I've been BP since my late teens and just dx 2 mo ago. I am now 43. I've been married 25 years, have 2 beautiful productive children. Unfortunately, I couldn't keep a job for more than 4 years at any time. Hopefully that will change since tx.

"normal" - expand on this ?

My life is very "normal" for me. I have everything I need and most of what I wasnt, except money, of course, but there is no such thing as enough money, is there??

Ooop!!that should read most of what I want

I am married with two kids and a full time job I have had for quite a few years. I do have problems with the roller coaster, and occasionally I get frustrated with my job. Bottom line with that - I provide our insurance and we can't afford for me not to work. besides, most of the time my job is very fulfilling, and for me personally, I think that even when I am depressed, keeping that going keeps me from constantly pondering how much life sucks. At least most of the time.

I was married to a very abusive man, Shawn Bolbach, for 16 years. He was also abusive to my 4 children. I was unable to hold a job for more than 9 months. I've had approximately 23 jobs in those 16 years. I kept quitting all my jobs because of so may stupid reasons. I haven't worked now for over 2 years and 2 of my kids live in Tennessee with their dad. I have NOT found any type of normalcy in my life since I was diagnosed with one of many of my mental illnesses.

Normal! How boring! Yes I did for years. Also locking people up for the same thing I did. Free drugs! My very bad!

When I was married I used to describe to my pdoc that I lived in a dollhouse. Perfect and serene on the outside (to appear "normal"). Void and empty on the inside. Nobody knew I was battling emotions or that my ex was an alcoholic. I was completely detached from life.

Very interesting. On the outside I do lead a very normal life. Married, house, dogs, cats, 2 degrees, business owner, and a nice job as a nurse.

On the inside is a tornado of emotions. I have over 250 credits in college, because I could never make up my mind. I would push myself so hard that I got promoted at every job I've had, only because I would get bored where I was. I hop from hobby to hobby, start projects I never finish, and go on the occasional spending spree.

I hear that there are people who live normal, productive lives with correctly medicated bp. I have yet to meet one of them.

"normal" what is normal these days? I believe we can have so sort of life with a career, marriage and children. We just have to have the right meds and alot of hard work with our therapists input.

I think I led a pretty normal life up until I started drinking. I was a single mom with one daughter and a teacher for 10 years then I met my current husband and quit work because of stress and my bp. I have piece of mind but some days (and those are very few) I would like to be working again in a career. I am thinking of social work this time.

"normal" just doesn't exist. Socially acceptable is like being slowly strangled !!

am recently seperated with 3 kids. never know what twists my mood is gonna take so never know how im gonna cope on any given day

I was very successful in my career, even after being diagnosed. I had children, and raised them more or less on my own. Couldn't seem to stay married beyond 8 years. However, things change, they go up or they go down. I try to go with what's now and not judge it as "normal" or whatever. Getting through the day is the biggest job I have.