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.
Hi my name is Paul I am 50 years old and looking back at my life, I believe that I have suffered from Bipolar since a child. I have had over 55 different jobs, I always seems to make a great impression, but due to having a poor filtering system and being changeable in my behavior the job never lasts, I always tend to either fall out with people, or just withdraw.
My euphoric moods are regular, I will break out into a great mood, full of energy, wanting to dance, sing and be the center of attention, other times, I just feel weird and different to everyone else and don't want people around me at all. I become almost in my own world, staring into space, I then struggle with simple tasks and then get anxious and hard on myself.
I seem to have mad ideas that are life changing and believe that these will work, with little or no research, I am fortunate enough to have a wonderful girlfriend of 14 years who try's to make me see sense. Once I get an idea I am totally absorbed by it, it becomes my sole focus, I struggle with reality.
I am a kind and caring person and very affectionate and romantic, however if my mood changes, it changes quickly and although never violent with other people, I will punch doors or cupboards and vent my feelings without holding back at all, my girlfriend usually gets the brunt of this! I was unfaithful to her on 2 occasions a good few years ago, It was like I had to prove myself, to see that I was still desirable, the woman I went with were not even particularly nice. It was like I had lost all self respect for myself and during this period I had gained an insatiable appetite for sexual relations. I then had a period of professional counselling, which did help quite a lot, my girlfriend stood by me, as she believed that this was out of character and that i had mental issues, I am a very lucky man, she has always been there for me. Our relationship has improved as far as I can understand my mood swings better now and think before I say things, I just want to be stable and capable of giving us a consistent future, she deserves that more than anything.
I am the life and soul of the party on the rare occasions that I go out, people are drawn to me, however this never lasts and in reality I have no real friends, just a few acquaintances, this also makes me feel sad.
I want to change and the first step is to get a Psychiatric assessment for Bipolar I do not believe that i am just depressed or suffer from just anxiety, my moods are just too changeable!
So I have joined this group for both support and advice I guess< I want to understand more of what i may have and how to live a normal like with it, if possible
Thanks
Paul
My euphoric moods are regular, I will break out into a great mood, full of energy, wanting to dance, sing and be the center of attention, other times, I just feel weird and different to everyone else and don't want people around me at all. I become almost in my own world, staring into space, I then struggle with simple tasks and then get anxious and hard on myself.
I seem to have mad ideas that are life changing and believe that these will work, with little or no research, I am fortunate enough to have a wonderful girlfriend of 14 years who try's to make me see sense. Once I get an idea I am totally absorbed by it, it becomes my sole focus, I struggle with reality.
I am a kind and caring person and very affectionate and romantic, however if my mood changes, it changes quickly and although never violent with other people, I will punch doors or cupboards and vent my feelings without holding back at all, my girlfriend usually gets the brunt of this! I was unfaithful to her on 2 occasions a good few years ago, It was like I had to prove myself, to see that I was still desirable, the woman I went with were not even particularly nice. It was like I had lost all self respect for myself and during this period I had gained an insatiable appetite for sexual relations. I then had a period of professional counselling, which did help quite a lot, my girlfriend stood by me, as she believed that this was out of character and that i had mental issues, I am a very lucky man, she has always been there for me. Our relationship has improved as far as I can understand my mood swings better now and think before I say things, I just want to be stable and capable of giving us a consistent future, she deserves that more than anything.
I am the life and soul of the party on the rare occasions that I go out, people are drawn to me, however this never lasts and in reality I have no real friends, just a few acquaintances, this also makes me feel sad.
I want to change and the first step is to get a Psychiatric assessment for Bipolar I do not believe that i am just depressed or suffer from just anxiety, my moods are just too changeable!
So I have joined this group for both support and advice I guess< I want to understand more of what i may have and how to live a normal like with it, if possible
Thanks
Paul
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Hey All...I hope that you have a lovely, peaceful beginning of your weekI have a bunch of chores that need doing but may put them off til tomorrow and just hang out with my landlord/roomie todayWhat about you?...Anything special going on?Have a great day and take good care of you!!..Xo
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Once again I've had a fever today. I'm not going to the hospital because that's a huge waste of time but I did schedule a dr appointment for Wednesday afternoon.
But you do have one good friend of course, your girlfriend. I some times wonder just how many friends do people want? Some aspects of social media crack me up. "Oh look at me, I have 236 'friends' " No you don't. You have 236 people who have clicked on add me. They then go on an ego trip trying to outdo each other.
OK, social media does serve a useful purpose, with true friends keeping in touch. And, after all, this site is social media - but with a huge difference from facebook for example.
Look into managing stability with meds. So much info here. And Paul, don't forget you have one true fried who will be with you until the end. Yourself.
I am really glad to have found somewhere where I can learn about this condition, If I am Bipolar then at least I can start to understand why my behavior has had such an adverse affect on my life and that of others who are close to me. I am just hoping that I can be assessed as soon as possible.
Thanks again...
Paul
I can also relate to much of what you're saying. I've been living with MI for more than thirty years and although my diagnoses have changed the one constant is schizoaffective (bipolar subtype).
As far as friends go, it's hard for me to keep up relationships. People sort of enter my life and then seemingly disappear. I have one friend who's been a constant but we don't really see each other that often. My family is my social contact.
I hope you find solace soon - having a diagnosis and getting treatment will open an entire new world to you. Good luck!
Thank you
Paul
Big hug for you and a blessing...x