Yes that negative stigma attached to Bipolar is so frustrating. I have been surviving Bipolar since I was diagnosed at 15, I’m now 42. My husband has been surviving my bipolar for 18+ years and is my best supporter even though it’s been a very tough ride for him. Together with his tremendous support and myself who finally stopped denying my disorder and instead turned it into my blessing I have succeeded and continue to succeed at following my dreams, and I’m happy to say my dreams are coming true. It is still a struggle at times for both my husband and I and my children but because we are very open and honest about it we’ve won half the battle. My husband has written and will continue to write of his side of what he has survived with my bipolar that could be helpful and encouraging to those out there either living with it or is a family member, husband or wife, that is trying to understand how to support a person with Bipolar. Feel free to contact us or my husband with any questions. Our relationship has almost fell apart and ended in divorce a few times over 18 years but each time we get through a struggle we come out 110 percent stronger and more supportive of each other. There is hope.

Thanks, Joe for bringing up this topic. When I was first diagnosed bipolar everything I read was so hopeless…talking about the disease lays waste for the family and friends, destroys jobs, education, etc. My attitude was why try if it’s just going to be awful no matter what I do?

Maybe I shouldn’t even be posting because my manias aren’t very intense, and they are rare. (can’t even get bipolar right…) They are always after suicidal depressions, so it’s easy to tell when they will come. I have a great job, two college degrees, a great marriage, and a wonderful baby. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if I didn’t have to struggle so much to get and maintain those things?

Lithium may have saved my life, and will set me free to truly live it. There is hope for bipolar, even if it doesn’t seem that way. Love to all my bipo brothers and sisters. We are all in this together.

My doc just told me that he classified me as BiPolar II, that I only reach hypomania so I have dealt well most of my life(until 3 yrs ago when a life threw a curve ball that left me spinning out of control). As I read the info I get negative feedback, like there is no hope. NAMI meetings near me seem like forums for family members to moan and complain, no one is there to really HELP. If my productive days are mania, I good with that- I don’t want to walk around like a zombie that the meds do to me. What I read as ‘mania’ for a person Dx as Bi-Polar 2 sounds like my level of multitasking and being a normal 2000 era american before my like fell apart. I love psychcentral’s even reporting and tell many friends about the site.

I was diagnosed bipolar by the psychiatrist I had been seeing to treat depression. His treatment plan was to keep me so medicated that I could hardly function and I’ve lost jobs due to both the bipolar and his treatment.

Not only have I changed doctors, I have also done a great deal of research on my own. I stumbled upon some books by Tom Wootton and they gave me hope that I wasn’t doomed, but actually had options. His most recent book, Bipolar In Order, has some great ideas that have given me much food for thought.

I’ve found support through his organization “Bipolar Advantage”:http://www.bipolaradvantage.com/index.php Maybe this information will be helpful to someone else as well.