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.

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HannaHana 09/02/2008

I went to a live BP support group last night. It was a great experience. The people were very nice, and it just good to be there.

BUT...There was something about each of them, maybe their mannerisms, the way they talked, the way they walked? I don't know...but for some reason I could have just known they had a mental illness without having met them at a support group for the mentally ill.

It makes me wonder if there's something about me that makes me stand out as a beeper, even without trying.

This isn't a prejudiced thing...I'm obviously not judging these people, but is there something distinguishing about us or each of us individually that just screams MENTALLY ILL?

deleted_user 09/02/2008

Well because theres so much turmile regarding the chemical imbalance firing off as it does, its expected mannerisms would be affected by this. My psychologist said she could tell i was bp just by the way my facial expressions change so rapidly.

deleted_user 09/02/2008

omg, you're kidding!

HannaHana 09/02/2008

Well, I know my lip twitches when I'm holding back emotion...but I don't think it twitches that much. I guess I don't know about my facial expressions...since I can't see them.

deleted_user 09/02/2008

For me, hell yeah. I don't think people immediately know I am BP. But the longer I'm around people. . . they start to notice that I have a few more strange behaviors than average. I think I behave somewhat abnormally around people sometimes... But I have also noticed that I am usually not the only one in that category. And in the end, only the people I don't really care to know choose to hold it against me.

deleted_user 09/02/2008

Hmmm, you mean like when I start to look a little nervous, possibly panicy and I'm buying water to swallow a Xanax?????

HannaHana 09/02/2008

I don't know if it's BP or meds, but I'm not quite as articulate as I used to be...and I tend to stutter a little sometimes. I forget what I'm talking about half way through my conversation and will sometimes sit for a few minutes just trying to figure out the word I'm looking for....I guess that would do it.

deleted_user 09/02/2008

Holy shit Hanna you just described me!!!!!!!

I have been called "crazy", "off", "different", "intense", for most of my life. Guess people could tell even before I could.

KimChick 09/02/2008

I get like that a lot, too. I've been working at the same place for over 16 years, and get asked similar questions year after year. Sometimes I feel stumped, and I stumble on a question that I should know like the back of my hand, and usually I do, but my mind just goes blank, and I stutter, and I feel like I have to say SOMETHING. I hate when that happens. I feel like I'm talking nonsense.

When it happens, it usually happens for most of the day.

deleted_user 09/02/2008

Idk hanna, when i went to BP support grp a couple years ago, i thought maybe i wasn't bp, cuz i wansn't anything like the people there...but then again, they were on meds and i wasn't.

I felt the totally "normal" person, and they looked like the peeps you see in a mental hospital on tv. There wasn't any converstaion like on DS. They therapist had to drag words out of them.
I didn't want to become zombified...another reason i've been afraid of meds...also, cuz i blame the meds(anti-depr) for my loss of mental clarity. It could be the illness, but i blame the years of meds.

deleted_user 09/02/2008

OMG Hanna---please stop telling them lies about how hard you blow

deleted_user 09/02/2008

OMG! This frightens me!

deleted_user 09/02/2008

Ya Know Hanna, it is funny you brought this up because I was going to ask my Psychologist about this and he suggested I go to a live BP group.

I know friends and family just say "oh that is just Monica" but some don't know I am BP, so now I am thinking it must be the BP.

ZanyBeeper 09/02/2008

Wow, I just posted a question on another group that I belong to about my eyes and wearing glasses. I think it is probably a look in our eyes and maybe we carry themselves differently because of low self-esteem or summat like that.

cheldear 09/02/2008

Okay. If someone isn't medicated properly, you can almost always tell by their mannerisms, the way that they talk, or their facial expressions.

But if they are successfully medicated, you really can't tell at all.

Sometimes, the meds can be a telltale sign too. But mostly, for me, it's about the behavior I witness, based upon the way that they talk, the way that their eyes look, the way that they pay attention, and the way that they behave.

deleted_user 09/02/2008

Ya know Hanna, even before I placed on meds, I stuttered a bit, had word finding difficultions and I have 101 facial expressions.

I thoought you had to have no affect, but I have many expresssions, I am flighty, well been called that.

My Mom even called me the special one.

I have always been called ditzy, not smart, no common sense. I am actually very intlligent.

I articulate my words and my moms friends ask, why does she do that.

Well enough about me, just thought it would help you all out.

Dont freak out all. we are awesome. everyone has there own quirks

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