From Hell to Here and so Grateful

I posted in another group, BiPolar General Support and didn't know if I could join this group as well. I am BP II.

I am a 54 year old sculptor from Whidbey Island and have suffered horrendously from undiagnosed (or misdiagnosed) BiPolar II almost all of my life.

Last year, I found recovery. This has been far from a walk in the park process but could not be more grateful that I didn't pull that trigger, before the miracle happened. I have my issues. As I type, my fingers are shaking after being taken off Tegretol due toa severe allergic reaction. OH WELL ... today I have hope and we will work through it.

I am quite open about my mental illness and share it on my art web site which has resulted in bringing a seed of hope to many suffering without a clue as to what is happening to them. I know what that feels like.

If you are interested in reading my journey through hell to recovery, here it is http://rochonsculpture.artspan.com/mbr_bio.php

I look forward to hearing from you.

God bless us all.

Louie

PS... I started a daily inspirational email entitled "Daily Good Dog Feeding" which has spread all over the world. I started it to help me and my son with depression. There is info about it on the bottom of my bio/web link above. It's simply a gift,no strings, no ads, just giving back a little love.

You know what they say about a women going to Alaska to find a man? The odds are good, but the goods are odd. tee hee

Luckily for me, I was (and continue to be) a coward. Running off and joining the Navy right after high school (yes, I am a girl) and marrying a man 7 whole days (wink) after I met him, were the worst things I did. Well, if you don't count running away from home twice as a teenagers and being pretty promiscuous, that is. Most of my antics were pretty tame. I didn't like drugs, not that I didn't try them. I only drank more then I should have from 16 to 18 or so. I had my first baby at 19, so that helped me to sober up early.

Your work is amazing. I am glad you've joined us!

Love your comment about Alaska men. I used to be one and that description sure matches.

I'll leave you with a link that is fun, colorful and may inspire your creative juices. This piece took 6 months to complete. It's a 6' dragon, entitled BI-POLAR. I sold it to a high powered psych med salesman in Quebec to show off when he entertained his Psych docs. Sure they are having a laugh about it. I did. Check it out ...

http://rochonsculpture.artspan.com/links.php?4272

Gotta go slow down and take care of myself a bit before I get too manic. Having that bad internal rash reaction to Tegretol, my docs pulled me abruptly off of the Tegretol ... pretty scary as it creates bad shaking, inside and out. I don't have any manic side protection and won't for a few weeks. I must pull out my tools an slow down or risk heading head deep into a full blown anxiety thing ... so, as much as I love talking to people, especially people who have lost hope or are suffering (LIKE ME, most of my life), I need to do a 'step away' from my commputer and go zone out on some mindless TV.

Nice to meet you.

Louie