Today is a good day to focus on the many POSITIVE bipolar disorder stories I know:
– My friend Marsha was in and out of the hospital for all of her 20’s. She now has the right treatment plan with a good med and has not been in the hospital for ten years! She is also in a stable relationship.
– After 22 tries, I found medications that ended my depression.
– An ex of mine wasn’t able to work due to office stress. Once he found the right job, he can work full time and loves what he does! (Management didn’t agree with him at all.)
– People with bipolar get sick all of the time- it’s the nature of the illness, but I know many who still live the life they want.
Fishing guide, gardener, teacher, business owner, speaker and writer. (All friends!)
I monitor my friends’ moods closely and learn a lot.
There are those on this site who went back to school after years of being sick, received masters degrees- even though it took many years.
You can raise wonderful children and maintain strong relationships with your children.
Parents take heart! People with bipolar disorder DO get better and can create a life that incorporates their loves, dreams and goals into a management plan that works.
I’m writing a book right now! I just write less on the tough days. I never stop writing. It keeps me alive.
Never give up. Time changes everything.
Julie
Thanks, Julie. I really needed to hear that right now. Appreciate you and your blog.
Hi Julie,
This post was just what I needed today. It’s easy to hear about movie stars, high-powered business people and other famous celebrities who do well with Bipolar. Although their stories can be inspiring, these super-achievers have nothing whatsoever to do with me, and I have trouble identifying with them. I need and want to hear about regular people succeeding in having a happy life while living with their illness. It sounds like your book will be highlighting regular people’s experiences, and I look forward to reading it in the future.
Best of luck with your writing!!
Susan
Hi. I am posting from Dublin in Ireland to say I only found your site in last few days and you are doing great work. I suffer BP2 aswell so I feel lucky to have found the site because you are educating from within the illness. The site is a credit to you. Greetings from Ireland and keep up the great work.
Hey Julie!
Been busy so I haven’t looked around the blog lately. I love hearing of other people with Bipolar Disorder doing well. However, I have a question. What if you are on disability and trying to build a life you can be proud of within your limitations and others don’t understand. I have some people in my life that act as if being on disability means I should just stay home and take care of the house and kids. I have even had one person tell me as much – that is was selfish of me to work part-time. Some people aren’t as obvious about it but they act as if I’m taking advantage of the system because I’m trying to build a life. As to taking advantage I recently had an episode of hypomania which I am still coming down from because I did try to do to much. Nothing like being reminded of your limitations. Please answer on your blog if you can – I can’t be the only person who has encountered this.
– Melissa –
I love your positivity, your spirit, and your energy! I am bipolar and just lost my dad. I know my medications are right on track because if they weren’t, my dad’s death probably would have landed me in the hospital. So it IS possible to find a good cocktail/drug regimen — and trust me, for the past 20 years, I’ve tried just about every pill there is! I also feel it’s important to live in the now and not get overwhelmed by the “what ifs.” Like, what if my medication loses its efficacy? I will take care of that when/if that happens but for now I need to focus on being present and enjoying this relief from my depression. Just applied for disability also, and was denied the first time around — am appealing and will have to face a judge this fall. Anyway, I am babbling now…. but THANK YOU for writing and sharing with us! -Miss C.