Bipolar Type II Support Group

Hi,

My name is Dave, BiPolar II. I've also been in AA for 15 plus years and I've been told (and I'd agree) that my drinking was self medication. Speaking of Meds, my latest doctor put me on Lithium. I've been only on it for about a week plus, and the depression part seems to be just a little less. Now I'm a little more jittery.

I'd really like to get to know some people on this board and share stories about what it's like to live with this. My whole diagnosis came after a good old fashioned nervous/mental breakdown in late April. I'm 44 now and can see that I feel that the diagnosis, while scary, is accurate.

So yeah, this is me reaching out to complete strangers. And now...I gotta clean my apartment!

Thanks!

Dave

Welcome Dave. I hope you find it as helpful as I do here. I was a self medicator before my diagnosis too. Looking forward to getting to know ya through your posts.

Thanks, Stacey! If you don't mind me asking, what were you using to self medicate? I was a foamhead that used to pound beer after beer to keep me level. While I'm grateful for sobriety, I can see that it was more of a tool to fix a bigger problem. It's really wierd now because now I've got this whole other thing to tackle with the bipolar diagnosis. Then again, there's a lot of mental illness in my family, so I'm not totally shocked that it hit me as well.

I drank a lot pretty much whatever we had on hand I wasn't very picky. Usually it was a bottle of wine to myself. It has been a really good thing being diagnosed. I was misdiagnosed for 12 yrs with just depression. I am doing so much better now. It took awhile to find the right meds, but I am finally feeling like myself. Wishing you all the best.

I have recently started to self-medicate with alcohol. Not to the point that I get drunk but just a glass or two of wine to relax me of an evening. I also take my prescribed drugs 2 hours after drinking. This is supposed to be a safe way to take my meds and drink.

Hi Jonestown and welcome to the group,

I too used to drink before diagnosis and it was no joke. Up to two bottles of wine a night. Stopped four years ago.

I hope you you are now finding things a little easier and that you keep posting on here where you will find lots of support advice and most of all understanding.

Love light & sunshine

Grace

Welcome to the group. Lots to share here and lots of support. Keep posting, we are here for you.

Hi Dave and welcome to the group. Have you posted your story somewhere? As far as self medicating goes, I have never done so for very long because it just makes me to physically ill. But I do know there are many who can relate to you on that front.

Thanks, folks! Is there an area to post your story? It's kind of a long one.

There is a section for introductions and personal stories. Just click the forums tab and you'll see it.