I left this site about a year ago because no one seemed interested in truly harnessing their syptoms and just wanted to whine. I've been back for a week. I will admit it has changed. But the bi-polar bashing by those who have been "wronged" by someone diagnosed with bi-polar disorder had replaced the incessant whining I experienced earlier. If you truly believe that bi-polar disorder equals part time socio path then please find or start your own site. Do not post here. I came here to feel safe. No longer can do that. Not here anyway. The vitriol aimed at us with bi-polar disorder just astounds me. This site needs a moderator to review postings prior to being published here. I will try again next year. Maybe this site will have made some sort of decision about what it wants to be. By the way, those who do not understand bi-p0lar disorder need to educate yourself. You are very very ignorant.
You've been reading and/or exposed to the "message boards" part of this site, haven't you?
The comment of "bipolar bashing" I think it was.... there is where a whopping vast amount of "bipolar bashing" is located. I've stopped even reading through those for it angers and agitates.
So sorry you have not found what you are searching for here... perhaps next time, it will be even more different.
I came back just briefly to answer your e-mail. (your comment ended up in my email in box) (who knew). So there's the message board and then there are other places to post. Where we share post I only see replies to John, Others posting to the entire community is no longer allowed? Or What. I mean someone early last week asked "What happen to this site, no one posts on it anymore" Alfredo though it was he that drove others away. I remember those exchanges vividly last year between he and everyone else. Where did that energy go? I was contributing to a different site for awhile. We all received every posting in our e mail in box. Sometimes 100 a day. They seemed to think that if i wasn't bipolar I or dually diagnosed I just didn't understand. So I left, came back here and instead of over-interest I find none. Except of course of some loosely designated "message board" '''where, apparently the users have never heard of Valium. So I don't know what to do.... I mean I post here or did because my family doesn't care to understand how difficult it is for me to regulate my moods. I'm choosing not to do Christmas with them because my daughter has invited others over and I cannot handle the chaos of her household. (Her autocratic personality triggers my hympomania until I am calling her "stupid", not good) Alot of us are in the same situation. We want to come here and sort of vent our frustrations over being the IP in the family. Do you have -really I mean this- some suggestions about how to work with this site. I know relying on it for my only place to connect with bi-polar diagnosed people would be wrong. I have the Nami site as well. I like being anonomyous, I don't talk about this stuff with my friends because they do not know I have this disorder. I have been depressed for about 3 weeks, which means it's over, and over without anyone to talk to. Which was fine. But sometime I and others need a shoulder to rest on. And if no one is here to answer our posts it feels , well for me anyway, like I have fallen into the "rabbit hole". I hope this makes actual sense and not some sort of hypomanic sense.
Thank, Cathryne
Cathryne,
I totally understand where you are coming from...looking for some good support. You are so right when you said that this CAN'T be the only place to get it. I wonder if you could be brave enough to share with ONE friend...that in itself is helpful.
Here are the places that I go: I have two friends that also have BP; one is far away so we email every day. The other is local. We communicate quite frequently also. My family is amazing. I have several other friends that know about my mental illness and while they can't understand everything...they pray for me when I ask and are supportive. I have a wonderful therapist that I can call on 24/7. My pdoc is helpful.
I have spent considerable time getting to 'know' those that are frequent shareposters or those that leave comments. If you click on their name, it will bring up any posts they've written. I don't write very often, but I know that when I do, even if no one comments, that people are reading...those that have the same symptoms and experiences. I know they care about me.
Here are some websites that I've found helpful. I get bp magazine and they just started a blog http://www.bphope.com/bphopeblog/
Here a couple blogs from healthyplace.com
http://www.healthyplace.com/bipolar-disorder/main/bipolar-vida-blog-posts-toc/menu-id-929/
http://www.healthyplace.com/blogs/breakingbipolar/
I hope these help.
FYI-the SAD kicked in for me about 3 weeks ago...I'm working diligently with my therapist and pdoc in order to get back to balance. Throw in the bipolar hypersensitivity with barometric pressure changes, hormonal changes in this perimenopause time of life, regular holiday stress plus work, not to mention kid stuff...ok, yeah, can you say struggling??? That's me.
I pray for all of us here coping with finding the healthy balance with a mental illness.
God Bless,
Shelly
Shelly,
Thank you for replying. I am able to utilize some of the information and suggestions. Sharing with friends is not one of them. We live near an old mental health hospital that was closed years ago and those ex clients are now on the streets scaring others and that's the only version of mental disorder most people have here. Im not here to raise their conscious. My boss knows, but he's not from here and he has ADHD so were cool with one another and joke about our dx's when no one else is around.
Im sorry to hear about your SAD. I get for the first few days of winter and then it's gone. I know it feels pretty debilitating and I am always so grateful when it leaves.
Take care,
Cathryne
Tabby: I finally found out how I ran into that message board. I thought I was clicking on Support Groups under Management and should have known that my mouse being hypersensitive to heat that I may have been in the wrong part of the site. Mystery solved. Thanks
Cathryne
Ah.. I do remember the "good ole days" when so many regulars posted somewhat frequently and yes... we had a few that - due to the illness that reigns within - got a bit over zealoused on ideas and intentions (alfredo - who I actually do miss).
The "message board" for those not realizing or knowing... WAS THE ORIGINAL place here for which all shareposted. IT was the "shareposting" area 4 years ago and it wasn't the "nicest" place even then for those with Bipolar or associated illnesses.
Many folks, perhaps rightfully so, who had someone in their midst that caused them great pain and frustration... would literally take over the board. If you tried to argue or reason with... they'd throw up "you are one of the bipolars and you don't understand."
Then some guy posted a very lengthy post of what to expect "from bipolars" and it was highly derogeratory and flaming... but, it's in the "message board" section.
The shareposts... they have tended to "dry up" over the last several months. Folks post but when - sometimes - not receiving the replies they expect... get upset and leave OR if they don't receive any replies... they get upset and stop.
Most of the shareposts are now from John and Jerry and sometimes from Marcia - the "experts" or "professionals" on the site. Every so often, someone else posts.
I am going to come to this site every day if it takes that and reply to anyone who posts in a positve manner. Maybe it will spark something. I remember when one "girl" who often posted quit and everyone noticed and was worried she'd gone into some spiraling depression and we called out to her. That's the site i miss. Did you see that Alfredo posted last week. He's still here, somewhere in cyberspace. Hey, Alfredo. Post to me if you are still reading this site. Please. I know you think I don't need meds. I don't care still post if you read this.
And thank you Tabby, I appreciate the conversation. This can still be a great site.
Cathryne
I missed Alfredo... was he here last week?
there are some folks that just disappear and you worry and wonder
I do
and then every so often... they'll "reappear" and you are just so happy to see them
My replies aren't always roses and rainbows but truly they come from concern and compassion and well.. concern and compassion doesn't all come out as roses and rainbows... sometimes, it's in your face dirty and hard... it has to be sometimes... it can't all be roses and rainbows... life is not all roses and rainbows
i've been at this site since March 2006 and I've seen so many come and go over the years... I just get glad to see them, when they decide to stop and visit, even when their visit may not be that happy
And now I cannot find that posting. Of course. Someone had posted (not me, I swear) a question about had any one noticed that people were not posting as often as in the past. Eric added that he had been busy but had left if up to someone else to post for him. Then Alfredo jumped in and proffered that it might be his fault because of past arguments that people left the site. (That must be it! Not really, I AM joking). So have a great day Tabby. Thanks for talking to me. I'm haveing a pretty good day. Actually. Found out i do not have to work on Christmas Eve so I can be rested and prepared for Christmas at my daughters. She did agree with me that being able to go home when I was feeling 'all wrought up" as my mother called it -was the key. Now just to find my son a job and bring about world peace...