Hi everyone! It is very interesting to gauge people’s responses when I tell them I have bipolar disorder. I have been telling many people who I encounter that I have it, and I oftentimes hand out our support group flyers too — and it is such a relief for me to “come out”. One of my best friends is gay, and he told me that he finds there are similarities between being gay and having bipolar in terms of the social stigma that is still apparent. I remind myself that many of our world’s greatest minds & talents have lived with bipolar: Van Gogh, Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill, Carrie Fisher (i love her!), Congressman Patrick Kennedy, Patty Duke, and one of my fave musicians: Sinead O’Connor! I found out about some of these people out on a cool site: www.bipolar-lives.com. Plus both my Dad and my Mom, who are amazingly talented, have bipolar one. For my own recovery I feel a compelling need to tell others I have it and then watch their surprise when they say, “wow, I had no idea” or “What is it like”" or “Doesn’t Britney Spears have that too?” I enjoy discussing the subject with them, and then of course I promote our support group, because many times a person will tell me, “My sister-in-law has it” or “I know someone who has it” etc. I remind others that having this illness is *no different* than having diabetes, but because mental illness is still considered to be scary and moreover, it’s invisible, it is very hard to break the stigma. But guess what, my friends? I’m really excited to promote mental health awareness and I think that someday I will work in the field, after the kids are in school. After living around my father with bipolar for almost 40 years, and around my Mom too (who also suffers from borderline personality disorder) and after realizing I have had bipolar one symptoms for over 15 years, I feel a vested interest to bring awareness to our family illness. I am going to stabilize and work on myself, to get better for myself and for my kids’ sake. Some really good news: I am now finding other women who have tried alternative methods to deal with their bipolar disorder, and have had many years of stability (one has been stable for 7 years, the other for almost 13!) I’m feeling so much better these days. My sleep is improving markedly, and my hypomania is subsiding. I continue to take my 10 grams of Omega-3’s, my Holy Basil, my vitamin B’s, my L-Carnosine, my Chinese herbs my acupuncturist gave me and do my bright light therapy. I am seeing a wonderful new therapist who has experience with bipolar disorder, and I’m also seeing Craig’s therapist today with him. (He too has worked with families and bipolar for many years) I even made a “crisis plan” in which if I am slipping and crashing into madness, I will try Geodon (my psychiatrist agreed with me on this) and I will check myself into Dominican BHU or have Craig or a friend drive me. I also am refilling my Zyprexa just in case the mania returns. I am really happy, at long last. Life isn’t easy, we’re dealing with a crisis right now with my Mom, which is why I haven’t been online much….but I pray and have faith in the Lord that he is watching over us. take care & God Bless, & thanks for reading!!! Dyane
