Hi there, I'm new here.  I was recently diagnosed with type II bipolar disorder with a dose of severe anxiety.  I've been looking for a place where I could connect with other people who struggle with mood disorders, and I'm hoping I found the right place.

When I was first diagnosed as type II bipolar, I freaked at the word "bipolar."  I quit taking any meds, threw out the mood stabilizer the doctor prescribed, and never went back to see the doctor.  About a year went by, and I started to spiral again, just like every time in the past.  My next doctor agreed with the first doctor's diagnosis, but said we didn't have to focus on the name--we just needed to fix it.  That was in March of this year.

These days, I'm doing much better.  It's a relief to know what was wrong, and a relief to find something that worked for me (Abilify for the moods, Zoloft for the anxiety).  If I could bottle up that relief and share it with all of you, I would.  Not every day is perfect, but the fact that I can function as a normal human being is priceless.

I hope to find a virtual home here, and I look forward to meeting you.