So here I am

[PhilK]

Been meaning to get on here and have a read around for a while. I'm having a "good" day so here I am.

Got diagnosed with depression a few years ago, thanks to a prompt to go and talk to a GP by a BeyondBlue poster in the airport toilet. Looking back, something had been wrong for a long, long time.

I was on some medication that didn't go so well. Following a prolonged spell of mania and then a very worrying near-instantaneous switch to the other end of the scale I was referred to a psychiatrist. He pretty quickly had me sussed as bipolar. A diagnosis that on reflection makes sense of so many periods of my life. With my family history I really shouldn't have been surprised. In fact, I've probably done myself some harm in wanting to be the only strong, "normal" one.

Now I'm starting a journey to become more "normal" and unlock my full potential. Hopefully there's others here on a similar journey and we can help guide each other I guess.

[solabear]

Cool bananas......I'm glad it's all under control.

How are you travelling?

[Mikky]

Solabear

i too agree, only joined tonight re ur comment

You said you are focusing on being more "normal", perhaps you can tell us about it. I'd love to learn more coping skills as there is always room for improvement.

I need all the help i can get in "being more normal"

Any advice would be appreciated or links/referals to something that can help me... recent traumatic underbelly style events have completely destroyed me....my diagnosis is bi polar2, depression, ptsd, ocpd the list goes on.......dont know where to turn to....nights r the hardest being an isominiac to boot.

[Mikky]

What do i read.....6+ months of a manic ep....folowed by a massively traumatic experience lasting months....big downer now....life line and beyong blue phone crisis line of little help.

Takes one to know one...figured those thst suffer know better than most.

Understand its middle of night but these r my worst hrs. Anyone there who can share talk??

Mikky