When I was finally diagnosed with bipolar I was relieved. Before that I just thought I was a bad person who couldn't control her emotions. Once I went off my meds when I started feeling good thinking I was "cured". I quickly found out I wasn't. After that I stayed on my meds realizing I had to in order to stay well. Staying on my meds for life is ok as long as I stay "sane".

Welcome to the board brokenb......I was relived to.....I welcomed a diagnosis.....

The way I saw it is okay now i know what is wrong I can focus on finding stability

We do have a very treatable disorder... It can take some time to find the right treatment and tools however it's treatable

I think as long as you do this you're going to be hurting yourself and holding yourself back

I would look up signs and symptoms of Bipolar and see if you recognize you when you're ill

Maybe if you see that you have the symptoms it won't be such a stretch to wanting the help

This is a good place to come ... I'm glad that you've found us.... Big hug....xo

Hi there. I struggled a lot too at first I’ve gone off meds and it was awful. Some nights I loook at my medication bottles and I feel sick that I need so many pills just to live a somewhat normal life. Therapy helps and so does my loving family.

It is something I still struggle with. More so when I'm manic, and my moods are out of control. My last manic episode "ended" about a month ago because I finally found a Doctor who would perscribe me a medication I could afford, and I started going back to therapy. But when I'm manic, I constantly think "what is wrong with me, why do i feel this way, why am I acting like this", then I start taking the medication/doing therapy, and it becomes crystal clear that I am bipolar, and can't function normally without meds. I've had people tell me that my brain is sick, and its no different than taking insulin for diabetes.
But honestly, those platitudes fall flat. If stigma surrounding mental illness wasn't so bad, I would probably have an easier time accepting it in myself. So...it is a process. Be kind to yourself.

I to struggle with acceptance of my mental illnesses. I also find it easy to say I am a recovering alcoholic.

Don't know why and I dont have an answer of how to find acceptance with it.

Always remember you are not alone and to take it one day at time.

Thé breakthrough for me accepting it is to silence the doubt and discomfort with it from people close to me. Once I found my footing with the appropriate treatment (the right therapist and the right pdoc and meds) it got better. People who aren’t supportive can be hard for acceptance - everyone in my life seemed to have an opinion about the diagnosis and everything involved. We have a long way to go to fight stigma but participating in just that - fighting stigma - has also been a big part of my journey of acceptance. Sending you support!

I would also look at it as acceptance is a gift to you in order to be stable

If you can think of the words of the Serenity Prayer no matter your belief the words are wise

God Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change
Change the things I can
And have the wisdom to know the difference ... xo

One thing to remember......

You don't have to put a big sign on your back or front that says to the world, "Hey I have BiPolar Disorder!" You have a Mental Illness, a severe Mood Disorder, one that requires the use of medication for the rest of your life in order for it to remain stable.

As for whether you tell people you have BiPolar or not is up to you, that's your choice....as long as your stay on your Meds and stay as Stable as you can.

If you stop your meds, then it will be a difficult secret to keep, i.e. your behavior will give it away. Stopping your meds will also make acceptance of your Illness much more difficult and until you accept it and learn how to live a stable life with BiPolar Disorder its really hard for others to understand how you live with it.

Also stopping your meds over and over causes problems with the meds themselves. For many people when they stop meds that have been working, then re-start them, often those meds don't work as well anymore. If your lucky you and your Pdoc can get you back to a reliable, stable dose. Next time you stop your meds and then re-start again, odds are they most likely won't work anymore and you'll have to change meds and start that process over.

I can't seem to accept it either. I research to see what else it could be. Reasons I should go off my medicines. I live in denial. I just got back on my meds, this will be the 3rd time now. I want to stop the cycle. I have seen a lot of therapists in my life. It's a struggle.

Welcome to DS. The part that was hard to except being declared disabled. I felt there was so much more I could do. Now my lithium has caused hypothyroidism . Even with medication I have constant fatigue.
I tell people about having bp when I have to. Hugs.