New here.

Hi Laura or luwalla, pretty names either way, congrats on your improvements, I too suffer from ringing in the ears (tinitus), i also have a snapping/cracking sound 24-7, it frign sucks!. I have lived with this for many years and you are the first person whom iv read who has had the same symptom, Doc's have no answer for it and tests show nothing about it. Theirs no doubt i never deserve it either. Anyway i have found some sort of , what i think is relation to the ringing is in my stomach, if i drink something very citrus it gets worse, and i love OJ! havnt touched it in 3yrs. anyways, Cheers, a friend Rae.

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Dear Lawalla,

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It is good to read your post and to notice that you are trying to look at positives in life. I too suffer from bipolar disorder and I am writing from Australia that is very far away from you.

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I can sense from your writing that you are trying to study Bipolar disorder and are interested to find out more. I study much around the topic because I too want to find out as much as possible.

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If I was to give some good advice to you I would start by saying that it is important to know the difference between saying that “I suffer from bipolar disorder” and “I am bipolar”. We are not an illness I believe. You do not hear people say I am Cancer or I am diabetes. Yet at the heart of stigma, which is strong prejudice against all people with mental disabilities or disorders, there is this fact. How often do we hear people say: “He or she is bipolar”. This dehumanizes the person I feel taking away the good qualities that the person may have and exposing the person as an entire illness.

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The truth is that bipolar disorder is only one part of the personality that for some reason has been negatively affected. Traumas in general or sometimes the fact that the person is very sensitive or creative can all lead to this disorder. It is important to make the clear distinction between saying: “I suffer from bipolar disorder” and “I am bipolar”. It may seem a little difference but the implications are substantial.

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If you would like to comment more on this I would like to exchange frequent emails with you just to discuss this fascinating illness. My bipolar is related to childhood traumas (father was alcoholic) and the fact that I am very sensitive and creative being both a musician and a visual artist. Have you got any special talents? And what do you think that has generated your bipolar disorder? Do you think it is genetic or are there some possible other reasons?

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This is all for now but I would like to hear from you if you would care to write to me. My direct email address is alfredo.zotti@bigpond.com

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hi! i'm also new here i would also like to meet ppl that have the symptoms i have & actually understand them. my family is very supportave but they just don't understand, i to used to spend money like crazy but i've controlled that by having my husband control the money, i've also gained 48 lbs that don't want to lose, i walk 45mins daily watch what i eat but can't lose the weight i've been bi-polar for @ least 10 yrs now, i stopped taking lamictal & geodon thinking i will lose this weight i still take my klonipin zoloft elavil & synthroid i am 4'11 & i went from weighing 100 lbs to 148 it is more of a downer than anything, i just od'd on my elavil got out of being in the phych ward by saying i wanted to sleep off a migraine, i wish i would of died i feel empty inside, no life inside of me willing me to go on i won't do anything stupid like that again the disappointment i saw in my youngest son's face was so shameful, but i feel no need to go on i to would like to talk to others feeling this way please write back hope things will go good for you    shelley