Is this illness really REAL? I ask myself this all of the time.<\/p>\n
I was diagnosed with ultra rapid cycling bipolar II with psychotic features in 1995. Now there is a diagnosis! I had my first hypomanic episode in 1980. So I have been living with bipolar disorder for all of my adult life. I\u2019m 47 now. You would think that I would be used to it. I\u2019m not. It always shocks me when I get really sick. The mood swings are just so odd. They can be so random and simply stupid-\u00a0 I can get psychotic just because someone is rude to me in public? That is crazy! I have an argument with my brother and I get in my car and cry so hard I can\u2019t drive? I go out and have fun and meet someone attractive and I get OCD so badly I never call the person again?<\/p>\n
How about the depression that comes from change?\u00a0 It can even be good change such as getting a book deal. Or how about the hypomania that starts simply because the sun comes out?<\/p>\n
It\u2019s hard to get used to this. I\u2019ve done all that I can possibly do to manage this illness. It\u2019s all in my books- It\u2019s all written down in my Health Cards. I\u2019m the expert! But bipolar could care less and it treats me just the same as if I were just diagnosed. I accept the diagnosis because I have no choice- but getting used to it has not been so easy! I’m so thankful I have a treatment plan that works or life would be really hard. I hope it helps to know that you’re not alone if you find this illness incredibly confusing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
IT IS CONFUSING!<\/p>\n
Julie<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Is this illness really REAL? I ask myself this all of the time.<\/p>\n
I was diagnosed with ultra rapid cycling bipolar II with psychotic features in 1995. Now there is a diagnosis! I had my first hypomanic episode in 1980. So I have been living with bipolar disorder for all of my adult life. I\u2019m 47 now. You would think that I would be used to it. I\u2019m not. It always shocks me when I get really sick. The mood swings are just so odd. They can be so random and simply stupid- I can get psychotic just because someone is rude to me in public? That is crazy! I have an argument with my brother and I get in my car and cry so hard I can\u2019t drive? I go out and have fun and meet someone attractive and I get OCD so badly I never call the person again?<\/p>\n