I’ve been friends with this guy for a LONG time, and we have spent a lot of time dating. We really get along, better than either of us have ever gotten along with anyone else, and we really connect. He has severe bipolar disorder and is also ADD… and he takes me on the craziest roller coaster you have ever imagined. He cycles through realizing that he needs/cares about me to thinking that the only reason he wants to be around me is because of hormones. When he is on an upward climb in mood, things go great, but of course it’s the opposite when he goes down. He tells me that either he doesn’t deserve me or that I don’t have what he needs to be happy, he blames his hormones and says that he is sinning before God (even though we haven’t DONE anything! Seriously, he has kissed me on the face and hands, and that is it.), and he tells me that he’s a jerk and he can never fix himself. I care about HIM and I tell him that a person can have problems, but that doesn’t mean that I love him any less. I really do love him, and I’ve tried not to. He’ll hit his low point, and then he’ll not talk to me for a while. Then after a few days or a week, he usually bounces up again and we are ‘friends’ for a day, and then the next day he wants to hold my hand again! The interesting thing is his cycles of going up and down as far as our relationship is concerned have been getting shorter and more frequent, but because our relationship has progressed (although maybe not much when compared with other people) it hurts more and more every time. I know that I have to be patient, but I also can’t expect him to change. And although he admits that we are definitely in some sort of relationship, he will not say that we are IN A RELATIONSHIP, and he also has this crazy idea about how he won’t kiss me on the mouth because then he would be ‘mine and no one else’s.’ I don’t know… Honestly I feel I want to throw in the towel sometimes, but I don’t know if that is what I should do. I tell my best friend about it, and he told me I should stay away from him, but then when I divulged ALL the details (because this is even MORE complicated than I’m writing here), he changed his view on the situation and said that I need to talk to him and get him to talk to someone else about some things, too.
Is there any hope out there? Does anyone have a story about how they tried to date someone w/ bp for a LONG time, and it eventually worked out? Or am I just a hopeless case?
No matter what, I will always care about him, and what I really want more than pretty much anything else is just for him to be happy.

Oh, and he’s about to go away to school again, and last time he was away he had to come home after a year because his bp got so bad, so I know he’s REALLY nervous and scared about it. I think maybe that is one of the reasons why he’s acting to erratic lately with me?

I am 19 years old and I just had my first little girl on 1-1-07, I am currently suffering from postpartum depression. at 14 years old I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, opositional defiance disorder, and depression. Since I was 14 I was using drugs (various drugs) I believe this was caused by my depression and bipolar disorder. I have now been clean since June 25,05. But I have been going through a lot of hard times with being a new mom. I love my daughter so much she lights up my life she is the best thing that has ever happened to me and I do everything for her but as much time as I put into her I feel like I have NO time for myself so I’m a mess I barely take care of myself I feel like I have no energy I almost feel like im in a black hole and I feel so guilty because I am so blessed to have this beautiful little girl. I need to know everyone’s oppinion that has ever dealt with bipolar disorder and depression on what is the best medications (mood stabilizers, anti psychotics, and anti depressants) to help me. I have already scheduled councelling because I know that will greately help my problem but I keep getting different crazy oppinions from doctors telling me take this take that and just give me things to deal with one problem NOT BOTH when that is what I need cause I know I need to be on a combination of two or more medications. SOME ONE HELP!! Thanx yall : )

If you have bipolar disorder, you will probably need medication. You may need it for the rest of your life. That can be hard to accept. Some people see medication as a crutch or a weakness; instead they want to get better on their own.

But you have to remember that bipolar disorder is a real medical illness. It’s not something you can cure with willpower. Taking bipolar disorder medication is just like taking medication for high blood pressure or heart disease.Medication can be like a pair of glasses. Bipolar disorder distorts your view of things; medication may allow you to see clearly again.

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