Is Life Ever Normal for a Person with Bipolar?

Maybe I am not bipolar as my diagnosis indicates. Maybe I am in remission. My life is almost always normal - except when it's not and that has not been the case for a long time. I wonder if people who are always thinking about their illness need it for their identity.

Hi! Right now I feel normal. I remarked as much to a friend who didn't know I was bipolar.She has depression and knew what I meant.I am in remission and quite grateful for it. There was a time where I was hyper vigilant with my routine,afraid the bipolar would come back with a vengeance. So far, so good, I'm still careful about my routines and do keep them well. It is nice to feel normal as pertains to my view of it.

jill for you to even suggest this :
" I wonder if people who are always thinking about their illness need it for their identity. "
makes my blood boil. my life is totally compromised by my illness, and i wish the truth was anything but that.
it's people like you who really make the world a special place...
congratulations on your enormass compassion and ability to think objectively-
it's people like you who make my already living hell life that much worse.. if hell can be worse on earth in a body with an illness that is invisible and no one understands.
you obviously don't have bipolar... so why are you even on here, reading this?
i hope you see my comment and it makes your conscience squirm with embarrassment and guilt.
i hope you pray for forgiveness... on this one, cause the results of such a careless worldview and comment are very dangerous to others who's lives teeter-totter between being barely livable, - to complete hell on earth.
g-d have mercy on you.

evette we call such people trolls. They set a bait and unfortunately you walked into the trap. They troll the internet trying to get such a reaction. In future you will know not to feed the trolls.
I struggle with the same issues as you are, but there is hope, there are plenty of times in your future when things will seem normal again. I have relaxed my regimen, going with the psychiatrists even though they do make mistakes, seeking the help of counsellors when I need them, and trying to follow a general routine. Constantly being at war with the illness will exhaust your adrenal glands. Try to relax and do the things you enjoy.
Best of luck

thank you, Sarah.. for your kind and pertinent words.
i think you are right on with all you said; and summed it up just right.
i'm sorry for reacting and becoming angry, i'm sure you and many others know the frustration i speak of; and i believe it is best to relax, ignore.. take it easy and do what we can. do the things that bring us happiness and focus on those..
i don't want to allow someone(s) with their lack of ability to understand to allow me to go to 'that negative place,'
i could have overreacted, as i am now reading again and the first poster, Jill.. says she may or may not be ' as bipolar as (her) dx indicates. '
thank you for your caring words, they make perfect sense.

I think some people with bipolar respond very well to lithium or some other drug or therapy that they received early in the course of their illness- and then their illness does not play such a big role in their lives. But if you have spent many of your formative years being sick without the proper diagnosis and care, and if you don't respond to the first medication tried- it is quite different. Having a "treatment resistant" case of bipolar does not mean that the patient is resisting treatment, it means that the illness is particularly hard to treat- sort of like antibiotic resistant bacteria. I think many of those who are easily treated don't understand what all the fuss is about. Just take a pill. (if only it were just one pill, and if only I knew which one would make me better, I'd be happy)

Mine never has been- at this point it looks normal to others, but they don't know what a battle I fight every single day. After 62 years it is exhausting.

And there's knowing all your life that you were not normal and being told that you could act normal if you just tried hard enough (reference Jill above who may be in denial). At least a diagnosis explains the problem and offers tools and strategies for coping.
I hate the callousness of being told that there is no normal, and all this emphasis on drugs is just the drug companies trying to destroy all originality. Yeah, that's right, because dangerous mania and suicidal depression are just a part of the beautiful tapestry of life. You'd be fine if you just didn't make such a fuss about it, but if your mania makes you a danger to yourself and others, we'll just pop you into a straight-jacket and tuck you in this rubber room and forget about you and go back to our beautiful tapestry of life where nobody is abnormal because there is no normal. (rant much?)
I know it's rude to flog your own blog on somebody else's, but in the spirit of sharing bipolar experience, I'm doing it anyway. Sorry. THis is a blog post on writing while bipolar.
http://www.melissalmccann.com/1/post/2013/02/all-the-best-people-are-mad.html

I've been abnormal all my life. Only recently, since my August 2012 hospitalization have I come to realize that I must be a better medical pro than the pros. They don't have the ability to monitor my minute to minute mental/physical conditions.
I keep track of everything that I do. . . literally my own security team.
I involve my medical/psychiatric team whenever needed. Today I did when I had to start drinking beer again because my anxiety has gone beyond what mediatation, waves CDs, music, and clonazepam can do. But I told my team that I'm adding beer for now. Next week I'm adding melatonin to my pre-bedtime meds to help calm me for sleep.
Until then, beer.
Everyday is an adventure. Everyday is different.
And I end up more alone everyday.
No friends.
My kids are dumping me.
Life basically sucks, but I continue on anyway. Why? Neo said it best in The Matrix: "Because I choose too."
---Lew H.

Lew H. - it's weird to be in a place where you're merely existing. I'm sorry - it is sad and depressing. Everyday should feel like a new day. Bipolar and life seems to suck that out of us. I hate it and always will.

All of these responses can be real and accurate. For long stretches I felt that I could forget my bipolar disease... Take the meds.. No worries. Until it doesn't work and there are worries and consequences. Five years... Then one outrageous email and a director level job fine. Six more years and a stay at a hospital in an inpatient basis, and the loss of my closest friend of five years and love. So, do e live a normal life? Sometimes, but we always have to ask, how long will it last?

@ Jill and to whomever shares the same thoughts - both trolls and the curious...
People think of their illness mainly because they are struggling to understand it and manage it. Simple as that.

I think the answer is seemingly simple: There is no definition of "normal" just varying degrees of health, functioning, and personal aspirations.
I dislike the word normal and the connotations of it when connected to mental health. It increases stigma. We don't need to be whatever we may feel (stress that word)society deems as "normal"
That said, an interesting post with equally interesting comments.
-Natalie

I don't have bipolar I have generalized anxiety disorder and panic attacks, along with dysthymia. Normal for me is not the same normal as you or normal from what other people say is normal. I think "Normal is an individualized condition that cannot really be appreciated to its fullest potential until we can reduce the stigma that comes with mental illness of any kind. I can be as happy as the next guy, I can enjoy anyone's company or not enjoy. I like to be heard, I like to be left alone, I like to be in the middle of a crowd or in a corner. It just depends on my individual normal at the moment. I offer a smile and wish peace to all who want it.

Leo,
I really like everything that you said and how you did it. There's an external average, but the normal is really as applied to each individual. I have my normal, you have your normal; but those two things could be vastly different. (I do have bipolar I disorder, btw, and severe adhd, ocd, and generalized anxiety).
It's interesting to think about the average. Because mathematically, what is it? It's the number achieved when the sum of however many members ranging high, low, and in between is divided by the number of members.
So in order to even arrive at an average or norm, the abnormal, the outlyers, have to be included.
I will never be a societal norm, partly by choice with some beliefs and also genetically, medically, etc. BUT, without me or people like me, or in similar circumstances, there would be no average or normal to compute.
I could continue developing this "thought work" of mine here, or generate counter arguments too, but I don't feel like it right now. lol. Too much work. The first "part," so to speak, was completely spontaneous.
With that, I will sign my weird self off, but not before I say that I've actually been doing rather well lately--3 pretty good weeks in a row! Unprecedented for me in basically the past year. YaY! We'll see how long it lasts, but at least I'm not feeling the edge of when the other shoe will drop me into a mixed state.
wellness to all,
julia

I have BP II, and everyday I think about my illness: when I take my meds, when there is a mood change, when I go out in public, when the weather changes...Right now I live with my parents, so some stressors are not there, but what happens when I'm out on my own? Will those coping skills kick in?

Practice them now while you don't have all the stressors of life, get good at them and learn more; then yes, they will kick in when you're back out on your own. But you have to practice them so much that they become like breathing, even though you don't need them right now.

On a more statistical note, while we're talking about what 'normal' means, consider the normal distribution, otherwise known as the bell curve. In the normal distribution it's normal to have a few people on either end of the bell curve. It's average to be in the majority, but normality always contains a few people who are quite different from the others.

Hello, my name is Peter and I'm Bipolar?
After recent life threatening events and a lifetime of reacting to emotions, I made an appointment with at the local mental health unit. The psychiatrist suspected a mixture of personality disorder and referred me to a psychologist. A number of months ago my GP prescribed antidepressants to treat a severe depression. After a few appointments with the psychologist (he has a doctorate), he is strongly suspecting Bipolar 1.
How individualized can bipolar be? I've always been introverted except during possible manic episodes) but never presented like the stereotype of a manic episode with rapid/forced speech or delusions so intense that reality was completely lost. I still met the DSM V criteria even without those descriptors.
I am in remission currently for about 2 weeks with little emotional reactiveness and sticking to a healthy lifestyle. I find I am nervous with every feeling that ripples my concsiousness as if it could be the start of an up or down.
I feel like I'm on vacation but I'm not enjoying it because the weather isn't perfect.
I see a resevoir of experience in the organic community Natasha has created; please help me map out the land mines of the diagnosis process. Life is short and I don't want to waste another season reacting to feelings.
How is it possible that I have a successful career in an extremely high stress position? Does that contradict other's experience with the illness?

No, Peter, it doesn't. It just means that you're fortunate enough to have found meds quickly and early on that appear to be working for you. It also means you've already got a lot of coping skills under your belt, even if you don't realize it. Keep using them and managing the stress, because it is unmanaged or poorly managed stress that usually triggers an episode.
I used to have a successful career, also in a high stress environment, and it nearly killed me--most especially when I was wrongfully fired. It's been a crazy two years since then, some of it stable, but mostly not. I'm now ending my 3rd week in a row of stability, and that has been unprecedented in the last two years. I plan on reestablishing my career at some point in some way; there are actually a lot of possibilities. I have to do it bit by bit so as not to take on more than I can handle, but I certainly don't anticipate remaining on SSD forever.
Just take care of yourself and you'll be ok.

My life is incredibly different from the average person's because of this illness.
Getting out of bed, eating, getting dressed, socializing, and every other simple thing that occurs in a day is more difficult for me (if not impossible) than for anyone else I know. Sometimes I try to tell myself that I'm "not that bad" or "somewhat normal", but watching others reminds me of the truth. I doubt I will ever be like them and honestly, I'm jealous.
I'm not saying people who aren't mentally ill don't have their own problems because surely they do. They are just very different problems and other "normal" people can empathize with them.

"Problems" is a matter of perspective. "Normals" (for a lack of a better label) do not have to deal with racing thoughts, do not deal with ups and downs of the same magnitude. As of now, I like to think what we experience is really normal multiplied. An intense normal. I would also suspect that anyone experiencing things turned up or down will feel exactly like you and I. Only they can't envision it because they are always functioning on five and not on eleven. Much easier to cope with. I know this because I do have five moments. It's the ones & eleven that are troublesome.
Also what constitutes a stressful situation varies from person to person. I've seen girls have major breakdowns because their hairdresser "messed up" their hair. That, personally, slides off my back, but then again, I don't know why hair is particularly touchy for that person, nor is it my place to tell them what is important to them.

I was wondering the same thing Peter asked just last night at work: Can I maintain this high-stress job? And if so, does that mean I'm not bipolar. I hesitate to go to the doctor, because I'm so afraid he's going to tell me that I'm perfectly normal and just overreacting to things.
That's the point, isn't it?
I don't necessarily want to be diagnosed as bipolar, but I'd love to have some concrete explanation for why I can't seem to handle the little everyday stuff that everyone else barely even pays attention to. I find myself wondering how many other people are like me and also just doing a good job of hiding it.
I just came off about a month of "up" days, where I pretty much thought only in poems and felt sure that people must be dazzled by my brightness when they looked at me, because surely it was showing in my eyes and in every word I wrote. I wanted to believe that I was just finally "happy", but I knew it was not normal. Some friends of mine said that maybe I'm just a depressed person who is very creative. But now I'm back down, and there are no words. Just the fighting with myself every night at work and every day to find reasons to keep going, to make myself do simple things at home like cook and clean and pay bills. You don't know how much it means to find other people who can't face paying bills. I thought I was just - well, crazy. :(
So this is an interesting read, and one I needed today. "Normal" is something I wonder about all the time. Because I don't feel one bit normal. When I see the lives of the people I know, I'm not like them. And I always wonder what's wrong with me.

Trisha, there are varying levels of bipolar. You may be one of the high-functioning ones.
Honestly, every human living in today's hectic world is bound to have some issues and most psychiatrists are happy to diagnose some disorder and start throwing pills at you, even though most people just need some therapy. You will know when you are truly sick because the "I don't think I can"s will turn into "I can't"s.
I wouldn't wish bipolar on my worst enemy and I hate that you are experiencing symptoms. (It does say a lot that you identify so well with these posts.) Although I think seeking therapy first can be helpful, one should never wait to the point they are suicidal to see a doctor.
Whether anyone says you're "normal" or not, know there are people out there to listen who care and you are not alone.

Kaitlin Panda-
Thank you for the encouragement. :) I have tried to put off seeing a doctor specifically because I want to avoid the pill-pushing if I can. Right now I cope by trying to keep things as structured and stress-free as possible and with a whole lot of self-talk that I guess could be considered a very basic kind of cognitive behavioral therapy. I never knew much about CBT until I read about it in a blog and realized that it's pretty much what I've been doing all along.
The problem is that it's so exhausting. And from the sounds of it (judging by what I've read here) that doesn't change even with medication. Is that the case?
I'm about to have a lot more responsibility placed on me at my job, and if meds would help me get off the roller coaster of "I can't do this, I'm so dumb and worthless, Everyone is going to know that I don't know anything, I'm going to get fired and be the laughingstock of the world, It's all hopeless and I should just end it, But wait - I can do anything, There's no reason I can't do this, I'm as smart as everyone else, But maybe not that guy, I'm a failure, Everyone's going to know I'm a failure...", I'd be willing to look into taking them. Because I'm assuming that a constant stream of thoughts like that is not "normal".

I truly believe that what you say IS in the realm of normal - for some people. It is definitely not comfortable and can wear you down. It MAY be different with therapy and drugs but it still takes a lot of energy and effort to maintain. That's just life I think.
But then, I am not an authority - that is just MY experience. Good luck. Keep working at it.

My life got a lot more normal a couple of years after I tapered off the medications that never did a darned thing to help (after 15 years of trying), and usually made me worse (lithium worked for mania, only, but I so rarely get that). In my strong opinion, the drugs doubled the disability while helping the depression not one bit.
The less I see the doctor and therapist etc, the less I think about having bipolar, and the more "normal" my life is. I often think, and I think this is correct (for me), that seeing mental health professionals causes the same harm that ruminating over my troubles can cause - a negative focus, and makes me feel a whole lot worse about my losses and how I am a labelled individual. I think dumping mental health "help" would be the best thing for my mental health, but I need them to fill out my paperwork because I'm disabled and any possible improvement almost for sure won't be enough to go back to work even part time. I will add that my providers are all nice people who are trying to help.
I agree that coping strategies are exhausting, and focused on being mentally ill. Fishing, reading and hot baths work for me now that I'm off the agitating drugs, and are NOT something I was taught we mentally ill people need to do to cope, so I don't get sucked into thinking about bipolar all the time anymore. I really think that adds to the distress - thinking about it all the time.
During the very bad depressions, my life is in no way "normal." Interestingly, I spend less time in those very severe depressions now that I'm off these mental drugs. I think they destroyed my ability to function so very thoroughly that the prescribed drugs destroyed most of what was important to me, adding more to my depressions. But I am only speculating on that part.

I think about my Bipolar as much as I need to. Coping mechanisms are everyday. Working to find the right set of meds is still a constant for me. And I read in one post that "maybe people need bipolar for their identity" I think That is rude! And quite heartless. Yes, you may be one of the lucky few who doesn't battle daily for their health. But to stoop so low as to lay the insult upon others is just wrong. And with your thinking I sincerely hope you never have to cope the way I do. You will have a hard time laying blame then.
I strive daily to keep a balance to let the emotions and thoughts play out as they need to but stay grounded enough to follow what I know is right. My brain can be my enemy, many times it is. But beauty comes from my brain as well. Beauty comes from Bipolar too. I feel more deeply, love more wholly and find ways to use my compassion to help others when and where I can. Normal is a setting on a washing machine. I don't need normal. I need love, kindness and joy whenever I can find it.

Evette - I don't know exactly where Jill was coming from, but I'm sorry that it upset you and see why it did. However, I wanted to let you know that, for some people, there is indeed some truth to the idea of maintaining an "illness" or whatever we want to call it for purposes of having an identity - such as when we feel that we don't have anything else. I know this to be the case for myself - I know that I do self-defeating things and don't put as much work into trying to improve my life for the very reason that having mental health issues has become sort of "my thing" or my identity or the thing that I'm "good" at (where I feel incompetent at everything else). That being said, I don't like my life the way it is, and I wish that my identity weren't so wrapped up in mental health issues, but it's hard to change that, for various reasons. Putting aside my own stuff, as a therapist, I do see SOME clients (certainly not all) doing a similar thing - mental health issues have become such a part of their identity, and change is so incredibly scary. They fear that by allowing themselves to become well, they will lose a part of themselves (very much the case for me too). Anyway, I hope that none of this offends you, as I do believe that I get where you are coming from.

You hit the nail right on the head, Natasha!!!! I have never had anything normal about my life. I'm like you in that I have to be constantly aware of my Bipolar. I don't ever forget about it or I will pay the consequences. I get told that nothing is normal, but it is. People go on with their lives with few problems for the most part. I, on the other hand, have to battle my illness 24/7 even though I'm pretty stable for the first time in my life. I still have problems with meds.,dealing with family matters and still try to maintain my stability. I'm going to share this on Facebook!!! Everyone should read your comments. Thanks!!!

I can understand where Evette is coming from. Quite frankly, I agree that "Jill" is probably just being inflammatory. A statement like that is dismissive and insensitive - especially to people who are newly diagnosed, or those that deal with the treatment resistant variation. I don't think anyone would want to have this sort of "identity", given the amount of pain and suffering it causes.
It is what is, unfortunately, and I think most people would probably change it if they could. In fact, that is what most people are here for. To learn more about bipolar disorder and how to cope with its reality.

STupid stupid stupid me

I have been living in hell with a bi-polar wife for the past 13 years, all of your comments are complete rubbish. A `normal` person cannot live with someone who has bi-polar unless they are constantly heavily medicated, or drugs or alcohol

What about the gifts you guys. Stop focusing on the downside and all challenges! How about the unbelievable spiritual connection that we get. We can see through the veil into the other side....oh that's right the experts who haven't experienced it say we're delusional. I don't mean mania per say(although that had some good points too). I'm talking everyday life. As Greenday sings, "All her doubts were someone else's point of view."

For a long time, before being diagnosed, and also whilst being in the denial stage after diagnosis, I too shared the opinion that people who identified with their diagnosis were labelling themselves and using the diagnosis as a part of their identity. Then, out of the blue, I had a severe attack of depression and had to admit to myself that I have a disabling condition, and that life for me never has been, and never will be "normal". In addition to the depression, I went through a soul searching period of mourning - mourning and grieving for the person I could have been if I didn't have bipolar. I mourned for the lost opportunities, the broken relationships, the loss of myself, because I never knew, and never will know just WHO I should have been as a fit and healthy human being.
After the period of mourning there came a feeling of acceptance. I came to terms with my illness. This didn't mean that I wanted it. Nor did it mean that I had given up the fight. Coming to accept my illness meant that now I had some tools to help me. I learnt to live just for the present day, neither expecting too much or too little of myself. I learnt to plan and live my life IN SPITE of my illness, to the best of my ability.
Because I have probably been ill all of my life, including during my childhood, I feel that bipolar has become integrated into my personality. Does that mean I live by a defining label? Yes and no. In some ways I feel that there have been times when I have let the illness work in my favour - in my art work, writing, and when I studied for a degree as a therapist, although my studying took longer than it should have done, due to the depressive episodes.
Bipolar has limited me, yes, and I have had to learn to live within those limitations, but in other ways it has also enriched my life. It has given me an outlook and attitude towards life that I know for sure I wouldn't have developed if I hadn't been ill. It has taught me to be compassionate, not only towards others, but towards myself too. It has taught me true self esteem is possible even in the most adverse circumstances, if it comes from WITHIN, from loving oneself unconditionally. I have learnt to love myself even during those awful times in the depths of a deep depression, when my self esteem seems to be at an all time low, by holding on to that tiny glimmer of hope, that knowledge that this too shall pass, that in spite of, or maybe BECAUSE of, this illness, I am a beautiful, worthy human being, as are we all. I wouldn't have been able to come to this position if I had been well. I really feel that I have been enriched in some ways by this illness.
Yes, I wish I didn't have it, but I have to accept that I do, and live within its limitations. Nothing I do can change my illness or make it go away. I understand that there will be times when I struggle with meds, ensuring the right dose etc, and that there will be times when my depression hits with a vengeance or my judgement will be severely compromised during a high. There will be times when I will feel level, wondering if this is how "normal" feels, grabbing onto those times with a tenacious,desperate and hungry greed, because, even if they last for months or years, they will surely pass.
To Jackie, who said
"Maybe I am not bipolar as my diagnosis indicates. Maybe I am in remission. My life is almost always normal – except when it’s not and that has not been the case for a long time. I wonder if people who are always thinking about their illness need it for their identity."
I'm truly happy that you're in remission at the moment. We all strive for remission, hence our preoccupation with meds and our continued awareness on a day to day basis of our illness. I understand that during a remission or even during a period of hypomania it can be all too easy to FORGET. I certainly have in the past, especially when I was in denial. I truly hope that you remain in remission. I don't want to be alarmist, but would advise you to please guard against complacency, and be aware of the sneaky, insiduous nature of this disorder, how it can creep up slowly. These people don't want to live by labels, and they sincerely wish they didn't have to struggle. This is why they didn't take too kindly to your remark. I don't believe you're a troll or that you truly understood the impact of your comment. Please understand that whilst YOU are having an easy ride at the moment, that this might not always be the case, and that there will come a time when you can see it from their perspective. I wish all of you guys well.

I have been recently diagnosed and for the past few months my life has been awful, from a agitated high to a euphoric and extremely impolsive high and crashed to devistating low where i did attempt something which now i feel i would never do, these are not my only episodes just the most recent and the worst, im currently feeling like im back to normal (although when i feel agitated words i didnt know i was thinking come out my mouth and sometime i sing them :S ) but now i feel "normal" im scared that its going to end and i will go spiraling up and then down, my last episodes cost me my work position and a promotion which had already been agreed until i was signed off for months, i feel like my life is stop/start and now i think i am me again i still question myself incase i am not, i just so confused does anyone else feel this too????? I feel like although my mood is stable-ish i cant just catch a break i just want someone to fix me

I don't think about my illness all the time, not even every day. I have a number of other chronic illness that I do think about every day...they scream at me!
My bipolar doesn't. However, I know it is there. I have my coping mechanisms in place. I'm in tuned to my moods and it things are off kilter I know to pay attention!
So do I think about it all the time, No. But it is always there, it's in the back of my mind. It is a part of me. I accept it as such. I live with it. I know when I'm under a lot of stress to really pay attention to how I'm dealing with things. Most importantly I really pay attention to my emotions. If I feel things are off, I do something about it. I call my doctor, I call my therapist, I do my mindfulness practices and really pay attention to me and figure out..."is this an acceptable reaction, or am I over the top?" "is this me?" yes I ask myself that...I think of the emotions I have when they are bipolar emotions as not "my" emotions they are caused by my illness. I think this helped me a lot when I was coming to terms with my illness. I had no qualms about talking my medication, or doing everything I could to get rid of the emotions the illness caused..they weren't mine. I have perfectly good emotions all on my own! :-) I know the signs when I'm getting to the point where I don't want to be.
I'm glad I don't have to really think about it every day. Perhaps it's because I've been relatively stable for 20 years. And because I am very mindful of how I feel.
Yes I've had a few times when I've had some breaks with my meds, I've noticed my emotions going off, and I've gotten help. I've had a couple of times it was hard to get regulated with new meds but we got it right. Now that I practice mindfulness meditation and mindfulness practices everyday, I have been able to reduce my medication.
This has been the best coping mechanism I have found.
as you said though....there are different levels of bipolar illness, and people react differently to medications. We all need to use our coping mechanisms and stay in tuned to ourselves.
I do want to say something about the first poster....everyone is so mad at her. Remember...she may not want to admit her diagnosis. Perhaps she is in a time when things are going good. We are often quick to judge those who we feel are judging us. try to feel compassion for those who do not understand too. or who may be fighting themselves.

I loved Lola's reply and Julia's. One must be philosophical and accept oneself. My father as bipolar comedy writer and the family was far from normal. But my parents despised ordinary folk and encouraged creativity.
After being "high-functioning" for 25 years, I was lucky enough to get a disability pension. Life is quieter now and I can indulge my passion for singing. I avoid my mother back in UK as she has no sympathy for bipolar and is a toxic influence. Here in Belgium I have some good friends. I do a lot of facebooking, emailing etc. and sites such as Healthy Place (Natasha is tops) as well as seeing my psychiatrist every week. I have a cleaner and a financial administrator and occasionally see a social worker from my old employer. I go to a friendly church and I've found my new faith helps too. There are a lot of "normal" people there too - alongside oddballs like me. I feel cosy and protected at home with my cats and TV though I try to get out and get involved in choirs, see community theatre and go out with girlfriends to the cinema etc. I'm 61 and have given up dating, which keeps me calmer. I plan to write a memoir of my comi-tragic pa... one day, but don't want to stress out about it. Keep cool!

Well said. Article is Accurate answer to the question.

My first sexual assault was at age 9. I have Bipolar Disorder I and Borderline Personality Disorder. My life has not been "normal" since I was a child. I'm 42 now. I am very compliant w my meds, my psychiatrist appointments & therapy. I have practiced to stop negativity. I fight every single day of my life. My moods & emotions are completely overwhelming. I honestly don't think I will ever have a "normal" life. Life as I know it has become "normal" to me.
I wish everyone the very best! =)

I have Bipolar 1 and PTSD from life and 10 years in the infantry. I have been to and conducted more funerals than anyone should in a lifetime and I am 33. I don't know how to walk all of this out and quite frankly I have lost hope. At one point I was heading into the chaplaincy and was a minister and the when I was diagnosed it all fell apart. Now I don't know what the hell I am doing and I live with the decisions that I have made...and make. I spend a lot of time in apologies and haven't been able to learn to balance meds with a 50 hour a week sales job, MBA schooling, and life with three young sons. I feel like I am always striving after the wind and picking up the pieces of stress gone awry. Any insight is welcome, I just for once...want to be well.

The closest people to me don't get Bipolar. My close friend just died, and I'm going through menopause, yet people don't realize I'm not just complaining or being negative. I'm under a lot of stress which affects my illness a lot. My best friend caters to another friend with problems, but gets annoyed with me. Basically, in my world, nobody seems to understand or care that I'm sick. Nobody took the time to ever read about bipolar, not close friends, mother or husband. Always thought I would cope better as an older person, which I kind of do, but my support system is not really there. I take my meds. The shitty menopause and death are messing me up. My therapist thinks I'm fine. They'll believe I'm legitimately having problems only if I'm on top of a frigging roof. Nobody gives a crap.

By the way, I am not suicidal. Just stating that nobody has the time or the interest unless they see real crazy behavior, Iike they see in the movies.

Been through many loses in my life which has taught me independence.
Was abused as a child which taught me inner strength and discernment.
Stigma of mental illness has taught me not to let pride stand in my way, yet at the same time to always believe in myself despite what ignorant people might say or do to try to damage my self esteem
On a good day bipolar has also taught me hope/faith, courage, patience/endurance, to be less judgemental and a little more compassionate than I could have otherwise learned to be without this mental illness...

My only one child age is now 9 is suffering bipolar mood disorder. From last 2 years he is taking medication sodium valporic 300+200+300mg and Risperidone 2mg daily as per doctor advise.Every moments we are feeling anxiety and his mother crying for my child illness .we are facing a lot education,relationship,behavior.
Can anybody inform kindly bipolar can lives normal life with medication? Is it possible to control without medication? My email address is sajalm031@yahoo.com
Rgds/Sajal

Perhaps I will get negative replies from this but I often feel like one of the lucky ones. I hold a stable job in the same place for the last 14 years and have gone about 5 years since my last hospitalization. Make no mistake, bipolar disorder has wreaked it's fair share of damage in my life. I've lost friends and strained many relationship with relatives. I dropped out of college and incurred a huge amount of debt. I'm also gay and grapple with frequent depression and loneliness. But there is hope. Most people would never guess I have bipolar and by most superficial assessments many people would say I live a good life. Proper medication is key. Once I found the right regimen it made all the difference. You also have to make peace with the fact that the disease doesn't ever go away and yes it is a long hard fight. I wish everyone here and their families all the best. I hope you find your own piece of happiness because you do deserve it.