Hi Kaylab. Welcome. You’ve certainly had a lot to deal with. Some people on here have had similar lives so we understand.

Kayla, sorry to hear that you were misdiagnosed with bipolar disorder before PTSD because I was, too. I took the meds and the whole 9 yards only to find out that bipolar wasn't it. Even if the symptoms may be close enough together for doctors to be confused in diagnosing us, the origin of bipolar is genetic from birth and the origin of PTSD is something that was done to you in life, which makes them totally different. I'm glad they finally got that straight for you as they finally did for me. Welcome, glad you joined us.

Hello Kayla. Welcome to the forum.

I'm a tad bit confused what you mean by, "Coming Out." Sexually? Mentally? Spiritually?

Anyhoo. . .

I started psychotherapy in 1972, around 20 years before the first PTSD paper was printed at the VA and still quite allot of years before it became my primary DX. The vast majority of my formal psychotherapy was for Manic Depression/Bipolar. Nobody really believed the dx was right, but it is what we had to work with and I still use allot of the tools I learned in Bipolar therapy. I continued attending many of the support groups until approved and current medication became a requirement for participating anything Bipolar. I still miss my beeper friends and peep in on them from time-to-time, under the radar of the med pushers, of course.

When the VA was officially reclassifying me to PTSD, my shrink asked if I wanted to have "Bipolar" declared an official misdiagnosis. I couldn't see the point in that step. At the very least, PTSD is a malady of extremes and the tools can be plied to the rapid cycling nature of either dx. Personally, I believe the dx is only a way of finding the words for ^it^. Ya can't find answers until after you have found the question.

Yes sexuality, it was horrific but I’ll get over it one day.. maybe

Sorry your family was so callous. All the more reason to keep them out of your bedroom. I'm an incest survivor, so keeping my family of both genders out of my bedroom is an all important feat in my world.

Healing hopes for the love which awaits your open honesty.

I'm fairly new here too. So far it's been great. A diverse group with a depth of experience and understanding. Sorry for what brings you here but glad you came.

@wildcat thank you I’m glad I came too

Welcome to the board sweetie... I am so sorry for all that you've gone through... It must have been terrible and so painful.... My heart goes out to you... I grew up with alcoholism and I know how damaging addiction is..... Big hug... xo

Welcome aboard kaylab. Prayers friend.