I have 2 younger sisters, and my relationship is kind of on thin ice.  I believe my one sister is OCD and the other I think could very well be bipolar. But I cant talk about my disease with my sisters. I’m on disability and they think it’s a bunch of crap. My youngest sister doesn’t believe in taking my medication.  When I was in the hospital, my youngest sister wouldn’t see or talk to me, my middle sister would talk to me on the phone, but wouldn’t come see me. So for me, it’s like I have to hide my bipolar from them. And if I am having an episode, usually manic, I am just trying to get people’s attention. Its “all in my head”. well duh, yes it is.  So, my sisters aren’t diagnosed with anything, but I see it there. And as far as they are concerned, [...]

I have been bipolar since I can remember I always worked an took care of myself until recently I became worse and couln’t keep a job now I want to apply for disability can bipolar be consider as a illness? I’ll begin by saying Bipolar disorder is most definitely an illness.  It affects a wide range of people all over the world and the percentage is even greater here in the United States.  More and more you are seeing it.  I guarantee you know someone who either has it or knows someone who has it.  But that is not the answer you are looking for, you want to know if the Government considers it an illness in order for you to get disability.  The answer to that question is yes they do, but it is a very difficult thing to prove. First you need a doctor who is willing to [...]

I recently found out that I am bipolar and I’ve found my doctor just pushes pills at me opposed to giving me information on my illness. I just want to know more about what life is like being bipolar and is it still normal to have down days even though I’m on medication WoW…. What is it like to be bipolar? Well for starters life doesn’t change much in the sense that I am assuming since you were diagnosed bipolar you must have been dealing with most or at least some of the symptoms, the ups (the manic highs) the lows (the depressions) the agitation, the irritability, the crying, the spending sprees, the anxiety….does any of this ring a bell.  Well the good part is now that you are on medication some of that will lessen.   I won’t say go away.  To say go away means cured, and there is [...]

Are you afraid of repeating past mistakes? So how do you do it? How do you keep the cycle from starting to repeat itself over again? Honestly, this time I don’t have the answer to this question. It’s not as easy as yes or no. Close your eyes and count to 10. I wish it were that simple. Then maybe I wouldn’t be sitting here tonight restless, wanting another drink, unable to sleep and trying to sort all this anxiety out in my head. You see I’ve been thru two, yes two, failed marriages. Each failed for different reasons. I’m not going to say they were all my husbands’ faults, but they weren’t all mine either. We all had our problems. Marriage number one, we couldn’t communicate (mainly because I was too busy dodging fists and opening my mouth only making it worse), and after I stopped doing “his drugs” [...]

I just found out my best fried is bipolar. She was the one who told me. I am fearful that this may be the end of our friendship. What are the signs that she will give me to say that our friendship is over? Should i continue if she does not want to be best friends anymore or should i just quit? Can i get some more scope on how to maintain our friend? I really love her. Let me begin by saying, it shows how much you really care about your friend by being concerned about this.  Having bipolar is very difficult at times and being friends with someone who has bipolar can be almost as difficult.  Having bipolar means there are going to be times your friend is going to feel really happy and energetic (manic).  She may feel on top of the world, like she can conquer [...]