YES

It's so funny, I was actually thinking of writing a post the other day with the same title. In other places I feel loved or alive or down or stimulated - but never safe. Yes, DS is the only place I feel safe. Good word to describe it.

I'm safe here, no matter what is going on with me or anybody else.

Yes. I can let it all hang out here. I don't want to burden my husband with everything that goes on in my head. I mean, it wears me out, why should I give that to him?
here, I can even start a topic, and if it just lies there, that's ok. I can be a geek and that's ok. I can be pissed and that's ok.

I freakin' love DS

I love DS. And I just found a therapist I can be even wackier with. Yes, this is a haven!!!

DD! I feel the same way. DS is where I can share, learn, educate, and feel like I'm not abnormal.
I only talk to family and close friends about BP. None of them truly understand though! I think the person that understands the most is my husband (as much as a non-Bp can).

Why don't I share with others? If I tell them, I'll have to educate them and make sure they have all the info I think they need to understand! I don't want someone only knowing a few bits of info and judging me! Right?!

Thanks for being my friends everyone! BEEPERS UNITE!

I stopped talking to ma family about it..I love them dearly n they do me, but, like u, I do not want to give them worry..I know rationally, my probs seem a bit pety when I say them out loud, so childish sometimes..but everybody here understands me with just a few words..
I cannot express the immensity of it..ma cyber-home..Yeah!!

dancing, I agree with you to a point. This is a place of safety for us where others understand us and how we feel. I love DS and have felt great support here. However, after last year, I learned how important it is to be open about my feelings with my husband and family even if they do worry. At least if I am open with them, they know where I am and how they can help. If I am feeling really down or suicidal I always go to my husband now and it is amazing how understanding and compassionate he is. My family has told me that they would much rather I be open with them than try to hide it from them. They cant help me if they dont know. So in the last year I have become a strong advocate for being open with our family, especially our significant other. Thank you for this great post. Luv and hugs

Shelly ..how very lucky you are ..to have such a loving husband! and a family who is willing to share the burden of BP with you.

When my mom was DX with breast cancer..she didn't tell me untill the night before her surgery,she wanted me to come and spend the night ,and be with her at the hospital.
I was so shocked at her secretiveness...we had always been so open with each other.She said she didn't want to frighten me.
I told her ,all it did was make me feel alienated ,and it never gave us a chance to pray together over this ,or share holding hands while waiting in Dr's offices.

She feels the same way about my BP..I've tried to explain the disorder,to try and share ,as we once used to...she dosen't want to hear it.It frightenes her too much.
As for my sisiter(who at one time ,I considered the closest person to me)...she actually will cover her ears with her hands and say out loud LALALALALALALA....then ,she'll say she just dosn't care to know the details of my life.If I'm suicidal,too bad.
Deal with it.(yes,she actualy said that to me once).

Bipolar people walk a hard life sometimes,and without having someone to share it with ,I don't know if we could do it.

I am overjoyed at all my friends who have loving kind ansd supportive families and friends...for the rest of us
DS is our sanctuary

This is it for me, as soon as I show any sign of being upset or cycling my wife gets pissed off and just wants to snap at me. I have to get away or else I just start thinking divorce (which I should probably just do and come to terms with), so yeah, when I feel really crappy, and I know there's not a person anywhere near (friends, family, anyone), this is my ONLY alternative. I do get in trouble for posting overly aggresive stuff, that kinda pisses me off because, well, I like to rant, but I guess that's why you have a journal and can set it so only you read it :-) I know if my wife read ANYTHING I wrote here she'd not understand, and probably push me to divorce.

no one around me has the slightest clue how to deal with me. they tip toe around me. i can't hide my ups and downs anymore so when that happens all the phones in my family start ringing. i'm a major topic in their conversations. i know they love me they just can't understand this disease. i can talk to my pdoc and therapist but that's only and hour every two weeks and 15 minutes every two or three months.
ds has saved me. i can be completely open here. i feel like ya'll are my family. we all have the lil squabbles and the fun threads we enjoy but when someone truly needs help everybody comes together and surrounds that person with love and support. i know because ya'll have done that for me more than once. i'm so thankful i found ya'll....patty xx