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.
Over the past 1 1/2 year I have been a member of DS I have seen many people discus how being dx'ed bipolar has been such a tragic and terrible thing in there lives.
For me, being dx'ed was far from a negative thing in my life. All of my life I had heard how "bad, wrong, evil, sick, you name it I've heard it, I was", when I was finally dx'ed in my early 20's it was a relief. I finally had an answer to why my thoughts, feelings and emotions were different than so many people around me. I was no longer a "Freak".
I knew if I had and illness that made me different, then I knew that there had to be a treatment for it.
The road to finding that treatment isn't always easy and there are many different roads to travel but once a person finds the one that works for them, life with BP doesn't have to be negative or a "Death sentence", it is possible to live a fairly happy and peaceful life. ( That doesn't mean there isn't bumps along that road), but even people without an MI live with those.
WW
For me, being dx'ed was far from a negative thing in my life. All of my life I had heard how "bad, wrong, evil, sick, you name it I've heard it, I was", when I was finally dx'ed in my early 20's it was a relief. I finally had an answer to why my thoughts, feelings and emotions were different than so many people around me. I was no longer a "Freak".
I knew if I had and illness that made me different, then I knew that there had to be a treatment for it.
The road to finding that treatment isn't always easy and there are many different roads to travel but once a person finds the one that works for them, life with BP doesn't have to be negative or a "Death sentence", it is possible to live a fairly happy and peaceful life. ( That doesn't mean there isn't bumps along that road), but even people without an MI live with those.
WW
then when I became manic in 2007 I was dx'd with manic depression.... like you I didn't *feel like a freak* anymore.. it still saddens me.. especially when family members are/have exhibited the same behaviours.. tbh I'm not too sure how I feel about it... it comes and goes... but yes I am glad I got the proper dx... sure I had it since my late teens when agitation was horrendous.. on a good cocktail of meds now... it's just my life that has gone to sh*t :(
Now looking back on things, it makes some sense, excessive talking, hypersexuality etc etc but not to a degree enough to feel odd about it.
but in the end, when i was dx'd after i snapped there was a little part of me that went, "theres an explanation for the past 6 months, i have hope to be treated now"
for me the grieving came in knowing that its possible to get hit by the same truck again, and that ive been walking around not knowing something was wrong......ignorance is bliss....i miss that sometimes
i dunno just my 2 cents
At 35 I had the mother of all meltdowns dx was changed and life has been different ever since. BP is nopt a death sentence at least not for me
Sorry , I could not help myself
Actually, it might sound weird and off the wall...but I actually love being bipolar
Nurse !!!