Im sensitive. I live in the Midwest and I’ve been a participant here for a few years. Grateful for the community here, esp during this challenging year.

I was diagnosed with BP 1 in 2003, and the stages of stability have ebbed and flowed, but I’ve been in a good place with the help of seroquel and lamictal and two good therapists. In person Support groups, workshops in the past and art therapy was also super helpful.

Grateful for this place, esp during socially distanced times and anxiety- provoking news stories this past year. Elbow taps to you all haha

I first joined DS in 2009. I've left a few times, but always returned.

I was committed twice in 1976. I got no diagnosis. It was after my first son was born. I used to have lots of hypomania and dysphoria. I was always angry, and depressed. But busy. Once I got through menopause, my moods really stabilized, and other than my 150 mg lithium, and 1/2 a Wellbutrin, I am doing well. Hormones, including prednisone, are my worst triggers.

I run 2 private Christian groups. If you'd like to join, send me a pm -and I'll send you the link.

A few of you I know from way back, but it is always nice to meet new people. Oh, yes, I'm very disabled by severe Rheumatoid Arthritis, among other autoimmune disease. Just so you know!

Still hanging on just outside of Oxford, UK.

hanging in there in Minnesota, USA. It's turning colder this week, but our winter has not been as cold this year as usual so I can't complain. I recently bought a light therapy light for SAD and after amonth of use my depression went away. i was somewhat surprised it worked. We get very little sunshine here in MN in the winter and don't go out much because of the cold.

I am here. I mainly write journals. Nothing really anything to report.

I've been here since about 2008.... I was diagnosis over 30 years ago.... Where has all that time gone????

I'm pretty stable and have been for a long time but I always run on the depressive side and I accept it now.... I use tools my best being gratitude and for anxiety grounding techniques

I live in Toronto and it's pretty chilling here now as well

It's great to meet newby's and see my DS family.....xo

See the thing is....none of the new people do this...its just us old timers doing it over and over again. Most of the "new comers" seem to be 1 and doner's and that gets a teeny tiny bit frustrating....

Which is why when every new person and their pet poodle sends me a friend request and then gets irked because I don't accept them and pops off some stupid message about how I think I'm too good for them or I'll talk to so and so on the Board, why not them....well that just tends to tick me off. Because anyone who knows me, knows that I have to get to know someone pretty well before I accept a friend request.

So yeah, that's me in a nutshell. Happy freaking 2021, isn't it great and such an improvement!!!!!

Haha oldercper! It’s true - that does happen. But if anyone new is here, welcome to the community! Stay and participate for awhile! Community is important and it takes time to build. I also want to get to know people before connecting. The internet has been around for awhile now but some people still use it maliciously or deceivingly.

I do miss the old board and the group there. Man it was hilarious. We laughed as much as we cried together.

MarlèneJ, it’s nice to meet you! I am wondering more about hormones relating to mental health and how the medications work in conjunction with all of it. Happy you’re here.

Fish, I hope things are ok in the uk! You’ve been missed!

Becky, that’s good to hear the lamp helped! I’ve always wondered about those. I tend to not dip too terribly into depression so I am always nervous it could have the opposite effect on me.

It’s cold here too. I try to go out for walks when there is snow but stay inside whenever there is ice.

Deck, how are you holding up with wintertime? Wintery nature photography seems like it could be really fun.

And Sun - 30 years. Your wisdom beams from you. I’m at 18 years and I feel like there’s 2-3 novels or screenplays in all those experiences but I can’t bring myself to finish anything or turn it into ´art.’ Too difficult. Seriously - your presence and leadership here is appreciated so much.

OlderCP, get out your megaphone and call all the other missing members! How about mooby doo? He disappeared again for quite awhile this time.

All of this socially distanced living is difficult, but manageable still having contact virtually.

Ha.... My old creaky bones beam from me... You are a dear though and TY sweetie.....xo

Like you Sensi, I can remember the days when we'd all be on here for hours laughing and telling stories and sometimes crying....but having a good time. The good old days. I miss Ruby so much, she was always good for long rant and Gina, she love to talk and talk...and some people have just *poof*disappeared. It is what it is, there are still plenty of us old dinosaurs who've been around since forever. I've got hell 31 years of BP Diagnosis now...I tend to forget because although my body feels 80 most of the time, my mind feels like it's still 25!!!!

DS needs to add the Chat feature back in, it makes it easier to yak!