Hi Stormgrl, welcome here
I hope I can help you. I'm 59yo and all my life since 12yo I've had issues. After so many years and 4 mental illnesses diagnosed, I see things a lot differently now.
Before I recommend some reading for you let me say a few things. Firstly acceptance of whatever your illness is than managing it best as you can. Once you manage it well life is good and the less and less bad days or weeks happen. Slowly you begin to "fine tune" your medication under a doctors guidance. It takes time and it is frustrating but there is hope at the end of it all. You begin to run your life inside the parametres of normality after therapy and medication is spot on.
In my view you should look upon your situation that it is a cocktail of ingredients that will contribute towards your well being.-
Medical care= you have it now. Follow your doctors advice but dotn expect miracles. Your doctor might need many visits from you to get the best results of his care
People= surround yourself with supportive friends and family and discard the people that can or potential can harm you with abuse.
Social media= Give yourself the best chances. Limit your social media. Switch it off at and early hour and get good sleep. Sleep is really important
Other things that will harm you are - financial stability, environment meaning if you need to move away and an important one- have a hobby. Hobbies dont have to cost a lot. Find a cheap one. They divert your attention.
Finally, gain confidence. You are one of many many people that have issues. Yes we all feel angry and annoyed that we arent stable fun loving people like others we observe. We want to fit in but we cant. We want to be in the inner circle but we never will be. So what can we do?
We find those few friends, it might only be one real friend, that understands and loves us for who we are. And that is all that matters in our friendships.
In time you will grow mentally about all this. And who knows? like me you might end up giving advice to younger people that need help....just like you are now.
I'm proud of you for posting here.
Tony WK
