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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Women Of Strength Meeting

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"She could not speak, but she did hold on,
and the warm grasp of the friendly human
hand comforted her sore heart,
and seemed to lead her nearer to the Divine
arm which alone could uphold her in her trouble."

Louisa May Alcott


Good Evening Everybody!
Welcome to our first Women Of Strength Meeting!

My name is Lindsey. I am married for 4 years. I have a 4 year old son.
I was diagnosed with Bipolar and chronic depression, when I was 19 years old.

Our topic is Depression. The question was:
How has it affected your work, home, and family?

For me depression has affected my life greatly. It has made it very hard for me to keep a job.
It takes away play time with my son.
It affects the quality of my life.

Recently with new medicine, I have had better success with keeping the depression away.
But it is still a struggle sometimes.


Now, if everyone else could briefly introduce themselves, and also list their answer to the topic question about depression.


Then we can chat!
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Hi. I am Kelly. I have suffered from depression since my teens. I have difficulty keeping friends. In fact, my only true friend is my husband. I haven't kept a job. I miss out on activities when I am depressed, and I know that I drive people away.
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I so understand Kelly. It seems that most people cannot handle our illness. It makes them uncomfortable.
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so very true, because of our unique quality's we are often deemed too much and intimidating. my life is played out daily with rapid cycling, sometimes full of hope and others at the end's of despair, to answer your question would be much longer than most of us have focus for at times around here, including myself. hopefully you will feel welcomed and be recieved well by all.
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Thanks for your message. I had 18 people who had signed up for this meeting. But I think I messed up the time zones when I was planning this. I do feel welcome at this site. I feel like there are finally people who understand what I go through.
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Hi, my name is Shari and I am dual diagnosed....Bp and substance abuse. I've been clean for 1.6 yrs. but have been fighting this dual illness for many years. Was diagnosed right after 9/11 when I lost it all and gave up.
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Wow Shari,
That's powerful. I did not know that. But your still here, and your still fighting. That's a good sign. How did you get into substance abuse? Was it the depression that drove you to it?
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What do you all think about the shootings in Virgina today? Wasn't that horrible.
I feel bad for those parents of the students.
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I think the substance abuse was because I was self-medicating. When I was growing up and well into by 40s, there was not the knowledge there is today and meds for the illnesses we suffer from. so I used pot alot to keep my mood from swinging to much and then abused alsohol when my BP began to get worse
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JB here! I have suffered from bipolar/depression all my life and well its sucks. I haven't been able to hold down a job, stay in college, and just focus on life in general.
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My addiction is food. Everytime I am depressed or feeling bad I eat all day and night. I wonder if everyone with Bipolar has some type of addiction. Extreme or not.
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JB I can so relate. I used to work in this serious stuff shirt nuclear energy building. I was bored and could not stay still, that I would go to the movies on my lunch break.
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I am very thankful to know what it is that has been wrong with me and that I'm not a bad person just because I suffer from an illness. I am glad I have the strength and courage to keep moving forward by taking one step at a time. After you lose everything more than once, you really learn to appreciate the little things in life. like, just living through another day with mental wellness and sobriety.
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The VA Tech thing hit me hard. I went through something similar recently where a good friend was killed. I can empathize. It pretty much just feel hopeless. Anyone who went through 9/11 well....to survive is more than I can imagine.
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Hi I'm Debbie I'm 38 I've suffered from depression an bipolar most of my life have been treated off an on since i was 18.myh family well they don't think i have a problem . i guess I'm the odd one here i do hold a full time job .when I'm at work i fell normal. but i don't have a life outside of work
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My starlite, If you do not mind me asking. What are you referring to when you say you lost everything?
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