Just Diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder?

Just Diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder?

Then yo are at the right place. I remember very well when I was diagnosed. I was 31 and had just come down from a mild manic/psychotic episode after a manic trip to China.  I was misdiagnosed with depression, and then finally got the bipolar diagnosis. I was actually very happy to finally know what was going on!

I always want to say congratulations when I hear that someone has a diagnosis. Not because I think having bipolar is something to cheer about. It’s not. It sucks. But I say congratulations because you at least know what you have and there is a lot of help out there to treat it. It didn’t used to be that way. Believe me!  I was diagnosed with rapid cycling Bipolar II in 1995, one year after my partner at the time was diagnosed with Bipolar I.  Those were tough years.  There were no treatment plans on the market. I was still very ill three years after my diagnosis, and that’s when I create my Health Cards treatment system. If you were just diagnosed, it probably means you’re scared and worried about the future. I was and sometimes still am, but that’s just part of having an illness. I always tell people to think of insulin dependent diabetes when they think about bipolar disorder management. Until the bipolar disorder is really under control, we have to check our moods every day just like a person with diabetes checks their insulin. There are many people who get a diagnosis and find the right meds immediately. There are others, like myself who have mood swings almost every day. It’s a pretty diverse illness! As you can see, I manage my mood swings well enough to have a business and great relationships, so you can do the same. Believe me, if I can manage the illness, you can too. It takes time, but time passes anyway- so you might as well learn to manage the illness now that you have the diagnosis. I had full on bipolar symptoms for 14 years before I was diagnosed. I wish someone had caught it sooner!  So, congratulations on your diagnosis. Now you know that there is nothing wrong with you- there is just something different going on in your brain.

Julie

PS: if you are visiting the blog from amazon.com, click here for the actual blog page:  www.bipolarhappens.com/bhblog

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