Bipolars Only Online Support Group

Hey all!

I am a mom of two great little children , I have a fantastic Boyfriend...oh.. and I am Bipolar type I with schizoid tendencies. I live my life kind of on a tight rope , I only take the lowest doses of my medications possible to keep me together. I don't like the side effects that happen, I take 100 mg Seroquel and 200 mg Lamotrigine ( off brand Lamictal) at night. I sleep 13 to 14 hours when I sleep. Lately the two weeks following my period are HELL ON EARTH, I can't sleep at all, and when I do its for about 4 hours every 2-3 days. I have recently switched my pdoc's and my reg doc. I am hoping that we can figure all of this out , I am also hoping that some of the issues are with my hormones and can be fixed! I am a big supporter of changing the stigma that surround all mental illnesses. When I tell people that I am bipolar I answer their questions truthfully and very matter of factly, most of them are pretty amazed to find out how mundane my life really is. When I was diagnosed in 2006 I was pretty upset about it and didn't share with people, when I decided that I should share it wasn't hard and it made my life much easier. I think that once the stigma is lifted that the proverbial box will be opened up. I think people will be less likely to group everyone with a mental illness together!

Just a mom, student, daughter and girlfriend...doing the best she can!

I am here because my boyfriend made it very clear that he in no way could really understand what I was going through sometimes, I mean he can empathize but that only gets a person so far, so I am looking for people like me who want to just get through this mess just like everyone else and those who have the same hoops to jump through like I do!

Vita

Thanks for the great welcome, totally made my night.. I found out during my very manic period last week I posted a document with all of my sensitive information on it instead of an assignment that was a group assignment...yeah so I got my whole team neg. 3 points on a 15 point assignment... we did end up with all 12 points but I feel like crap ...and worse my info is out there in school land...at least tech support understood and is in the process of fixing it...trying to chill and forget about the HUGE anxiety I have looming on my back like a jockey on a horse...again .. THANKS!!! I really needed a bright spot!

Hey WG and welcome. I'm glad you found us. As Em said, you'll find all the support you could hope for.

Does your school know about your bp and schiz? I would tell at least that teacher, and say maybe "look this was my fault" and tell them why, and could they please not take the grade out on the other members of your group. At least then you've made a reasonable effort. I would inform the school's student resources or whatever and let them know. It's pretty important b/c you don't want to let the bipolar affect how well you do in school.

I go to school online with UoP. They are aware of my bipolar. As for this particular teacher I want to shake her, I swear she is just there as a place holder. I found out she could have taken down the info, also its a new "forum" where we have to post assignments and she could obviously see that it wasn't a ppt. so she could have said something. I have never had the issues with bipolar and school, just this one time and I think that it was because I wasn't in charge of our group. I really really need to be in charge so I feel less stress...ugh.. working on it though! Thanks for the welcome guys!

V