Give therapy and the meds a chance. I can't say that there will ever be a time when you are "normal" again. But what really is normal? But I have met some really great people on here and they have been helpful. So if you want to chat I am here for you.

Get yourself educated on BP.It is a complex disease.Google bipolar,read the Mayo Clinic articles.This will give you a basic foundation.Then as things come up,we are here to help you through.

It takes a team effort,you Phyciatrist(Pdoc in DS speak) family.
Good luck!

Trust your doc.

Oh! and welcome!!! lol

It always takes awhile to accept the diagnosis. Figure that life will be better than your pre-diagnosis days since with the various approaches to controlling symptoms you'll wind up wishing you'd been diagnosed long before.

You will enjoy life as much as you want to. You'll be as normal as you want to be.
There are many things you control so learn all you can so you can make the best decisions for yourself.

Welcome. It's good to have you here!

Now that's a good question. I'm pretty sure you're in a good place here, im only here 2 weeks. yes you can get better and people here should be able to help you through it. Meds can take up to 6 weeks to kick in alot of times sooner. Sometimes you have to change meds if they don't work. yes you can be a productive happy person again. Please tell your doctor right away if you do not feel right or have nervous problems etc. They should be able to help you get through the 6 week transaction. I wish you life and life abundantly. Welcome!

hey! Welcome!

I was diagnosed in February and was in denial until I cam eto this group and asked a lot of questions and read a lot of posts and compared my research notes.

I went off my meds bcs I lost my hair and my pdoc would not listen. But now she has and I have a lower dose and have read that another person lost their hair but that it grew back.

If I can just stay on the med (Depakote) long enough, perhaps the hair will grow back, but man was it depressing.

I am also on Cymbalta. Being dxed with BP was a life saving experience bcs it made sense of my behavior over the last portion of my life.

See how it goes with the meds. Sometimes they get the med rt on the first shot, sometimes not. I am looking into lamactil, too, bcs the Depakote has horrible weight gain and i just look at food and gain weight.

Welcome! Use the boards a lot! And disregard the negative stuff.

thanks for the responses. I really think I am going to like it here. I feel better or should I say more hopefull already

You t your life as routinish as possible and with as little stress as poossiblee. One never knws when you get high or depressed or normal itt is just known that stress, street drugs, alcohol will send ypu into probablly depression. Go to bed at the same time. Get exercise daily espec ially in the sun evenn if just walking. Alwaays take you es. Lamictal iis great. If you feel weird call your pdoc or therapist. Guard your insurance greatly. Ideas good luck

When i was diagnosed, I was told many CEOs of corporations are BP.

This site is absolutely great.

It has changed my life. Be grateful you found it now.

I am.