New to forums - Just diagnosed Bipolar 2

[Joamy]

Hi Everyone,

This is my first post so I thought I would say hello and see how this works. After a period of severe anxiety and 5 months on medication, I have just been diagnosed as suffering from Bipolar 2 disorder. On the one hand it has come as a bit of a shock but on the other it makes perfect sense and explains so many things about my life. I work in a very creative field and am also a very driven type of person so my symptoms,which I have covered for many years, have gone unnoticed. I am very curious to know if anyone else out there is more of an extrovert who suffers from anxiety or Bipolar. It surprises me that no-one ever asked of I was ok or noticed that anything was wrong even though I was, at times, in the depths of despair. Medication has given me some breathing space over the past few months so I feel more stable but I have been told that I will need to go on a mood stabiliser. Not sure what that means?

Thanks for reading and I hope to hear back from anyone else in a similar situation.

Joamy 🙂

[Kazzl]

Hi Johnno - I'm Kaz, and I also have bipolar 2. Like Sophie said we can't chat privately, but I'd love to chat with you if you want to start your own thread (sorry if you already have, I might have missed it, I'll have a better look).

I also have a thread called This Bipolar Life on the Longterm Support over the Journey board. A number of we bipolar folk gather there to discuss anything and everything and share experiences. You are very welcome to join us.

I want to extend that invitation to Joamy, Kazooau and Anroca too if you're looking in. Sorry I missed you earlier folks. I try to chat with all our bipolar members but don't always see everyone.

I'm a late-in-life diagnosis too, diagnosed about nine months ago, age 53, after many years of treatment for depression. Like others have said, it was a revelation to me, both terrifying and welcome as it explained so much of my past battles.

Best wishes to you all, hope to see you again soon.

Kaz

[sectorsteve]

Im 46. just been diagnosed, well about a year ago but just got the meds last week. too scared to take them. Reading about the medication scares the crap out of me.

I left my partner of 10 years in feb this year , our house, animals, everything. Im moving onto a boat ive bought in another country in 2 weeks after dealing with our affairs. the last 8 months of the separation process has taken its toll so i got the meds. The thing is, how the hell can a psychiatrist know anything about me after talking to me for 20 minutes and prescribe what sounds like a really horrible addictive drug?

My questions i guess are for those on these meds. How is life on these meds?