BP isn't the worst thing to have. With BP you should learn to
manage it the best way you can. Mania was always my problem, resulting in hospitalizations and arrests. I finally started using lithium and it gave me my life back.

For me, BP was the worst in my early to mid twenties. Those have been my roughest years. There's lots of good advice and support here and it's a good place to check into...

Bp hits me hardest this time of year because this is when the depression gets to be the deepest. In the heart of the summer when the mania pokes its head out I run the risk of being stuck in the hospital but now that I have an understanding of what I'm up against I have a better chance of fighting it.

BP isn't the worst thing I've had to deal with .

I've come to manage my disorder and live an OK life.

It took several years of trying out different med combo's , but I've reached a place where I am stable and pretty happy

With work, you can too

Good luck

I wasn't diagnosed with bipolar until I was in my early 30s.I know this sounds weird,but basically it was a relief to be able to give a name to what I felt. I must confess,I've bounced in and out of treatment for the past 20 years,been manic & then cuffed & stuffed,etc. Finally I went for residential treatment. It feels better to be accountable to someone,I think.

I was jumping from streaks of mania to downright depths of hell when I thought of seeing a doctor. I did many a thing I'm not proud of and have been IMHO to the absolute bottom - my bottom, that is. Are you writing a book? I'm sorry you're also dealing with this terrible disease.

Four suicide attempts. Not diagnosed til I was 31. Always knew there was something wrong w/me.
It's been a roller coaster ride all my life but now w/meds I can function in a "normal" way!

Diagnosed in my mid 30s, but suffered for as long as I can remember. It took many years of trying different meds and therapy to get better. When I left my husband my life improved and I got stable. Needless to say, stress triggered my BP.

The only complaint I have is that I feel a bit flat from my antipsychotic, but I can't live without it, so I just make to most of my life with it.

Diagnosed late 20's. Manic episodes with 2 suicide attempts. Arrests, bankruptcy, divorce, hospitalizations...I think I'll leave it there. It's embarrassing...my wake of destruction. You get the idea.

I don't have that stuff anymore. In comparison, I live on the depression side of things now with the very occasional hypomania.

I've been med resistant and despite many conventional and unconventional treatments over the years, I'm on disability for my illness. I was reading recently that millions suffer with treatment resistant bp.

But that's me! Don't lose hope and keep searching for answers for your individual situation.

I posted an article on here recently that would be helpful. Look at the thread "You HAVE to read this". It may shed some more light even though it talks more about the depression side.

All the best.

I have been dealing with my mental illness for about 16 years and I am only 26 years old. Since 2010 I have been hospitalized 19 times, had over 20 treatments of shock therapy (ECT) and been on 47 different psych meds with hundreds of combinations. I have schizoaffective disorder (bipolar subtype), panic disorder, OCD etc. A little bit of everything but deal mostly with psychosis and depression especially this time of year. I just spent 2 months in the hospital actually. I agree that it helps to hear other people's stories. I go to therapy at least once a week and go to support groups at least once a week. I hate that anyone has to deal with all this but I try to believe that it can and will get better. I just have to hang on...you guys too!

I started having issues well all my life, I had goofy things that I did. Mostly OCD like touching the door knob a certain amount of times to check if its locked...etc.. that basic stuff.

Later in college (19-20's) stuff started to effect my social life, and common sense...paranoia strange delusions...(that I now know are were not real).

Hmm however I feel personally if you injure your knee for instance, and go through major physical pain...you will be very timid to try other new physical activities after you healed. The same goes with your mental and brain status. I think.

If you get hurt, or hurt yourself mentally pretty badly...you will stay away from new things that can be fun, or interesting.

I was hurt mentally, and continued to hurt myself mentally...for many years. I am trying to reverse the process in 2015.

Talking about When BP was worst: For me personally, I struggle in my Teens with in and the early and mid twenties. Over the last 5 years I been leveling out pretty well. Going on 3 years with a steady job, no episodes that were major- knock on wood.

Through my teen years to my mid twenties it was pretty much a roller coaster ride. I think what changed that is finally accepting my diagnoses and learning to working with it, rather then against it. Learning triggers, learning ways to cope at certain times of years when I start feeling an up swing or down swing, and recognizing these times.

Oh, I just self manage- I don't do therapy or medications. I like to take pills. If I do therapy, I would prefer group therapy. Years ago I had a break and I ended up in the hospital for a week and then an outpatient program. I do miss the routine of going to the program and getting to know people with similar struggles that understand what you are going through, and helping each other cope and deal with our various situations. I meet some very good people, not all but some golden ones.

Edited* I don't like pills*

I was diagnosed almost a year ago. For about 8 months I was told I had postpartum depression... then I was told I had peripartum bipolar I disorder which basically means it developed sometime during or after pregnancy. Most think it's because my kids are 11 months apart. My body couldn't handle all of the hormone changes. But for six months I was depressed. Couldn't get out of bed but for work and that's only because I was a soldier... Couldn't do anything, barely took care of my kids... then manic hit and I get into things like sewing and get so into it I don't take care of my kids... I neglect them and my husband a lot. When I'm inbetween I pay with them take them places do everything a mom is supposed to do... it just sucks not being stable. I've cheated on my husband in a manic. I've spent way too much money, maxed out my credit cards... Now I'm feeling with the repercussions. And it sucks. I wouldn't say It's ruined my life. I've gotten to the point where I can tell when I'm becoming manic or depressed and can atleast try to curb the moods. My husband is very supportive dealing with what I can't curb, telling me when I'm staying to neglect things. It wasn't always that way. Before we knew I was bp we fought a lot... Now it all makes sense... we just deal the best we can.