My Battle with Bipolar Disorder
Since my early twenties, I have suffered from bipolar disorder.
I am now in my mid-forties and have managed to keep it under
control through the use of medications as well as the support of
my friends, family and my wonderful and compassionate husband.
Unfortunately, it took a long time to get to the point I am at
now. For many years, I suffered through the challenges of trying
to lead a productive and functional life despite being plagued
by the imbalances brought on by my condition. During this time,
I was unable to seek proper treatment because I was unaware that
I had bipolar disorder. I had been diagnosed with depression by
more than one doctor and the medications I was given did little
to help my overall condition. My periods of depression were
followed by brief stretches of manic behavior, some more intense
than others. I always assumed these were the ups and downs of
life. During my periods of depression, which also varied in
length and intensity, I often found it difficult to go to work.
I was unable to concentrate as the feelings of despair were so
overwhelming at times that on some days I never made it out of
bed. During my manic times, I often felt that anything was
possible. While my outlook was positive during these episodes, I
was often irritable and hard to deal with. My euphoria was
sometimes followed by periods of normalcy, though I would
eventually slip back into depression. During a particularly long
battle with depression for which I had to be hospitalized, I was
finally properly diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Just being
aware of what had been taking place inside of me helped me to
understand some of the problems I was experiencing. I was placed
on a series of medications designed to manage my condition and
through counseling, learned to anticipate the onset of episodes
and maintain rational thinking throughout. Although I must
constantly be aware of my condition, I now lead a functional and
satisfying life which I enjoy. Thankfully, today there are many
sources of information on bipolar disorder and the medical
community is much more cognizant of it's existence. If you are
experiencing some of the symptoms I have described, I urge you
to seek more information and to tell your physician about your
concerns. Know that if you do suffer from bipolar disorder, you
can get your life back on track through the treatment options
available today. My thoughts and prayers are with you.