am doing ok at the moment which is good. just changed one of my meds.

it might take a while to find the right combo of treatment with meds, exercise, music, reading, support groups, therapy etc... but good luck with it all. hugs
PaganSpirit
PaganSpirit
Welcome. You have come to a really great place for support and understanding. I also have a very hard time talking to friends or family about whats going on inside me. My go to answer is always, "I'm fine" even when I'm not. Like you this adds to a lot of emotions bottling up inside me. When I was about 16 years old I started cutting to help relieve the internal pain, anger, and frustration. I was in my late 30s when a suicide attempt sent me to the ER, then inpatient care for 2 weeks, then an appointment with a psychiatrist. I didn't want to go but I was in such bad shape that I had to and looking back I'm glad I did. It was a little while later that I found DS.
dobiedots
dobiedots
Oh wow! I see that I did not welcome you to the board earlier! My apologizes.
So here it goes: WELCOME!!
We are fun people with bipolar problems! It's the only place on earth where you can talk about your bipolar disorder without negative repercussions. We Understand!!!
Banshee67
Banshee67
*waves* Welcome aboard!
dogs1995
dogs1995
Thank you everyone for such a warm welcome!

I love how active this forum is- so many I've seen before were so slow. Nice to meet you all and I look forward to talking more!
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